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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   2028 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for November 9, 2025

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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More than once, I've received an email with a link that goes to a PDF with a QR code, which leads to a website for usually making reservations or a payment or some such thing. Why would anyone want that??? I understand why someone might print a QR code for a paper poster, or in-person presentation, but in an email link?!? Multiple people have done this since Covid, including multiple school administrators.

When I receive these emails, I open up my computer and phone, load the PDF on my computer, scan the QR with my phone, load the site, copy the URL, email the URL to myself, then open it on my computer. Am I missing something essential about how this is supposed to work?

Relatedly, the schools around here have gone cashless. I can see how that would be convenient. But instead of using Square or something that charges 3% or so, they use a payment processor I've never heard of before that charges $1 per transaction, mostly for transactions of $5 - $10. Is it providing a real service of protecting the schools from liability somehow?

Is it providing a real service of protecting the schools from liability somehow?

Most likely the payment processor came to the school with a deal where the processor will provide and install all the hardware and software needed, while giving the school a chunk of that fee.

What would they install? It's web based, no cards are run in person, and the users type in all their information for each transaction. If someone wants to buy something live at an event, they scan a QR code, and put in their information themselves on their phone (Though that's only theoretical, everything has been preorder by phone interface, actually). People can't bring their physical payment card and run it, like retail.

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