美国国家公共电台 NPR--How the chip shortage is affecting the credit card business

How the chip shortage is affecting the credit card business

Transcript¹

It used to take seven to 10 business days to get a new credit card. Because of an ongoing² chip shortage, deliveries can take almost two months, and that could be the case through the end of the year.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

It used to be that if you needed to urgently replace your debit³ or credit card, you could get one within a week or so. Not anymore. NPR's Arezou Rezvani explains why.

AREZOU REZVANI, BYLINE⁴: It happens to the best of us. You need to pay for something, so you reach for your wallet to get your credit card, only to realize it's not there. In fact, it's not anywhere. So you call your bank. You answer some questions. And you'll have a replacement⁵ in no time, right? Not so fast, says Larry Esters, a card services manager at Signal Financial Federal Credit Union.

LARRY ESTERS: Before the pandemic, the expectation just in the industry was seven to 10 business days. Nowadays, it takes a little bit more time, six to eight weeks.

REZVANI: Almost two months for a card. That's all because of, once again, the chip shortage. That little piece of technology is essential for enhanced credit card security. When the pandemic hit and kick-started the shortage, card manufacturers were suddenly in trouble, says Alain Martin with the Smart Payment Association.

ALAIN MARTIN: Our industry is in competition, for example, with the car manufacturing industry. They use the same kind of chip technology. And so because of this competition, there's been a greater demand, shorter supply, hence delays.

REZVANI: And it's not just the auto⁶ industry card manufacturers compete with, it's phones, it's computers, appliances, video gaming. Chips are embedded⁷ in products we use every single day. But for some, this problem is a chance to finally break free from the past.

AARON KLEIN: Why are we waiting on chips? Why are we waiting on plastic cards? The technology exists to do the whole thing totally different. You don't need a plastic card with a chip.

REZVANI: That's Aaron Klein. He focuses on financial technology and regulation at Brookings and worked on economic policy at the Treasury⁸ Department following the 2008 recession.

KLEIN: America is behind the times. Our payment system is extremely outdated⁹. In China, it's all done on smartphones and QR codes.

REZVANI: One big reason is because Americans have long been wary¹⁰ of digital wallets. People didn't love the idea of flashing their phones to pay by mobile. But the pandemic has changed attitudes, says Jordan McKee, who researches financial tech at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

JORDAN MCKEE: Consumers were thinking more about social distancing and, you know, hygiene¹¹ and speed - right? - moving through the queues in the stores in a more efficient manner. And so we saw certainly mainstream¹² consumers across the board begin to gravitate more and more towards mobile.

REZVANI: Mobile payments have jumped from less than 5% of in-store purchases just a few years ago to roughly 30% today. McKee says this sudden and enduring embrace could be a chance for the financial system to catch up with the rest of the world. Until then, for those not quite ready to part ways with their plastic. Analysts¹³ say credit and debit card delays will likely continue through the year.

Arezou Rezvani, NPR News, Los Angeles.

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1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 debit   

n.借方，借项，记人借方的款项

参考例句：

• To whom shall I debit this sum?此款应记入谁的账户的借方？
• We undercharge Mr.Smith and have to send him a debit note for the extra amount.我们少收了史密斯先生的钱，只得给他寄去一张借条所要欠款。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

6 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

7 embedded   

a.扎牢的

参考例句：

• an operation to remove glass that was embedded in his leg 取出扎入他腿部玻璃的手术
• He has embedded his name in the minds of millions of people. 他的名字铭刻在数百万人民心中。

8 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

9 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

10 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

11 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。

12 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

13 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。