Can vending machines also read debit cards? Just like at most other points-of-sale (POS), if they accept a credit card, they will also likely accept a debit card. It’s generally more advisable to make purchases with a credit card and then pay off the credit card at the end of the month, as opposed to using a debit card to pay the bill immediately.
If you’re a snack buyer…
The biggest reason to use a credit card instead of a debit card is for the security of your money. If you pay with a credit card, and you credit card info gets stolen and used to buy something, you can usually get your money back because the credit card company will typically have a fraud protection service that you can call to cancel the charges before you pay your bill. If you bought a snack on a debit card and the debit card info gets stolen and then the money gets transferred from you bank account to a thief’s, it’s pretty unlikely that you’ll be able to get your money back.
Credit card companies typically have fraud protection programs for their transactions, but banks often do not have these programs for their debit cards.
If you’re a snack seller…
It’s probably not really up to you if the credit card reader will accept both debit and credit. So just be sure to find a credit card reader that is easy to use and secure for you and your customers. Some credit card readers or Point of Sales (POS) may also accept payments through apps like Apple Pay and Google Pay, which is probably a good idea if you want to convert as many sales as possible. Also, depending on the demographics that you machine attracts, younger buyers may be more comfortable using an app rather than a credit card.
