Credit Card Systems Crash Statewide At Pennsylvania Liquor Stores
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Credit card systems are back up and running at Pennsylvania liquor stores after they were down statewide for a time the night before Thanksgiving.
The credit card system at Wine and Spirit stores statewide went down Wednesday afternoon, CBS 3's Greg Argos reports.
At the state-run Fine Wine and Good Spirits store near 20th and Market in Center City, the line wrapped around the store.
A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board said their credit card system was flooded with transactions between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The system overloaded and had to be reset. State IT workers did just that and the system is back, with a few sporadic outages.
However, there were some tense moments for some shoppers.
"Luckily, the cashier who called me the credit card machine was working, but next to me it was not and as soon as I was done, they moved him over. It's slowing down the system and frustrating some people. Everyone is commenting as they look at the line, and I contemplated leaving," said Meredith Pollock.
"Kind of waited it out, kind of like camping for concert tickets," said Sandy Freeman. "I don't think a lot of people had cash, so we kind of were a little stranded. People were just standing there and waiting until things got back online and they're up online now, so it wasn't too bad.
A manager at a Havertown liquor store told CBS 3's Joe Holden some people have left because they weren't carrying cash.
HAPPENING NOW - Manager at Havertown Wine and Spirits store says quite a few people have left because they don't have cash @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/9jMRnzsh3Y
— Joe Holden (@JoeHoldenCBS3) November 23, 2016
BREAKING: Unknown number of Pa. Wine and Spirits stores' credit/debit machines CRASHED. PLCB spox says they're looking into it @CBSPhilly
— Joe Holden (@JoeHoldenCBS3) November 23, 2016
Lmao, PA state liquor stores credit card system is down.
— Mic Dangles (@micdangles) November 23, 2016
Of course the liquor line was out the door and the credit card machine went down
— nadeah (@Massive_Beautyy) November 23, 2016
Some customers said it was a 30-minute wait.
