EMV: The Cost of Confusion

Promoting and Advancing Petroleum Marketing, Retail Grocery, and Convenience Stores in West Virginia

Driving Local Business and Community Growth Across West Virginia

Our Purpose and Commitment

OMEGA is a West Virginia-based organization dedicated to supporting and advancing the business interests of the state’s petroleum marketing, retail grocery, and convenience store industries.

As a network of over 225 locally owned businesses, OMEGA actively promotes cooperation, advocates for favorable legislation, and provides education and resources to its members. With over 50,000 employees, OMEGA members significantly contribute to the state’s economy, generating more than 10% of all state taxes and supporting local communities through scholarships, charitable donations, and civic involvement.

OMEGA is committed to fostering industry growth while serving West Virginians with essential services like fuel, food, and convenience.

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Your Essential Connection in West Virginia

OMEGA offers three types of membership: Convenience Store Members, Petroleum Marketer Members, and Grocer Members, all of which play a vital role in providing fuel, food, and essentials across West Virginia. As a liaison with state and national agencies, OMEGA works closely with organizations like NACS, PMAA, FMI, and the N.G.A. to advocate on behalf of its members.

We keep members informed through newsletters, legislative updates, an online resource hub, and educational seminars. Additional member benefits include access to the Encova Workers’ Compensation Discount Program and participation in our annual Trade Expo and fundraising efforts for children’s charities. OMEGA is here to support, advocate, and enhance the success of our industry members.

The one-year anniversary of the EMV shift is just around the corner. FMI has heard countless stories about the delay in certification and the increase in cost of business operations, even for retailers who have the chip-card readers installed in stores.

<img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/fmi-in-the-news.tmb-large-350-.png?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="FMI in the news" title="FMI in the news" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" />The one-year anniversary of the EMV shift is just around the corner. FMI has heard countless stories about the delay in certification and the increase in cost of business operations, even for retailers who have the chip-card readers installed in stores.   The following opinion piece appeared in <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/298256-emv-the-cost-of-confusion">The Hill on September 28, 2016</a>.   Oct. 1, 2016 marks the one-year anniversary since the chip-card, or EMV, deadline set by the major card brands went into effect. Prior to the deadline, the grocery industry spent more than five years and hundreds of millions of dollars to become EMV enabled. Despite the proactive efforts to meet the card networks’ arbitrary deadline, many grocers are still struggling to become EMV enabled. Over the past year, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has heard countless stories from members whose EMV deployment was pushed back time and again by their overwhelmed vendors. While grocers had the hardware in stores and awaited software certification, they faced an unprecedented spike in chargebacks. Grocers reported receiving tens of thousands of dollars a week in chargebacks; and some of the hardest hit had an astounding $1 million week in chargebacks. In early September, Digital Transactions put a real number on the pain being inflicted by the card brands onto Main Street retailers. They reported that American merchants will shoulder an additional $5.8 billion in chargebacks as a result of the card brand’s EMV liability shift.  <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/298256-emv-the-cost-of-confusion" target="_blank">Continue reading the full story in The Hill</a>

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Supporting West Virginia Communities

OMEGA members play a vital role in West Virginia, supporting communities through substantial tax contributions and a wide-reaching presence across the state. With over 55% of the population living in border counties, our members are dedicated to serving both local and regional needs. Beyond business, we’re proud to give back, having contributed over $3.1 million to children’s charities since 2003, reflecting our commitment to making a positive difference.