Rant – Why do people still write checks?

[miws]

Talaki, you have brought up some excellent points.

One thing I’ve thought of in the past, but hadn’t come to mind while reading/participating in this discussion, is the time it takes to perform all of the various tasks while using a debit card, compared to the time it takes to write a check.

One other issue with the various debit card systems, is although many, if not most will allow the customer to swipe their card once the clerk starts scanning their purchases, some don’t allow it until the transaction has been totaled.

Similarly, in regards to the “yes/no hell”, some systems will allow the customers to start inputting their cash back, etc info in as items are continuing to be scanned, and then once totaled all that is needed is to confirm the total.

Mike

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[Talaki34]

You are correct Mike. There are lots of different ways to use the debit machines. Funny how perceptions are get skewed over time, eh?

Poor customer service is so normal now that we hardly even notice it and this holds true for the multiple questions asked at the debit transaction. Each added demand for information so you can move forward is like training Pavlov’s dog. Check writing lacks all the superfluous questions and yet we scoff at the individuals that continue to do it. All I can think of to say is, “Woof, Woof!”

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[miws]

Okay, another thought just occurred; I wonder if this bias, for want of a better word, toward writing checks is part of some long time deep seated frustration with them.

The folks that wait until the transaction is totaled before they even start to fill it out, or take it out of their pocket/purse, has been a frustration for decades.

Now, debit cards, and the “self-serve” terminals have been the norm for maybe only around a decade now, and because of that long time frustration of the last second check filler outers, we don’t even really think of the time it takes to perform a debit transaction?

Does that make sense?

Mike

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[Talaki34]

Makes perfect sense. :)

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[Genesee Hill]

This thread is a bit of a drag.

I pay cash.

I get irate at check writers. I get irate at debit card users. I get irate if there is anyone in front of me at the cash register.

I am an irate kind of guy.

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[JanS]

yes, so it seems :)

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[JKB]

There are three basic strategies for choosing a checkout line: minimize the number of items being rung up, minimize the number of people in line, or pick the cutest cashier and just wait happily.

Extra delays from slow check writing reinforce exactly one of those approaches.

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[skeeter]

Dobro – #46 – No need to feel sorry for me. I think we’re just talking about two different things. “Opportunity Cost” is a economic concept. Any choice we make means we don’t take a different choice. For example, if I decide to spend the day watching TV, that means I didn’t spend the day walking around. Or shopping. Or whatever. Time is finite.

I don’t wake up every day and focus on the things I can’t do. I try to focus on the things I *can* do and enjoy those activities.

I don’t have hard feelings toward people who choose to write checks. That’s their right and it’s great it saves the vendor money.

I still see check writing to be a pretty esoteric process. The career I’m in – accounting/taxation – has a lot to do with it. We manipulate tens of thousands of data fields every day. The faster data gets put into electronic format, as opposed to words written longhand on a piece of paper, the faster it can be processed.

I’m all for speeding up processes through the use of technology. It’s freed up huge amounts of time – so we can all now spend our time posting on the WSB forums :-)

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[singularname]

Skeeter … I haven’t noticed electronic actions to be any faster than hard-copy ones, at least while they’re in the court of any given financial institution. I can break it down into some examples if you don’t follow or don’t agree but, to summarize, any efficiencies from electronic trade only benefit the financial entity.

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[JoB]

when did this idea that it is everyone else’s responsibility to get the he.. out of your way so that you don’t “waste” time become so popular?

if you are annoyed by actual customers in grocery stores..

shop online and have your goods delivered.

i am one of those who will not finish my financial transaction until after the clerk has finished processing my goods

because i have too often caught the slip between what is listed on the shelves and what rings up on the register.

you can either watch the till or fiddle with payment…

yup.. i am one of those women who insists on getting the bargains she shopped for..

not just the illusion of bargains on the shelf and the unpleasant surprise on the receipt…

and no.. i don’t think i should have to bring my groceries and receipt back into the store after checking it to make your transaction quicker.

it’s not my job to make your transaction quicker.

What you are calling wasted time here used to be called time to hear yourself think.

I just got back from small town America where the social transaction during a purchase is just as important as the financial transaction…

there are a lot more smiling faces there.

and interesting conversation..

using that wasted time to think instead of fuming about the inefficiencies in the line ahead of you really does make a difference

just saying…..

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[yes2ws]

To JoB’s, “when did this idea that it is everyone else’s responsibility to get the he.. out of your way so that you don’t “waste” time become so popular?”

You are so right on, JoB. I’ve been trying to figure that one out, myself!

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