WS II new card reader quits reading cards

[Kwiki]

Just curious if anyone with the new style dual head Panasonic card readers are having issues with the reader where it just totally quits reading cards. This is a brand new one with the latest added cover and all from Unitec. The current resolution to the issue is to power off the WS II and after a minute, turn it back on then all is well.

In the cold days of winter and dry air with static electricity is one thought I have but as said, just a thought.

 

[garbageman]

Known problem. Call Unitec and get yourself put on the list. There is no fix for this currently.

 

[Kwiki]

Yesterday was a busy day at the wash. Not a good day for the reader to have such issues. After Powering off the WS II a couple of times I had to take some steps to start determining why this is. So for now I have removed the metal cover and simply looped a strip of electrical tape from one side of the reader, over the top of the reader where the subject connection is that the cover is to protect and down the opposite side. Figuring this will provide some protection if it is water droplets etc. But the unit is running totally dry and no signs of any water issues. Since that was done the reader ran flawless the rest of the day. Today is looking as well to be another busy day so we'll see how it goes. When this first happened with my original reader I did the same thing and it worked good from then on for a couple weeks of which then when the replacement reader arrived it went in with the cover etc and the problem came back and was worse. So for now we'll see how my current remedy runs with it. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Kwiki]

Quick Update to this post. We have worked with Unitec and resolved the issue. All is well now. Thanks Unitec.

 

[Ric]

Since changing to the Panasonic card reader a couple months ago our "bad card reads" has dropped significantly. A worthwhile upgrade for sure. I'm happy with the unit at this point.

 

[Micah Savell]

The problems continue

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND IT SEEMS WITH LITTLE OR NO RESPONSE FROM UNITEC.

We field tested the dual readers and were so happy with the results. The credit card rejection rates dropped down between 2-6%. It appeared to be a real God send and so we upgraded the rest of our WSII (total of nine) to the dual readers. For a short while all was well and we were enjoying and reaping the benefits of more business and sooooo much less customer frustration.

Then all of a sudden we had an "unexplained" dumping of our change hopper (twice). Unitec said, "there was a software glich" and sent up a replacement. A little while later our credit card rejection rate started to climb again. Again there was a change with no long term results.

The machines have malfunctioned and twice we have lost everything and had to reprogram everything. it's a real pain when you have to manually re-input hundereds of fleet cards.

I have been exclusively with Unitec on their pay stations since we got into the car wash business thinking there would be much benefit but i think we were wrong in that assumption.

I am under construction with a new wash with two automatics and have decided to look for a new Vendor for our pay-stations. Loyalty does not seem to have mean what I thought it did. We are losing our butts because our WSII pay stations are rejecting more cards (69%) than ever before and Unitec is not responding. It is so bad we are re-installing the old single card readers. Wonder if Unitec would refund my money, especially since they don't mind charging you even for a phone call. If the machines don't work, I can't afford to pay their absurd charges for tech support.

As you can see I am not happy and if you are considering Unitec, you really need to look at them hard and talk to operators who have been using them for a good while. it's a stinking shame. Unitec needs a decision maker to get involved and find a solution.

 

[Gerry Grossman]

Reply from Unitec

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND IT SEEMS WITH LITTLE OR NO RESPONSE FROM UNITEC.

We field tested the dual readers and were so happy with the results. The credit card rejection rates dropped down between 2-6%. It appeared to be a real God send and so we upgraded the rest of our WSII (total of nine) to the dual readers. For a short while all was well and we were enjoying and reaping the benefits of more business and sooooo much less customer frustration.

Then all of a sudden we had an "unexplained" dumping of our change hopper (twice). Unitec said, "there was a software glich" and sent up a replacement. A little while later our credit card rejection rate started to climb again. Again there was a change with no long term results.

The machines have malfunctioned and twice we have lost everything and had to reprogram everything. it's a real pain when you have to manually re-input hundereds of fleet cards.

I have been exclusively with Unitec on their pay stations since we got into the car wash business thinking there would be much benefit but i think we were wrong in that assumption.

I am under construction with a new wash with two automatics and have decided to look for a new Vendor for our pay-stations. Loyalty does not seem to have mean what I thought it did. We are losing our butts because our WSII pay stations are rejecting more cards (69%) than ever before and Unitec is not responding. It is so bad we are re-installing the old single card readers. Wonder if Unitec would refund my money, especially since they don't mind charging you even for a phone call. If the machines don't work, I can't afford to pay their absurd charges for tech support.

As you can see I am not happy and if you are considering Unitec, you really need to look at them hard and talk to operators who have been using them for a good while. it's a stinking shame. Unitec needs a decision maker to get involved and find a solution.

Micah, I have looked into the situation you describe in your post and feel compelled to post some related facts. Our technicians have been regularly communicating with you and John to resolve the card reader issues related to jackpotting and bad card reads since 3/8/10 when you reported the issues to our tech support hotline and parts have been sent to you on three different occasions. The problems have been difficult to resolve but never have you or John been ignored. At this point, I understand that we feel confident that we have a resolution and that our lead technician is scheduled to talk to John on Monday as that is the soonest that John could be at the sites.

Finally, I would like to make it clear that Unitec does not charge for tech support and has never charged anyone who has called in to our tech support line.

Gerry Grossman
Director of Sales, Marketing & Customer Service
Unitec Electronics
ggrossman@unitecelectronics.com