I've come to a new conclusion vis-a-vis grocery stores...

[mjr]

And possibly other retail outlets as well.

My new conclusion? Stores should have a "checks only" line, where everyone who wants to write a check needs to go to pay. And, have others that say "no checks", and don't equip those lanes to take checks.

The Mrs. pointed out to me, however, that this lane probably wouldn't be open on a regular basis, and people (read: SCs) would try to use checks in the "regular" lanes, then argle & blargle when they didn't get their way.

She also came up with another funny name for this particular checkout lane: The "Pain in the ass" lane.

Though I would feel kinda bad for the cashier on that line...

[drjonah]

Agree with the Mrs. You can have giant neon flashing signs at the registers and SC's still won't pay attention.

Edit to add : When I Was working at Awful-mart, one particular black friday the check machine at one of the registers went down. We put up a big sign at that register that said 'no checks' and still had numerous people throw a fit because they couldn't write a check at that register

[Canadian In Maine]

When I lived in the United States I was amazed at the number of businesses that still accepted cheques. It's difficult here in Ontario to find anybody that will take them unless you have 50 forms of identification to go along with it.

In the grocery store that I worked in the office manager would pull her hair out on a monthly basis chasing down those who bounced cheques. If there were that many, month in and month out, I told her they should just stop accepting them.

[cindybubbles]

Why bother with checks when a debit card would suffice? Oh yeah, I forgot where I was for a moment.

[Deevil]

Why bother with checks when a debit card would suffice? Oh yeah, I forgot where I was for a moment.

I don't have a debit card (nor do I even want to have one, my plain ATM card suffices for my needs), so I write checks at the grocery store on a fairly regular basis But, I do make sure I have as much info filled out as I can beforehand so I don't hold up the line.

[Moirae]

I have a checkbook... I've used it once in 7 years. Why would anyone use a check in the modern world when you can use a debit card? I'm surprised anyone here still takes them. At my hotel, we only accept them if we get them at least a month in advance to pay for the entire amount of the entire stay BEFORE checkin date. The check MUST clear and the agents cannot accept a check, only management.

[otakuneko]

Why bother with checks when a debit card would suffice? Oh yeah, I forgot where I was for a moment.

Well, if the store's POS system is compromised, you might be glad of writing a check instead of swiping a card. Of course, that's an argument for credit vs. debit cards -- credit cards have better protections.

I have a checkbook... I've used it once in 7 years. Why would anyone use a check in the modern world when you can use a debit card?

I used checks for a few things during the purchasing of my house. I probably wrote as many or more checks during that time than I had for the entire previous 10 years though.

I use my credit card for practically everything. I use cash mainly for tipping delivery drivers (the ones that don't have mobile card readers anyway), covering tips when someone else is getting the bill at a restaurant, or very small purchases.

[Dreamstalker]

It's become a regular occurrence on my store's self-checkouts where an SC wants to use a check; when the kiosk calls me over to complete the order at the checkstand (which is barely working and shouldn't be used), they say "Oh I hit the Check button." There is nothing on the payment screen that even remotely says "Check". Then they get pissy when I have to send them to the desk. Even if the pay station's check printer worked all the time, that media drawer is never emptied; if a CC slip/check goes in there, it's anyone's guess when it will actually get to the cash office.

[scruff]

I don't have a debit card (nor do I even want to have one, my plain ATM card suffices for my needs.

Around here the ATM card is usually the same as the debit card (heck, at one point, my debit card was also my cheque guarantee card too!)

[wolfie]

I don't have a debit card (nor do I even want to have one, my plain ATM card suffices for my needs),

In Canada, "Debit card" and "ATM card" are the same thing. "Debit" means a card that uses the Interac network, and where you enter your PIN (just like at the ATM).

[CrappyToHelp]

Around here the ATM card is usually the same as the debit card (heck, at one point, my debit card was also my cheque guarantee card too!)

There are a few that aren't though. I have a NatWest Instant Saver account and I have an ATM card for that which doesn't work in the shops.

[prjkt]

in Aus, we've got three (main) types of card
ATM/Savings/Cheque cards - for use in an ATM or through EFTPOS (EFT point of sale) purchases at stores with money from your bank account
Credit Cards - Everyone knows what these are
Debit Cards - identical procedure to credit cards (provided by Visa/Mastercard) but instead of going against a credit balance, takes money straight from your bank account. Great for internet purchases

[MoonCat]

Debit Cards - identical procedure to credit cards (provided by Visa/Mastercard) but instead of going against a credit balance, takes money straight from your bank account. Great for internet purchases

Well, except for the fact that there is no protection on that type of card if it's compromised online...

[prjkt]

as far as I'm aware of, here, it is, as it goes through all the "Credit" authorisations/protections that credit cards do (not sure if there's a difference with the way it works o/seas or not)

I mostly use Paypal anyway, easier

[Hitokiri Akins]

I agree with the OP about customers using checks in the checkout. I get so irritated when I see someone get three hundred bucks worth of groceries, and then whips out their checkbook and proceeds to fill things out while 6 people wait with their carts behind them. Bonus points if they remember that they wanted cigarettes while they are filling out their check, which makes the check out girl walk away from her station and over to the service desk to get them. More bonus points if they forget their "check card", which they need in order to actually use a check, which is issued to them by the store.

Even more bonus points if they decide NOT to push their cart down to where I can reach it in order to put their groceries into it before they start the whole process.