I used to give out a huge sigh when I saw someone in front of me start writing a check. But just like everyone else, there are more factors that slow down the line. I now occasionally coupon and that takes time (especially if the cashier insists on checking each coupon even though they're valid). If I'm paying with cash, I'll count out the change so I can get bills back.

With that said, I don't mind the ones who have everything written down but waiting for the amount. They don't actually take more time than the ones with credit cards. (You have to wait for the card to through, hit credit, sometimes another OK to okay the amount, and then sign.)

The article from the LA Times and the summary posted here on The Consumerist are a bit misleading. Part of the article makes it sound like that in addition to banning personal checks they are also going to stop cashing out payroll checks for their customers. Other parts of the article make it sound clear that the ban only pertains to banning personal checks and that the stores will continue to cash payroll checks. Which is the real truth?

"Vons, Albertsons and Ralphs -- the stores most likely to have a bank branch within their locations -- continue to accept checks."

How does that statement make any sense? If there's a bank inside the store, show the blue haired ladies where it is so the rest of us can get the heck out of the store before midnight

Checks should be banned. Period. It's 2009, for Pete's sake. In the digital age, writing a check is obsolete.

I've not seen too many people pull out checks at Whole Foods though. They're mostly rich suburban moms. The longest part is when they have to rummage through their gigantic purses to find their wallets, then rummage through their wallets to find their money or credit cards. It's like a veritable Tardis in there.

@lilyHaze: Why not just relocate such services to the service desk and away from the main lines? What about 1-2 "checks accepted" lines that will take forever and influence people to look at non-check methods of payment?

There are a lot of options here if the intent is to stop people from using checks in the normal checkout lines.

My favorite sigh-inducers are the ones who just stand there while the cashier bags their items and doesn't start writing their check out until they are given a total. I know that not everyone can multi-task well, but yeesh.

@jpmoney: Something tells me such things would be just as routinely ignored as Express Lane signs and other things - and that it would of course be noticed at the end of ringing them up, which would be more of a delay than an ordinary check-writing check-out for some.

@satoru: I'd substitute "rich" for educated, but I like picking nits

Giving strangers your checking account information (I.e., what's printed on the check) is as dangerous, if not more so, than using a CC.

[www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu]

Maybe it's because I've grown up in a world of 24-hour ATMs and direct deposit, but before I read this article, if you were to tell me one could write a check to a store cashier and receive cash on the spot, I'd look at you like you were crazy.

I remember as far back as 1996 dealing with a store that would not give a cash refund when returning a purchase originally made on credit. I remember because it happened to me and I didn't like the policy, but after thinking about it, I saw the logic behind it.

I've just assumed for a long time that stores wouldn't convert one kind of currency (E.g. checks or credit) into something more liquid (E.g. cash)

"And some consumers who like to take advantage of the float offered by checks may have to switch stores."

There is no float, banks do not debit your account like that anymore, bounced checks cost way too much now...

etc, etc, etc- just thought I would get that out early on.

Aw, it ate my rant. Now I'm not nearly as ranty. Anyway, here goes again.

The other day, there were only three lanes open at my supermarket. The three lanes were at least five people deep and one girl in the express lane wasn't adhering to the 15-item limit, so I didn't get in that lane. I had fewer items than the people in the other lane, so I didn't get in that one, either. I'm almost to the front, and the guy in front of me writes a check, and wants cash back! The supermarket is not your personal ATM! But here's the kicker: The amount he wanted was too much for the register, so the cashier has to call a manager to come with her keys. Here's another kicker: The guy who wrote the check and is holding up the line is now upset and annoyed at the cashier that it's taking too long!

When will people learn that supermarkets are not your personal ATM?

I have never seen a gecko with a British accent in any supermarket, let alone one who is writing a check.

@satoru: I haven't seen anyone use a cheque at grocery or retail since forever. Most places I go to already have policy in place saying they won't take cheques and have had them there for at least the last ten years. One store that will take some cheques pretty much has it limited to certified corporate cheques that they know are going to be coming ahead of time, or government issued rebate cheques, everything else is a no go (except traveler's cheques of course, but you see that once in a blue moon too these days).

@acknight: You have a point there. 40-50 items in the express lane does happen.

No check accepting machines at the new terminals? Nah, it will still cause issues.

*looks for drawing board*

Check use is cultural. I grew up thinking checks were only used to pay bills via snail mail or to buy groceries. On several trips to Minnesota, however, I was amazed to see numerous people write checks at chain restaurants, and watched as they were accepted. Checks at the corner gas station as well.

My check writing only occurs at Sam's or the grocery store. And I try to have everything filled out, except for the payment amount before getting into line. It usually takes less time for me to get through the line than some of these people using debit cards and waiting for the bank to accept the purchase.

Frankly, I am surprised there are any retail businesses left that accept personal checks. Once upon a time in society, it was considerate and classy to write a check for goods and services; now, it's often a sign that the merchant will be stuck holding the bag.

I work for a 6-store pizza restaurant. We resisted accepting credit cards for the longest time because of the merchant fees involved, but we finally relented in 2006. Why? It was due to the $20,000 in uncollected bounced checks we accepted during the first six months of 2006 alone.

Now we don't accept personal checks at all. When someone calls asking if they can write a check, I know they really mean "Do you mind if I bounce a check to you, because I'm really hungry right now!"

Some customers took offense because they've never bounced checks in their lives, but those same customers usually realize the necessity when we tell them about the $20,000 over six months. The customers who are most offended, though, are the ones who thought they were going to eat today, but cannot because we won't take their worthless paper.

The fact remains though, that if you have a checking account, there's a 99% chance that you have a debit card with the Visa or Mastercard logo tied to that account. So if you can't use your debit card because there isn't enough in the account to cover your purchase, what makes you think I want your rubber check that will cost me $10 more than the face value to accept?

I wish Home Depot & Lowe's would ban checks. It's really annoying to get in line & then realize that someone ahead of you is a contractor with a book of three to a sheet business checks & they never have them written out ahead of time & take forever to do so. Then the check approval takes twice as long!

@pecan 3.14159265: During the dawn of the ATM my fellow poor college students and I would only write checks at grocery stores. You'd buy $5 in snacks and write the check for $20 over. It'd give you cash for the day and you'd avoid the ATM fees that they charged everyone back in the day, account holders too. At the time my friends who used ATM cards all of the time were also the ones running into money problems before the end of the month too. "What do you mean I don't have enough to pay rent this month????", was their usual lament.

@rpm773: my mom used to do it all the time....before she had an ATM card...she'd write the checks to CASH, or write a check more than the purchase (but you had to have a store courtesy card to use this magic)

Supermarkets aren't the only ones that want you to leave your checkbook at home. I groan whenever I see someone pull out the checkbook. Even worse is the person who doesn't pull the checkbook out until the order is all rung up. Like it was some kind of surprise they had to pay at the end. Get a debit card, pretty much any back will give you one for free.

@pecan 3.14159265: sounds to me like your main problems aren't with the check writer. they're with the store:
1) not adhering to the 'express lane' limit.
2) an underfunded cash till or a cashback policy that's out of whack with what cashiers are allowed to handle in their tills.
3) an understaffed checkout.

take it out on the guy if you want, but it sounds like most of your frustration should be directed at the store's policies, not him. think about it: if he had used a debit card & asked for cash back or used large denomination bills to pay for his purchase & needed change, you would've been in the same boat.

We run a chain of low end grocery stores in Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Many of our customers don't have bank accounts. It will be a long time before we stop cashing payroll checks.

@pecan 3.14159265: see now that's just stupid....my mom used to do the cashback check, but really you only use it for SMALL AMOUNTS (less than 40 dollars) and you have to have already been pre-approved to use the magic cash back via check. plus there's time of day constraints. i used to HATE when some a-hole would buy a 5 dollar item and pay with a 100 dollar bill and wipe out my entire drawer.

@pecan 3.14159265: I'll learn it when my bank starts opening branches near where I live.* Getting cash back from a debit card or check is the only fee-free way for me to get cash currently.

Also, I use a checkbook and balance it. It's a lot easier to realize what you're spending when you have to write out "eighty-three dollars and 50/100," then write the debit into a checkbook rather than swipe a card. I don't slow the line, either: I have my check filled out in date, signature, and who it's to. I know it was annoying, but what happened to you could have happened if someone was trying to pay with a $100 bill at any store, too.

*No, I'm not going to switch banks for very good reasons that don't belong in this comment.

@quail: i like the stores that print everything on the check and all you need to do is sign.

I only use my checkbook at CostCo because I usually don't carry enough cash to cover the bill and I don't want to get an AmEx.

The last time I went,a gentleman behind me said "Oh a checkbook! How 90s! No one uses those anymore!" I was terribly insulted. I wanted to tell him to butt out. But, trying to be a good example for my daughter, I just smiled and walked away.

I always have the date, payee, & signature ready to go. I try to be a good checkwriter.

That said, I know that for many years our local Giants have had "checks accepted" signs over only a few lanes, which helps to deal with those people who haven't switched to debit cards.

@econobiker: The float disappeared completely in US Banks some time ago. Even damaging the magnetic ink on the check won't buy you time. Optical scanners are predominant in the banking world. My check kiting parents would have a hard time of it in today's world.

@quail: "takes less time for me to get through the line than some of these people using debit cards and waiting for the bank to accept the purchase."

Yes!

"customers who use supermarkets as a lower-cost alternative to check-cashing stores may be forced to find other options."

How about getting a free bank account just to cash checks????

@mac-phisto: I did have issues with the various things you stated, but that stuff happens all the time at every store, so it's nothing new. I just deal with it, and it doesn't always bother me.

I did have a huge problem with the guy's attitude, though. He's holding up the line, and he's getting upset for it taking too long. And he was really rude to the cashier. He basically accused of her of not being able to count (she did get the amount wrong, but it was a simple error, and it's not like she insisted the customer was wrong and refused to open the register). He just seemed to be a very unpleasant person, and it all stemmed from his need to write a check when there are a lot of people in line just waiting.

@mac-phisto: The points 2 is legitimate, point 3 depends on what time she went. Point 1 however is not super market's fault, that someone was in line with more than 15 items. stores do not check for 15 items when you enter the line. They can certainly turn you back at the counter, but that depends on a lot of factors too. Also we do not know if that happens a lot or was just this one case.

@lilyHaze: I couldn't tell you the last time I signed for a bill at the grocery store. It's usually scan scan scan- swipe- wait for receipt.

Then again I'm also only buying groceries for myself and it's possible the not signing might just apply to smaller purchases (I do occasionally purchase over $100, but below $150 and still don't sign).

Checks are insanely slow. There's the check fill out, the checkbook balancing notation, the ridiculously slow scan, the driver's license entry, it's just ancient and unnecessary. I appreciate your level-headedness but the days of the check are numbered.

@threadislocked: it's hard to find a truly free account that doesn't have minimums. when TD Banknorth merged with Commerce, the free checking was changed from having no minimum to having 100 dollar minimum, and there are some people who would find that minimum a hard amount to live with. i have a grandfathered student account, so I have no minimum. I imagine if they change it to a minimum, i'll close the account. it pretty much only exists in the event i get a lot of cash, and can then deposit it and transfer it to USAA.

@MostlyHarmless: even point 2 is time contigent. i never worked in a grocery store, so i don't know how much cash is in the register when you open your shift. but my drawer @ KB Toys only had 100 bucks, my drawer @ the movie theater concessions only had 100. I think the box office had 250.

If someone pays with a large bill for a small purchase, then blammo, you're out of cash. OR you have to wait for management because the customer wants all 20s and not the assortment of 10s, 5s, and 1s you have in your drawer

The world is going to move away from any form of payment that doesn't transfer money out of your account instantly (and allow the Government [to continue] to keep track of your every move). It's inevitable.

@MostlyHarmless: I was there on a Sunday afternoon. The store wasn't ridiculously busy, but there were enough people to justify temporarily opening at least four lanes. I wasn't really annoyed with waiting in line, but I did get annoyed when it came to the check writer. He bought maybe six small items, wrote a check, and proceeded to get upset when it was taking longer than he liked. I think it was the attitude that got me.

I wish my company would stop taking checks. 10k in losses so far for just my store. Close to 400k in loses company wide so far this year (our year starts in June btw)

HOORAY!

@Hoss: Not at the Whole Foods I've seen.

This was an unintended consequence of the Bank Secrecy Act which more narrowly defined money service business . Therefor if grocery stores, bars, or convenience stores cash checks they become subject to the BSA and all it's requirements.

@sponica (now with MORE caffeine): When I was in college, a lot of students did that, especially if they banked with a bank other than the one that supplied the campus ATMs. They could avoid fees that way, but since Wal-Mart was the cheapest and closest place (in case students were walking) to get groceries, you can guess how long the lines got when six students all pull out checkbooks.

@TinkishDelight: I never got the checkbook balancing at the store thing. write in the amount and balance your checkbook on your own time, dude.

Hallelujah!

@sponica (now with MORE caffeine): I got cash like this for years until they finally put an ATM near my office; I'd always just ask first if there was enough cash in the drawer to make that feasible.

Aren't people just doing the same thing with debit cards now anyway? If so, the drawer mess will continue to bedevil cashiers.

@satoru: Last weekend I was at Whole Foods, behind an INSANELY slow lady who paid by check. S L O W. I'm surprised I got home in time to cook the food I bought.

PLEASE LEAVE THE CHECKBOOKS AT HOME.

@Skankingmike: I wish we'd stop taking checks here too. We've got more losses to checks than shrink and chargebacks (a high risk in the liquor industry) COMBINED.

@tuxclam: That is true, and most people look at you like you have bananas coming out of your ears when you tell them.

I run an internet business and stopped accepting checks years ago. BIG problem with some people, but it was a real time sink for me. Time = money. People will be afraid to use their (comes with fraud protection) credit card in a secured transaction but will call their cc# in on their cell phone from a public place or will happily send me a check with their banking info and signature on it. *knocks head against wall*

@Ihaveasmartpuppy: Why? I'm only paying one of two ways - by check or with cash. I won't own a debit card because I don't want any instant funds debiting out of my account. That's final, non-negotiable, end of story.

I also don't pay with credit cards because I don't want to put anything on a credit card beyond business expenses that will be reimbursed.

So it's either cash or check. Now I usually carry enough cash for incidentals, but I'm not carrying around hundreds of dollars. So when it's time to do the big grocery shopping, I'm writing a check. If a business doesn't want to accept the check, then I'll take my business elsewhere and let them know they won't be getting any more of my hard-earned money. Not too many businesses are going to anger customers by not accepting their dough, even if it's in the form of a check.

If you don't want to wait 30 seconds for me to write that check, please feel free to leave your groceries on the counter and shop elsewhere. And don't ever have offspring, because if you can't wait for 30 seconds for me to write a check, you won't have the patience to be a decent parent.

@darkjedi26: Yeah, and debit card customers never squint while trying to read the tiny screen, push the wrong buttons or have to ask the cashier for help.

In my experience debit cards aren't much faster than check writing.