DigiByte steps in as Target tech trouble causes chaos in-store

Software at cash registers in Target US stores crashed on Saturday, leading to huge lines of customers and abandoned shopping carts.

"Our registers are fully back online and guests are able to purchase their merchandise again in all stores. The temporary outage earlier today was the result of an internal technology issue that lasted for approximately two hours," the retailer said in a statement.

"Our technology team worked quickly to identify and fix the issue, and we apologise for the inconvenience and frustration this caused for our guests. After an initial but thorough review, we can confirm that this was not a data breach or security-related issue, and no guest information was compromised at any time. We appreciate all of our store team members who worked quickly to assist guests and thank everyone involved for their patience."

Enter the folks at DigiByte. The company hit Twitter to offer Target a helping hand, stating that its blockchain could handle all the company's payment needs.

Kroger

Another US retailer that needs blockchain tech in its life is Kroger, according to Anthony Pompliano, Founder and Partner at Morgan Creek Digital. Earlier this year, the grocery giant announced that its Smith’s Food & Drug Stores were joining the Foods Co. Supermarkets brand in not accepting Visa credit cards as a form of payment. The move extended its boycott to 142 supermarket and 108 fuel centre locations across seven US states.

"Visa has been misusing its position and charging retailers excessive fees for a long time," commented Mike Schlotman, Kroger's Executive Vice President and CFO. "They conceal from customers what Visa and its banks charge retailers to accept Visa credit cards. At Smith's, Visa's credit card fees are higher than any other credit card brand that we accept. Visa's excessive fees and unfairness cannot continue to go unchecked.”

Kroger said that it “continued to explore options to reduce the cost of accepting credit cards in order to keep prices low for customers”. Its big stand did not go unnoticed in the crypto space, with Pompliano suggesting on Twitter that the retailer get hooked up with the Lightning Network, Bitcoin's second layer payment protocol.

He followed this up with: ‘Just finished up first call with someone on Kroger Digital team. World class, forward thinking crew. Looks like things are progressing. Stay tuned.”

Visa responds

A Visa spokesperson told RTIH: “Cardholders are our first priority. Our goal is to ensure that every cardholder can use their Visa card wherever they wish to shop. When consumer choice is limited nobody wins. The Visa network delivers significant value for merchants including access to more customers, increased sales, security and fraud protection, a quick and convenient checkout experience, and ongoing innovation and implementation of the latest technologies. Kroger enjoys all of these benefits, and there is a cost for these services, like any other."

“It is unfair and disappointing that Kroger is putting shoppers in the middle of a business dispute. We have put forward a number of solutions to allow our cardholders to continue using their preferred Visa credit cards at Foods Co. and Smith’s without Kroger-imposed restrictions, and we continue to work toward a resolution. Visa debit and prepaid cards continue to be accepted across all Kroger stores, including Foods Co. and Smith’s.”