Grocery stores taking check use off shoppers' lists

[NFS4]

I know I always let out a SIGH when someone pulls out a check -- especially in the Express Lane.


Blurb:

Long before banks started locating branches inside supermarkets, grocery stores acted as informal financial establishments, cashing payroll checks and personal checks to provide ready cash for their customers. That's starting to change.

Whole Foods Market Inc. is considering banning the use of personal checks at its stores and this month stopped accepting checks at two stores in Los Angeles County and one in Arizona as a test.

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, the California division of British retailing giant Tesco, won't take personal checks at any of the 70 stores it operates in California.

"Supermarkets used to be a repository of checking, cashing payroll and personal checks, but in an age of direct deposit and debit cards, that's not something that is relevant to their customers anymore," said Mac Brand, a Chicago food industry consultant.

http://www.latimes.com/busines...9sep21,0,7679089.story

 

[adairusmc]

Good, it is about time. This needs to spread everywhere.

 

[coldmeat]

When I worked as a cashier we stopped taking cheques in 2004.

 

[Brainonska511]

I never had a problem with people writing checks when I was a cashier - in fact, all you had to do was sign it and the printer could fill out the check. Took about as long as someone making their way through the credit/debit card machine.

The problem was when people wanted to write a check after the entire order was rung up. Then they'd peruse their purses, slowly take out their checkbooks, go look for a pen, then slowly write out the entire check instead of filling in most of it before I was finished ringing them up.

 

[xSauronx]

at my dads drycleaners he doesnt need you to do anything to a check. hand it to the cashier, it gets scanned, approved/denied and thats it. its like using a debit card.

i thought a lot of places were doing this now,, meh

 

[Dumac]

Originally posted by: coldmeat
When I worked as a cashier we stopped taking cheques in 2004.

What about checks?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

The problem was when people wanted to write a check after the entire order was rung up. Then they'd peruse their purses, slowly take out their checkbooks, go look for a pen, then slowly write out the entire check instead of filling in most of it before I was finished ringing them up.

This is what happens 99% of the time that I'm behind someone writing a check. And more often than not, it's an old white lady with a cart full of frozen dinners and cat food.

 

[OCGuy]

Hello, I am one of those people who thinks using an ATM card is dangerous.


So instead, I will just hand you a check with my Routing #, account #, Name, and address. Oh, and they will probably want me to write my drivers license # on it as well.

 

[effowe]

I used to think old people writing checks was bad, until I got caught in line behind an old lady who didn't know what her pin number was. She ran the card over and over and seemed to not understand that she had to input a 'special code' for her transaction to go through. Give these people newer technologies and watch them STILL hold up the line.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Originally posted by: effowe
I used to think old people writing checks was bad, until I got caught in line behind an old lady who didn't know what her pin number was. She ran the card over and over and seemed to not understand that she had to input a 'special code' for her transaction to go through. Give these people newer technologies and watch them STILL hold up the line.

I've long advocated that old people should be locked up for the common good of all mankind. I also think that there should be a pre-test at the self-checkout line; if you don't pass, then you can't do self-checkout.

I was once in line at Costco when an old lady pulled out her checkbook after the order was rung up. The cashier told her that she could just sign it and the register would do the rest. The old lady ignored the cashier and spent the next three or four minutes filling out the check and balancing her records as the line of people looked on.

The old lady then complained about how everyone is in such a hurry.


Locked up! Common good of all mankind!!

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: OCguy
Hello, I am one of those people who thinks using an ATM card is dangerous.


So instead, I will just hand you a check with my Routing #, account #, Name, and address. Oh, and they will probably want me to write my drivers license # on it as well.

One of the many baffling behaviors of homo sapiens sapiens.

 

[zerocool84]

It's when old people use a check to pay for $5 worth of groceries.

 

[Dirigible]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer

Originally posted by: effowe
I used to think old people writing checks was bad, until I got caught in line behind an old lady who didn't know what her pin number was. She ran the card over and over and seemed to not understand that she had to input a 'special code' for her transaction to go through. Give these people newer technologies and watch them STILL hold up the line.

I've long advocated that old people should be locked up for the common good of all mankind. I also think that there should be a pre-test at the self-checkout line; if you don't pass, then you can't do self-checkout.

I was once in line at Costco when an old lady pulled out her checkbook after the order was rung up. The cashier told her that she could just sign it and the register would do the rest. The old lady ignored the cashier and spent the next three or four minutes filling out the check and balancing her records as the line of people looked on.

The old lady then complained about how everyone is in such a hurry.


Locked up! Common good of all mankind!!

What about beatings? Will there be beatings?

 

[cruzer]

Ever see an old person try and figure out how to use their new credit or debit card to pay for groceries? It takes as long as a check. They swipe the card backwards because they don't understand the concept of a magnetic strip, they can't read or understand the prompts on the screen, and they insist on legibly signing their full name instead of a quick scribble like the rest of us.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Dumac

Originally posted by: coldmeat
When I worked as a cashier we stopped taking cheques in 2004.

What about checks?

It's cheques in Canada, eh (Pronounced as A!)

See his profile!

Sorta like Walmart Supercenter is listed as Walmart Supercentre in Canada (Yes, I've seen this)!

 

[Gothgar]

Originally posted by: Dumac

Originally posted by: coldmeat
When I worked as a cashier we stopped taking cheques in 2004.

What about checks?

:laugh:

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: OCguy
Hello, I am one of those people who thinks using an ATM card is dangerous.


So instead, I will just hand you a check with my Routing #, account #, Name, and address. Oh, and they will probably want me to write my drivers license # on it as well.

One of the many baffling behaviors of homo sapiens sapiens.

Owned? Check! :laugh::thumbsup:

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: cruzer
Ever see an old person try and figure out how to use their new credit or debit card to pay for groceries? It takes as long as a check. They swipe the card backwards because they don't understand the concept of a magnetic strip, they can't read or understand the prompts on the screen, and they insist on legibly signing their full name instead of a quick scribble like the rest of us.

Yeah it's hell. But I was surprised last night when the old lady in front of me had her Safeway card AND Visa card out. Swipe Swipe. Done. Very impressive. Maybe she's one of the hip Silicon Valley elderly.

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer

Originally posted by: effowe
I used to think old people writing checks was bad, until I got caught in line behind an old lady who didn't know what her pin number was. She ran the card over and over and seemed to not understand that she had to input a 'special code' for her transaction to go through. Give these people newer technologies and watch them STILL hold up the line.

I've long advocated that old people should be locked up for the common good of all mankind. I also think that there should be a pre-test at the self-checkout line; if you don't pass, then you can't do self-checkout.

I was once in line at Costco when an old lady pulled out her checkbook after the order was rung up. The cashier told her that she could just sign it and the register would do the rest. The old lady ignored the cashier and spent the next three or four minutes filling out the check and balancing her records as the line of people looked on.

The old lady then complained about how everyone is in such a hurry.


Locked up! Common good of all mankind!!

Costco is one of the more acceptable places to use a check. I can understand not everyone has an AMEX card or wants to use their debit card, but seriously I don't understand. Just get a freaking AMEX card. I also don't get the people who whip out Benjamins like they got 5 or 6 of them to pay for their family shopping at Costco. WTF do you do? Spend 5 min going to the ATM (oh wait no the ATM spits out 20s), so you obviously spend even more time getting in line WHILE the bank is open to get your $100 bills? WTF? Even if I paid in 20s at Costco, I would not go to the ATM just to get a bunch of money to pay in cash at Costco. I do not understand people. Your check card works there too you know....

 

[CRXican]

Originally posted by: effowe
I used to think old people writing checks was bad, until I got caught in line behind an old lady who didn't know what her pin number was. She ran the card over and over and seemed to not understand that she had to input a 'special code' for her transaction to go through. Give these people newer technologies and watch them STILL hold up the line.

I got stuck behind "what's my PIN?" lady. Took at least 3 tries before she got it right meanwhile my bag of ice was melting.

 

[ahenkel]

my grandpa used to pay for .35 cent senior coffee at McDonald's with a check

 

[PricklyPete]

God I hope this takes off...RIGHT NOW!!!

 

[TheVrolok]

Drives me crazy when people pull out a check in the express line at the grocery store. It also seems like they end up screwing up writing the first, second, and third check before getting it right.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Originally posted by: Dirigible

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer

Originally posted by: effowe
I used to think old people writing checks was bad, until I got caught in line behind an old lady who didn't know what her pin number was. She ran the card over and over and seemed to not understand that she had to input a 'special code' for her transaction to go through. Give these people newer technologies and watch them STILL hold up the line.

I've long advocated that old people should be locked up for the common good of all mankind. I also think that there should be a pre-test at the self-checkout line; if you don't pass, then you can't do self-checkout.

I was once in line at Costco when an old lady pulled out her checkbook after the order was rung up. The cashier told her that she could just sign it and the register would do the rest. The old lady ignored the cashier and spent the next three or four minutes filling out the check and balancing her records as the line of people looked on.

The old lady then complained about how everyone is in such a hurry.


Locked up! Common good of all mankind!!

What about beatings? Will there be beatings?

Of course there will be beatings. Of course.

Things will be better when I'm in charge.

Originally posted by: ahenkel
my grandpa used to pay for .35 cent senior coffee at McDonald's with a check

Locked up! Common good of all mankind!!

 

[HannibalX]

Checks don't bother me. I can write one out as quickly as most people can swipe their card and fiddle with the menus.

 

[marvdmartian]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
I never had a problem with people writing checks when I was a cashier - in fact, all you had to do was sign it and the printer could fill out the check. Took about as long as someone making their way through the credit/debit card machine.

The problem was when people wanted to write a check after the entire order was rung up. Then they'd peruse their purses, slowly take out their checkbooks, go look for a pen, then slowly write out the entire check instead of filling in most of it before I was finished ringing them up.

Just as bad as getting behind a woman at the drive up atm, right?

Sadly, I got to wait for "that woman" just last week, when I stopped by my bank to get some cash. Yep. She was just taking her cash as I pulled up.......and it still took her as long to pull away from the atm, from that point in time, as it took me to do my entire atm transaction!!! :roll: