While chip and tap are common now, some customers still swipe. A broken magstripe reader means you can't serve everyone, and manual entry is risky and slow.
Use a card reader cleaning card or wrap a cloth around a card and swipe through. Debris buildup is the #1 cause of read failures.
Cards must be swiped with the stripe facing the correct direction. Check the indicator on your device.
Try different cards. If only certain cards fail, those cards may be damaged. If all fail, the reader needs attention.
Look inside the card slot for visible debris, bent metal, or damage. Foreign objects can block the magnetic head.
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Worn or demagnetized cards are hard to read. If the pattern is random, your reader may be dirty or failing.
Yes, if the card has a chip, use the chip reader instead. Chip is more secure and reliable than magstripe.
Weekly cleaning is recommended for high-volume locations. Use proper cleaning cards designed for magnetic stripe readers.