I'm guessing the OP is from the U.S. A few notable differences in the U.S.: they've only been rolling it out for a few years and they use a signature instead of a PIN.
This is a suspicion, but I think they're slower in the U.S. because a) they're just slower b) the UX is worse. You insert the card, wait, then it asks for a signature (presumably because not all accounts, vendors, and dollar amounts require a signature?). From what I've seen overseas you insert the card, type in your PIN (in parallel to card processing)--so it appears to process more quickly because you're not waiting.
It is never, ever compared in the US. In fact, I haven't signed the back of a credit card in years, and the only time I did was when I was in Europe where every cashier thinks they're a forensic handwriting specialist.
Most likely this. I'm not sure why card readers in Germany don't ask for the PIN every time but when they don't you're generally asked to sign the cashier's copy of the receipt and they'll verify the signature against what's on the card.
However not only will the cashier generally let you simply put the card next to the receipt while you sign (because this makes verification easier for them) but it doesn't seem like they actually apply any scrutiny: the signature on my card is very different from the one I use for signing these days and it never raised an eyebrow.
FWIW, I've signed for card transactions in all kinds of places across Germany, from small shops to large hotels. I can't figure out what triggers the decision between PIN and signature but I swear I've used either in the same place at different times for equivalent amounts.
The transactions with PIN are more expensive for merchants, but the merchant isn’t liable. They are done via the EC network.
The transactions with signature have lower fees, but the merchant is liable, and you’re actually authorizing them to do a Bankeinzug via the Elektronisches Lastschriftverfahren.
EC transactions are done instantly, ELV are done overnight.
Yes. Above a dollar amount depending on the store. But basically no one compares it the card and inputting it on the pad is so crude you might as well just write an X (which my signature isn't much more sophisticated than anyway these days).
We have chip and pin too but only on debit cards. My Amex doesn't require a signature for anything under 50 dollars and can be very fast depending on the store. I think a lot of the blame is on legacy software. Some places have the chip readers but make you swipe first only for it to say insert card.
The chip and pin speeds have gotten better but still a ways off.
Never swipe before entering your PIN. If you do that, they can clone a card for use in ATMs, and withdraw your money as untraceable cash.
Connecting via the chip does not reveal enough information to reconstruct a magnetic strip for an ATM to accept, particularly if the machine is a total fake. But if you swipe the magnetic stripe, you can easily clone it exactly.
Don't the ATMs use the chip? All the ATMs I've seen here in Brazil either use the chip exclusively, or use the magstripe to identify the account but use the chip to confirm everything (not only withdrawals, but also simpler things like looking at the account balance).
This is a suspicion, but I think they're slower in the U.S. because a) they're just slower b) the UX is worse. You insert the card, wait, then it asks for a signature (presumably because not all accounts, vendors, and dollar amounts require a signature?). From what I've seen overseas you insert the card, type in your PIN (in parallel to card processing)--so it appears to process more quickly because you're not waiting.