Originally Posted by
alexmt
If you were aware they couldn't take Amex, isn't that kinda a form of theft?
I think we all need to be ready when dealing with small merchants to realise any one of us could, by some bad luck, be the first user of an IC card after a merchant's acquirer enables EMV. It's unlikely where I live (LOTS of tourists) but in other places, very possible. Just tell them "insert the card into the slot" and unless they just refuse because they're clueless, problem solved
Last time I was in the US (I'm not american and have no US bank accounts or credit cards) I paid with a debit card for most of my purchases. The problem then for me was that when I chose "debit" they required me to insert my PIN but didn't respond to it when I did. So I had to chose "credit" to enable me to withdraw money.
The "chip enabled card" was only a problem once, but I think I moved the card myself so it worked out okay anyway. Once I inserted my card and was told to swipe it, I politely declined and paid.