I’ve seen the data the reader gives us from a dip vs a tap (inserting your card vs NFC) and there is a difference. IIRC we would get the name on the card from a dip but not from a tap. In both cases we get the last 4 digits though.
At Home Depot at least they do this due (in part, if not in whole) to returns. Your virtual card number may change, since it’s generated every time you add it to a device. This breaks their easy return lookup where you simply present the item and your card, no receipt needed.
I actually ran into exactly this when I tried to make a return to Target after losing my receipt. I had replaced my phone and the card number changed. Luckily for random reasons I had my old phone laying around still and was able to come back and return with that.
Having done a receipt based return vs. dozens of card based returns at Home Depot, the staff time involved is orders of magnitude more so I understand why they would turn NFC off. Tracking may be part of this consideration too, but I’d speculate it’s secondary.
