Maybe it's just a difference in how relatively new the technology is to US retailers then, UK shops have had plenty of time to work out the kinks and learn what hardware to avoid.
The first generation of Chip&Pin in the UK were garbage too. Slow and often failed to read the chip, resulting in awkwardly cleaning the chip contacts.
Most of the machines were replaced inside of the first year and things have improved substantially since then.
Ahh yes I do remember a few instances of that now... I wonder what the introduction of the magnetic strip was like, looks like that technology arrived in 1969, anyone here experience that transition?
