The last time I paid with a check at a store, I was halfway through a two-week-long driving move from Fairbanks, Alaska to Atlanta, Georgia. I woke up one morning needing cold medicine and walked to a store across from my hotel where it turned out they didn’t take credit cards and I didn’t have a debit card they’d accept. So I wrote a check and the clerk didn’t even ask to see ID.
It wasn’t even in a very small town, by the standards of where I was that day.
I can remember even having issues about writing cheques for grocery purchases till at least 1991 (I used “cash on hand” for estimation, and would at register select products to reshelve if I found myself short–no apologies to those who wound up behind me in line). I did use cheques afterwards, though I had much trouble with this from 1994-1996 in Atlanta–I couldn’t shop at Kroger as they didn’t like my Alberta licence; Publix proved an easy alternative, as they had codes for states/provinces ready-at-hand.
Also, for paying bills, I still use cheques for another reason–I can insert tracts into the envelop with the cheque, whereas I have not figured out yet how to piggyback a file to an electronic payment.
farkyou over 15 years ago
Murphy’s law guarantees you’ll end up behind one of the 15% of Americans who still writes checks in stores (and in the express lane.)
johnparadox over 15 years ago
… and more than 15 items….
retiredgezzer over 15 years ago
I use checks but I write them out while waiting for the cashier so only have to fill in the amount.
Smiley Rmom over 15 years ago
I quit writing checks when they started doing electronic withdrawals and gave me back my paper check at the register.
McGehee over 15 years ago
The last time I paid with a check at a store, I was halfway through a two-week-long driving move from Fairbanks, Alaska to Atlanta, Georgia. I woke up one morning needing cold medicine and walked to a store across from my hotel where it turned out they didn’t take credit cards and I didn’t have a debit card they’d accept. So I wrote a check and the clerk didn’t even ask to see ID.
It wasn’t even in a very small town, by the standards of where I was that day.
prasrinivara over 15 years ago
Somewhat off topic, but….
I can remember even having issues about writing cheques for grocery purchases till at least 1991 (I used “cash on hand” for estimation, and would at register select products to reshelve if I found myself short–no apologies to those who wound up behind me in line). I did use cheques afterwards, though I had much trouble with this from 1994-1996 in Atlanta–I couldn’t shop at Kroger as they didn’t like my Alberta licence; Publix proved an easy alternative, as they had codes for states/provinces ready-at-hand.
Also, for paying bills, I still use cheques for another reason–I can insert tracts into the envelop with the cheque, whereas I have not figured out yet how to piggyback a file to an electronic payment.