Late Night Near‑Disaster
After a late girl‑mode night out, heading home a little after 3am, I stop to use a self‑service 24‑hour petrol station.
Card in the card reader on the pump, enter PIN with knuckles because I’m wearing very long “coffin‑style” acrylic nails and the number pad is slightly recessed, making it impossible to press with my fingertips, and the buttons are quite stiff so I don’t want to break a nail. So far so good.
“Please remove your card” the screen says. And this is where it all goes horribly wrong.
The card goes into the slot under the number-pad. A small amount of the card is left exposed – well, the middle part of the shortest edge. Unfortunately, the amount of card left accessible is about the same length as (or slightly shorter than) the amount by which my acrylic nails stick out beyond the end of my fingertips. I can’t get hold of the card to remove it.
Normally in a situation like this – when needing to tackle a soft drink can, for example, I simply ask someone nearby to assist. So whilst the design of such cans is annoying, and could be better & more inclusive, it isn’t a complete blocker.
But it’s after 3am. It’s quiet. And I’m feeling a little vulnerable all of a sudden. There is no one else at the petrol station, and I don’t feel like flagging down a stranger whilst dressed all party‑tarty.
I’ve stuck the nails on very carefully and none of them are loose. Getting one or more off without solvent would be a tricky ask, and I don’t feel like taking them off yet anyway.
Eventually I just manage to wiggle it free, using both little fingers (with the shortest nails), one above the card, one below it, and I’m glad no one is watching because it must look most weird.
I’m relieved, but annoyed, as I fill up the car. This design is not necessary – it serves no purpose to so restrict the space around the card and cause this issue.
Once more, it’s down to designers not being fuly representative of the range of people in society, and thus not considering the full range of users. We, as a society, should do better I believe.
Sophie Baskerville 