Eli5: When your credit card doesn’t read at a credit card machine, why does covering it with a plastic bag suddenly make it work?

Question

Had this done multiple time at the register. Card not reading, so the cashier will cover the ribbon or the chip with a plastic bag and YATZEE, it goes through. Why?

In: 407

Answer 1

Before the stripe gets smeared, the protective coating is removed. Just tilt the card in the slot so that the gap is increased it will often work.