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Waiting an infinity for QR code payments to go through?
Waiting an infinity for QR code payments to go through?

Malay Mail

time5 hours ago

  • Business
  • Malay Mail

Waiting an infinity for QR code payments to go through?

JUNE 28 — Most people are aware there are some important issues and problems related to QR code payments. These include: security and fraud risks, code interoperability, merchant confusion, refunds, transaction fees, limited adoption, etc. However, there is a less critical but (potentially) no less annoying one. I was standing in line at a nasi kandar shop, waiting for my turn to pay. There were only two other customers in front of me, so I didn't envision a long wait. But then three minutes became five minutes then eight became 10 until not just me but the patrons behind me were like, okay, what on earth is happening? Then lo and behold, we found out the reason for the delay: It appears one of the folks in front of me was waiting for his Touch & Go app to load! Out of embarrassment, the person shyly showed us his screen, with the dreaded 'spinning wheel' reflecting its ongoing attempt to load. Thankfully none of us were facing some national emergency so we all patiently waited and smiled and gave each other 'Yeah I know right' nods. Eventually, perhaps after 12 minutes or so, the problem was fixed and we all managed to pay and leave. However, I wonder if this incident reflects a deeper problem with digital payments in general and QR code payments in particular. As we all know, these mobile banking and e-wallet apps require frequent updates. Long and short, we are certainly going to see longer queues when making payment at shops because the functionality and speed of old phones (or just slow ones) is a problem which won't go away too fast. — SoyaCincau pic That's fine and good given security and performance concerns but, alamak, not everyone possesses high-quality phones which can cater to so many updates and, aiyo, not everyone is phone-savvy enough to close their numerous apps before opening their e-wallets to make payment. Long and short, we are certainly going to see longer queues when making payment at shops because the functionality and speed of old phones (or just slow ones) is a problem which won't go away too fast. In case anyone is tempted to think this is 'not that big a deal', consider that every day in Malaysia we can have literally millions of over-the-counter transactions involving QR payments. Imagine if even 10 per cent of such transactions are stretched five minutes longer? How much time would be collectively wasted? Analogously, isn't this why our government created the MyBorder Pass to save an extra minute or so despite the airport's autogate working relatively fast? Because when you add up all the minutes, the time savings are substantial and everyone wins? I've lost count of the number of times I've had to tell a customer behind me at a KK Mart to go ahead and pay first (despite me being ahead of said person in the queue) because I forgot I needed about 20 seconds for my Maybank app to load and, sigh, I didn't bring my wallet. Now imagine a customer who not only has no other way (apart from the QR code) to make his payment but he also forgot to update his app such that he's got to perform the update on the spot. A perfect storm is if this person's phone is a bit dated and he refuses to let anyone take his place until the upgrade is completed. And you wonder why there are videos of people fighting over wait times! Anyway, if this article does nothing but encourage people who always use QR code payments to kindly get their apps ready before they join the payment counter queue, I'd be happy. We Malaysians certainly need less stress in our lives. * This is the personal opinion of the columnist.

Major US chain with 45 branches FINALLY adds iconic menu item to UK restaurants
Major US chain with 45 branches FINALLY adds iconic menu item to UK restaurants

The Sun

time5 hours ago

  • Business
  • The Sun

Major US chain with 45 branches FINALLY adds iconic menu item to UK restaurants

A MAJOR US chain with 45 branches has finally added an iconic menu item to UK restaurants. Wendy's is bringing its Biggie Bag to the UK, giving customers a chance to try what Americans have dubbed the "best deal in fast food". 1 The meal deal gives customers a chance to get a small cheeseburger, chicken nuggets, small fries and drink for £5. Diners can upgrade for an extra £2.99 to get their hands on one of the chain's "premium" burgers such as a Wendy's Spicy Chicken or Wendy's Single. The more pricey version also comes with chicken nuggets, a small drink and chips. Wendy's £5 bargain allows customers to save around £1.77 The price of a small drink is around £1.49 at the chain, while the cost of a small burger is £2.49 and a four piece nugget is £2.79 and fries costs £1.59. If you bought all the items separately it would cost £8.36, but be aware prices may vary from store to store. Meanwhile, customers who upgrade to the £7.99 Biggie Bag can save £3.17. The offer has been a long standing feature in Wendy's restaurants in the US, with customers saying they "love it". One loyal fan said: "I upgrade to a large so my toddler can share and have the nuggets and some burger. So much better than McDonald's." While another customer said: "The Biggie bag is absolutely delicious I get it every time I go to Wendy's." If you are keen to try it out for yourself you will need to be quick as the offer will only be available on UK menus until August 1. You can find your nearest Wendy's by visiting, And that is not all the fast-food chain has also launched two new nugget flavours . It's new spicy nuggets are drenched in either Frank's RedHot Buffalo Sauce or Cattleman's Honey BBQ Sauce. The menu item will available to try from July 1. MORE FAST FOOD NEWS And Wendy's is not the only fast-food chain to shake things up recently. Slim Chickens has opened four new sites across the UK this month including sites in Swansea, Ealing, Walton and Birmingham. Another four Slim Chickens restaurants are set to open soon in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Reading, along with an undisclosed location in West London. The final two sites, also undisclosed, will complete the chain's 16 new openings in 2025. Elsewhere, Carls Jnr will be opening new sites in Southampton, Bristol, Manchester, York and Leeds. The Swansea restaurant is set to open in late August, while the chain is likely to land in Southampton and Manchester around October. No dates have been confirmed yet for the remaining restaurants. How to save money eating out THERE are a number of ways that you can save money when eating out. Here's how: Discount codes - Check sites like Sun Vouchers or VoucherCodes for any discount codes you can use to get money off your order. Tastecard - This is a members club where you pay to have access to discounts worth up to 50 per cent off at thousands of restaurants. It costs £4.99 a month or £34.99 for the year. Loyalty schemes - Some restaurants will reward you with discounts or a free meal if you register with their loyalty scheme, such as Nando's where you can collect a stamp with every visit. Some chains like Pizza Express will send you discounts for special occasions, such as your birthday, if you sign up to their newsletter. Voucher schemes - Look out for voucher schemes offered by third party firms, such as Meerkat Meals. If you compare and buy a product through then you'll be rewarded with access to the discount scheme. You'll get 2 for 1 meals at certain restaurants through Sunday to Thursday. Student discounts - If you're in full-time education or a member of the National Students Union then you may be able to get a discount of up to 15 per cent off the bill. It's always worth asking before you place your order.

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