Why do people write checks at the store?

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daniel49

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
4,814
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71
Im less prone to writing checks then swiping a debit card and making a charge.
therefore the inconvienance makes me less prone to spending money on impulse.
Works well for me the real problem with women in stores that I have seen is they sit thgere and gab for 10 minutes before they write the check...jmho
 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
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81
Because they're assholes and want to piss everybody off. Mmmm... maybe I should take 10 mins. to write a check for a pack of gum next time I go to safeway.
 

Injury

Lifer
Jul 19, 2004
13,066
2
81
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: Injury
But it was apparently worth it to take 2-5 minutes to think out and write that post. :roll:

Nice one. really.


yeah because I am relaxing doing other stuff not standing in a line doing nothing. I can have a beer, watch a movie, etc.

There is a difference....but....

you talking "you GOTTA be like, an ER doctor or a big celebrity or something" is teh funnay though...ER doctor or big celebrity ..... wow! sort of a little low bred to me.

after high school or when you find a chick your time may be a little more important.

Å

Nice. That was hilarious. I laughed for a lot longer than I've ever waited in line because someone is writing a check. Really, I did. Stop being so funny, I can't concentrate on what I'm typing.
 

TitanDiddly

Guest
Dec 8, 2003
12,696
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Some people are technophobic.

I once observed a lady slide her debit card, and proceed to move her face 3 inches from the card reader to punch in her pin, while trying to cover what she was doing with her other hand and a bag of merchandise. She wouldn't leave the counter until I reassured her that her account number and PIN were not in the computer anymore.
 

TitanDiddly

Guest
Dec 8, 2003
12,696
1
0
Being a backup cashier part of the day, let me explain how checks and debit/credit cards work on most terminals.

Check-
Person usually waits until the total is ready before filling out the check. This takes about 10-15 seconds.
If any ID check is performed, it takes from 15-90 seconds. My employer requires this only when a telephone number is not on the check, but nobody does anyway.
The check is fed into the reader/printer. This takes about 5 seconds.
The check is fed through the printer, then back through(so the machine knows where the ends are) This takes about 5 seconds.
The check is scanned for the acct/routing number. Another 5.
The terminal contacts the Telecheck center/bank via network and confirms funds. This takes almost exactly as long as the credit/debit equivalent. About 8 seconds.
The check is printed. This takes 8 seconds.
The check is removed from the printer and inserting in the cash drawer's safe slot.
The receipt starts printing about 2 seconds later, and takes from 2-15 seconds to print.


Debit/Credit
The perons usually slides their card while their merchandise is being rung up, or immediately after.
They select their payment type. 2 seconds.
Cashier presses a button. 0-5 seconds reaction time- this time may not matter if the person is entering a PIN.
Computer checks the card into via network. About 3-8 seconds. (Some banks are fast)
Receipt is printed.
If it was a credit transaction, receipt is signed and inserted into the register.


In either case, a good cashier can work the early parts of these processes into the scanning and bagging procedure. However, there is always an awkward wait time for checks.

Also, debit is faster than cash in many cases, assuming the cashier is proficient.
 

mattyrug

Golden Member
Sep 25, 2000
1,162
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Originally posted by: alkemyst


damn get all *perked* up?

I guess it justifies people's pathetic existance. If you are happy at being stuck in traffic 45mins you life sux...plain and simple.

uhhhm... no, not happy about it at all, but the fact that he was in such a hurry, then got stuck for 45 minutes, made the wait enjoyable!. I don't care, I'll hold up a line just to piss off some self-important jerk-off who thinks he's better, and more important than everyone else.
 

Boze

Senior member
Dec 20, 2004
634
14
91
Originally posted by: RgrPark
Yesterday, I'm in line at this store and the express lane opens up so I rush over there to get behind this lady who ends up writing a check for her stuff. Takes a long time for her to finish the transaction and everyone on the line probably got annoyed.

So my question is, why do people still write checks? I am sure every bank has debit/credit cards nowdays. If they want to keep track, can't they just go online and view their transactions? Someone explain. I just don't see any advantges/conveniences of writing a check.

Okay asshat, let's turn the tables... Why do you pay for everything with your debit / credit card? You are holding ME up because I pay for everything I need with cash.
Let's review my night out last night and see how much of my time you would have wasted if you were in line in front of me, shall we?

Cigar at The Smoke Shop - CASH
Latte at Starbucks - CASH
Two books at Borders - CASH
Dinner at Big City Diner - CASH
Flowers from a street vendor - CASH

I would have had to wait on your slow ass at three out of two places. Thank God the street vendors don't take plastic.

Cash is faster than debit or credit will ever be. I don't have to swipe anything, I don't have to sign anything, I don't have to wait for anything else except the cashier giving me my change. So stop slowing me down with your debit card usage.
 

Boze

Senior member
Dec 20, 2004
634
14
91
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: mattyrug
jeez... sounds like the guy behind me in line at Home Depot yesterday...

one of these self-important jerks on the cell phone, yelling so everyone can hear every word of his conversation, such an important guy! every 30 he would ask if the line is gonna move any faster.
I get up to the register and he asks me if he can go before me, naturally I say no. (I was in line 10 minutes before him), I pull out the Checkbook, and he starts rolling his eyes, he asks 'why can't just you use a credit card, and hurry up already, you're cutting into my schedule, I have important things to do, not drink beers, and hang up sheetrock'.
He keeps complaining.... He says that they've banned smoking, now they should ban Check-Writers. I get to the amount, and purposely ask about 10 times, and take my sweet-ass time writing it out. He's infuriated, and says that Checks are for 'White-Trash Losers with no Credit'... of course at this point i'm taking as much time as I can. I was leaving and told him to hurry up, then to have a nice day! The cashier was trying not to laugh, but she broke! :D
The irony is, that after, he was sitting behind me, stuck in traffic for about 45 Minutes!

damn get all *perked* up?

I guess it justifies people's pathetic existance. If you are happy at being stuck in traffic 45mins you life sux...plain and simple.

He's happy to spite arrogant, rude jackasses not entirely unlike yourself. And I practically LIVE FOR IT.
 

Boze

Senior member
Dec 20, 2004
634
14
91
Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
Also, debit is faster than cash in many cases, assuming the cashier is proficient.

I cannot possibly see how this could be true, unless the cashier has butterfingers and can't pick up coins in a timely manner or can't do mental math quick enough to figure out change. Those are the only two reason I could ever think of for a cashier to be slower with cash than debit.
 

cornbread

Senior member
Jan 4, 2001
606
0
0
Whine whine whine.. I think I'll go write checks everywhere that allows them, as slow as possible, just to piss people off.
 

TitanDiddly

Guest
Dec 8, 2003
12,696
1
0
Originally posted by: Boze
Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
Also, debit is faster than cash in many cases, assuming the cashier is proficient.

I cannot possibly see how this could be true, unless the cashier has butterfingers and can't pick up coins in a timely manner or can't do mental math quick enough to figure out change. Those are the only two reason I could ever think of for a cashier to be slower with cash than debit.

Happens all the time. When I get debit, the only real extra time is 3-8 seconds to contact the bank. Takes longer than that to get change. And, where I work, the cashiers don't have access to twenties, so if you need $20 in change and the cashier can't spare the tens, you have to wait for the manager to be called, come up, and open the drop box to get your twenty.