For the self-conscious: Cashiers generally don't give a fuck about your declined card and probably see declined cards many times a day. It's not worth their time to judge you, is what I am saying. If anything, they are just as broke as you and are quietly sympathizing.
Sometimes I'll be so distracted, that I will pay and then leave without my groceries. I've never made it past the parking lot without going back to get my recently purchased stuff...that I can remember
Also, I've had various cards decline 10-20 times over that last decade and not once was it due to not having funds on that account. The majority of the time it's using Amex where not supported. Or entering the wrong pin. Or me not seeing the sign that said debit only. Or me forgetting I had cancelled that card already.
Most systems will specify if it's insufficient funds so they will at least know it was declined for some other reason. As for insufficient funds, I don't judge (especially in this economy) but most often it's because they have the money but just need to transfer it between accounts or whatever.
Chip cards are the worst! 1000 questions and then I still need to use the pin anyways, and then it takes 60 seconds to process. I miss swiping and being done with it.
Are you talking about tap to pay? My credit union, and all of my credit cards don't use that feature unfortunately. I've used Google Pay a few times, but I have privacy concerns with that service.
All of my wife's cards have it, and I'd say probably 90% of the POS terminals support it, but somehow none of my cards have the chip. My credit union said they're working on it, but they're a tiny little place, so that's understandable. What I don't understand is why my Capitol One and Discover cards don't have them. Maybe they offer it now and I just need to request a new card, but that sounds too much like work.