topic Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off in Credit in the News

Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 12:20:19 GMT

Banks and retailers have started turning away from horizontal designs and are opting to issue cards with a portrait orientation instead. Part of the thinking: Swiping a magnetic stripe horizontally is becoming a thing of the past as more consumers dip or tap their cards at checkout.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-11/credit-cards-are-turning-vertical-with-tap-to-pay-taking-off

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

thornback — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 14:36:27 GMT

Yeah so I don't like the vertical designs. They're funny looking and it's taking me too long to adapt to the visual change.

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

blindambition — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 15:35:59 GMT

I completely hate this change!! Vertical cards and removal of raised numbers is a pain for blind consumers like myself. Raised numbers and front logos were a tactile marker to know top and bottom of card.

Unfortunately all stores aren't tap and go ready yet. It's no big deal when Contactless is available, or when I can use ApplePay.

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

thornback — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 16:13:30 GMT

@blindambition wrote:
I completely hate this change!! Vertical cards and removal of raised numbers is a pain for blind consumers like myself. Raised numbers and front logos were a tactile marker to know top and bottom of card.
Unfortunately all stores aren't tap and go ready yet. It's no big deal when Contactless is available, or when I can use ApplePay.

This is an excellent point and why marketing teams need far more diversification. Ableism is a huge problem too few people acknowledge.

Can you special request raised-digit cards, or is it not even an option these days?

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

blindambition — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 16:31:31 GMT

@thornback wrote:
@blindambition wrote:
I completely hate this change!! Vertical cards and removal of raised numbers is a pain for blind consumers like myself. Raised numbers and front logos were a tactile marker to know top and bottom of card.
Unfortunately all stores aren't tap and go ready yet. It's no big deal when Contactless is available, or when I can use ApplePay.
This is an excellent point and why marketing teams need far more diversification. Ableism is a huge problem too few people acknowledge.

Can you special request raised-digit cards, or is it not even an option these days?

Very few lenders offer another option. Cost saving measure I'm sure.

I often place a mini bump dot at bottom right of card. Allows me to know bottom of card, but when you're rushed, and not trying to back up the line, it's frustrating sometimes.

Bump dots are adhesive stickers with raised dots. Mostly used to identify buttons on microwaves, stoves, etc., but we find other useful applications.

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

thornback — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 16:43:11 GMT

@blindambition wrote:
@thornback wrote:
@blindambition wrote:
I completely hate this change!! Vertical cards and removal of raised numbers is a pain for blind consumers like myself. Raised numbers and front logos were a tactile marker to know top and bottom of card.
Unfortunately all stores aren't tap and go ready yet. It's no big deal when Contactless is available, or when I can use ApplePay.
This is an excellent point and why marketing teams need far more diversification. Ableism is a huge problem too few people acknowledge.

Can you special request raised-digit cards, or is it not even an option these days?
Very few lenders offer another option. Cost saving measure I'm sure.
I often place a mini bump dot at bottom right of card. Allows me to know bottom of card, but when you're rushed, and not trying to back up the line, it's frustrating sometimes.
Bump dots are adhesive stickers with raised dots. Mostly used to identify buttons on microwaves, stoves, etc., but we find other useful applications.

Great work-around but it shouldn't be your problem to solve, imo.

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 23:43:41 GMT

I can't stand vertical card designs either.

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

FinStar — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 19:28:43 GMT

I may be the odd one here (but not alone I'm sure), I really like the vertical designs 👌. Some of the flat (non embossed) designs have grown on me over time.

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

calyx — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 15:06:36 GMT

My most recent card is a vertical and it really looks nice. I do prefer the horizontal designs, though.

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

Kforce — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 20:40:33 GMT

Time for me to invent and patent a new vertical card wallet.

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 18:29:02 GMT

I don't love them, but I also don't hate them. The one I have is the Amazon Prime BIZ and it's alright, the configuration/orientation of the words doesn't make it any easier to use though. Whether the card is horizontal or vertical the chip is still in the same place when inserting into the machine or tapping, and you're still holding it by the other end to do so.

I do prefer the horizontal look due to how they're placed in a wallet because it allows you to see/read the card you're after, where as the vertical look doesn't. The only time that could come into play is when they're in my phone case where the cards are stored with the ends showing ratehr than the tops. However, since the wording of said cards are even place at the ends you dtill do not know which card it is. Just that it's either Amex, Visa or Master Card etc. by seeing the logo at the bottom right corner.

So for me the classic card design wins out and if an option to choose between the two I'll choose that one every time. At least until they redesign the vertical cards so that they're easier to read quickly.

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

randian — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 16:51:34 GMT

Raised numbers are a wear point on the card, both in the wallet and from slot insertion. That's probably why more and more cards don't have them. I'm also seeing more cards with the card number and expiration date on the back, not the front, like my BofA Premium Rewards and Cash Rewards cards.

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

TampaBAY86 — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 23:21:11 GMT

@FinStar wrote:
I may be the odd one here (but not alone I'm sure), I really like the vertical designs 👌. Some of the flat (non embossed) designs have grown on me over time.

You are not alone. I really like vertical cards as well.

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

designated_knitter — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 20:44:50 GMT

@FinStar wrote:
I may be the odd one here (but not alone I'm sure), I really like the vertical designs 👌. Some of the flat (non embossed) designs have grown on me over time.

I also tend to like the vertical designs -- they are easier to distinguish in my wallet because the name is at the top vs seeing a row of all black or grey cards. One of the reasons I like the Navy cards -- their colors tend to be more distinctive so less chance for pulling the wrong one by mistake.

Re: Credit Cards Are Turning Vertical With Tap-to-Pay Taking Off

designated_knitter — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 20:47:48 GMT

@randian wrote:
Raised numbers are a wear point on the card, both in the wallet and from slot insertion. That's probably why more and more cards don't have them. I'm also seeing more cards with the card number and expiration date on the back, not the front, like my BofA Premium Rewards and Cash Rewards cards.

The problem I have, though, is that the ink wears off on the flat numbers -- especially on the CVV code so it is really hard to read. Most wallets have such tight slots for sliding the cards in and out after just a few months, I find myself not being able to read the numbers.

I'm one of those dinosaurs that refuses to use Apple Pay -- though I suppose I should change and get with the times.