Not the usual self-checkout rant

[K Frame]

"The only real bitch I have is they stopped providing plastic shopping bags.*  I used them at home for a lot of things, like trash,"

I use them for poop bags for Seren on our daily walks.

Some years ago the county decided to impose a 5 cent bag tax on "single use" plastic bags like shopping bags.

I NEVER pay the bag tax when I go through the self-checkout (honor system!).

Why?

Because they're not single use when I buy them. They're dual use.

So my county, which rolls the "SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT BY NOT USING SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS!!!" money right into the general county fund instead of a dedicated fund to clean up bags and trash from the waterways, can suck it.

[MechAg94]

What I usually see if people stop their cart on the right side of the aisle and then stand on the left side picking out the item they wanted.

[JTHunter]

The self-checkouts are not an option for me for 3 good reasons.
1 - I almost never use "plastic" of any kind;
2 - For a small number of items (less than $20), I use cash;
3 - Higher cost items, I write a paper check. 
#3 is the reason I don't go to Target stores any more.  They no longer takes checks. 

[Ben]

So my county, which rolls the "SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT BY NOT USING SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS!!!" money right into the general county fund instead of a dedicated fund to clean up bags and trash from the waterways, can suck it.

Oregon has outlawed the plastic bags so you have to pay I think 10 cents each for paper. I mostly grocery shop in Oregon, so end up taking a heavy duty canvas bag, because toxic neanderthal man that I am, I like to stuff 40lbs of stuff in the single bag so I don't have to push a shopping cart to my truck.

Plus, I don't like paper bags. I have limited use for them post-groceries, so they end up piling up in the pantry until I throw them away or use them as firestarters in Winter. I have way more uses for the plastic bags, which I can still get for free in Idaho. Except interestingly, the fancy Flagship Albertsons in Boise only has paper, probably because of the San Fran, Portland, and Seattle hippies that live in the metro.

[Perd Hapley]

JTHunter, in my area, a lot of machines accept cash & coin (and a lot of them don't). Is it different in the stores where you shop?

[230RN]

Oregon has outlawed the plastic bags so you have to pay I think 10 cents each for paper. I mostly grocery shop in Oregon, so end up taking a heavy duty canvas bag, because toxic neanderthal man that I am,

One of the problems I see with lawmakers is when a legislative or regulatory issue comes up they call in "experts" for advice, and these "experts" are usually from the business interest involved.  Hence, the lawmakers' opinions drift toward what benefits that industry.

I suspect this is partly the case with those evil "one use" plastic bags --even at the local ordinance level.  Regardless of supposedly "being for only one use"  and "polluting," the market people wanted them banned for financial reasons  and would urge their banning at every opportunity.

Follow the money.

Follow the money.  (Bears repeating.)

Terry, 230RN

[K Frame]

JTHunter, in my area, a lot of machines accept cash & coin (and a lot of them don't). Is it different in the stores where you shop?

Same. ALL of the self checkouts I've ever seen here in metro DC accept cash and coin.

[Declaration Day]

Higher cost items, I write a paper check. 
#3 is the reason I don't go to Target stores any more.  They no longer takes checks. 

I rarely encounter paper checks anymore but when I do, I can deposit them with my phone. If my phone can do it, certainly a grocery store scanner could be set up to as well, right? I guess they'd rather lose the business,  dwindling as it may be.

[Bogie]

My store has check readers, but they are usually broken unless we know you, or you are a commercial customer. Just too damn many folks trying for the frauds...
 
Many of the non-fraudster folks who will still write checks have a hard time figuring out how to use the card device...
 
Either way, it ties up an employee and a register for usually a good 5-10 minutes...
 

[K Frame]

"Higher cost items, I write a paper check. "

What? You use one of those new fangled PRMISORY NOTES?

What kind of new wave hipster wanna be uses one of those fiat promisory notes?

REAL Economical Men pay in chickens and pigs!

[Perd Hapley]

REAL Economical Men pay in chickens and pigs specie!

Fixed

[MechAg94]

I just have a separate credit card that is primarily for gas and groceries.  My intent is to not use it for anything else, but that doesn't always happen.  My main issue is I don't want to use a debit card that pulls directly from my account.  I know some like that, just not for me.

[Ben]

My main issue is I don't want to use a debit card that pulls directly from my account.  I know some like that, just not for me.

Same. Plus the two cards I mainly use give me extra points depending on what I use them on. For instance, my Costco card gives me 4% cash back on gas, so I always use it for fillups. As much as I don't like Cabelas since the Bass Pro takeover, I still use that card a lot and then on average, once a year, use points at Cabelas for a new gun.

[dogmush]

I *expletive deleted*ing hate people that write checks in the checkout lane. For *expletive deleted*ck's sake, did you ride a *expletive deleted*ing burro to the store as well?

[K Frame]

"My main issue is I don't want to use a debit card that pulls directly from my account.  I know some like that, just not for me."

Also the same. I only use my debit card to get cash from my accounts at the ATM.

[JTHunter]

JTHunter, in my area, a lot of machines accept cash & coin (and a lot of them don't). Is it different in the stores where you shop?

At Aldi's - Yes.  Their machines only take debit cards (which I don't have/want!) or SNAP (food stamps).  At a regional chain grocer called Schnuck's, they do have one, maybe 2, self checkouts that accept cash.  The other 5 are "card only".  The other regional store is called Dierberg's and has 5-7 machines where 1, maybe 2, take cash.  I can also write a check on those machines but the attendant has to "suspend" the transaction and finish it at their machine.  I don't like Dierberg's as their prices are usually higher AND they have had some issues of not honoring ads that were vaguely worded.  They got called out for it by the state AG's office.
There used to be 2 Ruler Foods (Kroger) stores in the area but one was forced to close due to underground mine subsidence.  One corner of the building dropped over 24" !  That was last year and, from what I've heard at the other store, the ground has yet to stabilize.  The store, IF it wants to reopen MAY have to be razed and be completely rebuilt or move to a different location.
What was nice about this area was there USED to be a CVS (now closed), Aldi's, Schnuck's, Walgreen's, and Ruler (also closed) within about a 2 mile circle.

[JTHunter]

"Higher cost items, I write a paper check. "

What? You use one of those new fangled PRMISORY NOTES?

What kind of new wave hipster wanna be uses one of those fiat promisory notes?

REAL Economical Men pay in chickens and pigs!

I ain't "Doc Hollywood" ! 

[zxcvbob]

Aldi also takes credit cards.  I usually pay with American Express to get 3% cash back.  (every once in a while Discover gives 5% cash back at grocery stores)

Has anyone yet mentioned the woman (usually old but not extremely old) who seems *surprised* that she's supposed to pay, then has to go digging through her purse to find her checkbook after everything is rung up?  I hate her so much.

[Ben]

Has anyone yet mentioned the woman (usually old but not extremely old) who seems *surprised* that she's supposed to pay, then has to go digging through her purse to find her checkbook after everything is rung up?  I hate her so much.

That is my pet peeve with the check writers. I don't care if someone pays by check if they have everything ready. At that point, it's not much more time than someone paying cash and getting change. But why the hell are you not writing out everything but the amount while you're in line?

[MechAg94]

This was maybe 15 years ago, but someone I used to work with got their debit card hacked, the hackers were making daily withdrawals until his account was empty.  The period of time before he realized it was across a paycheck so he was out a few thousand.  I believe he was able to recover his money from the bank eventually, but it hit hard for a short time.  After that, he found himself writing checks at the grocery store as he didn't trust the security of the debit card. 

The credit card I use for gas and groceries got hit with bad charges a month ago.  No hit on me as I noticed it while the charges were still pending. 

[K Frame]

I quit using my debit card as a debit card when I realized the potential security issues surrounding them. I now only use it as an ATM card.

I do have my accounts set up so that I get a text notification any time there is money movement in my accounts.

Credit card purchase? Text.

Check clears? Text.

I pay a bill on line from my savings? Text.

And so forth and so on.


Speaking of which, I recently got an e-mail from my credit union telling me that my Debit/ATM car is expiring soon, and that if I want to get it replaced all I need to do is use it once.

Apparently it's been quite some time since I've withdrawn money with it, so long, in fact, that I guess they figured I might not want it any more.

In fact, I've not even been carrying it. I quit carrying my wallet over a year ago, going with just a "front pocket" folder wallet, and I hadn't moved my ATM card to it, so it's been awhile.

[JTHunter]

That is my pet peeve with the check writers. I don't care if someone pays by check if they have everything ready. At that point, it's not much more time than someone paying cash and getting change. But why the hell are you not writing out everything but the amount while you're in line?

Being an old "boy scout", that IS what I do.   

[JTHunter]

This was maybe 15 years ago, but someone I used to work with got their debit card hacked, the hackers were making daily withdrawals until his account was empty.  The period of time before he realized it was across a paycheck so he was out a few thousand.  I believe he was able to recover his money from the bank eventually, but it hit hard for a short time.  After that, he found himself writing checks at the grocery store as he didn't trust the security of the debit card. 

The credit card I use for gas and groceries got hit with bad charges a month ago.  No hit on me as I noticed it while the charges were still pending.

Thankfully, that has never happened to me !  BUT, that is why I prefer checks to plastic of any kind.  I refuse to have a debit card because, unlike credit cards, you have NO PROTECTION.  Hell, after my g/f and I split and I changed my checking account, I asked the bank's rep about "online bill pay".  She looked around, leaned towards me and very quietly said: "I know how 'safe' it is and even I won't use it !" 
Solved that question for me.

[Perd Hapley]

At Aldi's - Yes.  Their machines only take debit cards (which I don't have/want!) or SNAP (food stamps).  At a regional chain grocer called Schnuck's, they do have one, maybe 2, self checkouts that accept cash.  The other 5 are "card only".  The other regional store is called Dierberg's and has 5-7 machines where 1, maybe 2, take cash.  I can also write a check on those machines but the attendant has to "suspend" the transaction and finish it at their machine.  I don't like Dierberg's as their prices are usually higher AND they have had some issues of not honoring ads that were vaguely worded.  They got called out for it by the state AG's office.
There used to be 2 Ruler Foods (Kroger) stores in the area but one was forced to close due to underground mine subsidence.  One corner of the building dropped over 24" !  That was last year and, from what I've heard at the other store, the ground has yet to stabilize.  The store, IF it wants to reopen MAY have to be razed and be completely rebuilt or move to a different location.
What was nice about this area was there USED to be a CVS (now closed), Aldi's, Schnuck's, Walgreen's, and Ruler (also closed) within about a 2 mile circle.

We have the same stores, and I bet you also miss Shop-n-Save, like I do. I almost exclusively use Dierbergs these days. I quit going to Schnucks a few years ago, when I walked in and the employees were all wearing some thinly-disquised BLM shirts. Their website had a bunch of the usual equity and inclusion language. All that seems to have passed, thankfully.

Aldi seems to always have slow checkout lines, so I don't often go there. My wife does, though.

I think D'bergs and most other stores have more cash-friendly checkouts than you suggest, though I haven't kept a very careful count.

I should have mentioned my local Home Depot has gone all-in on self-checkout, too. I suppose post-Covid staffing shortages and increasing minimum wages are part of the reason why self-checkout is so common.

[K Frame]

"I refuse to have a debit card because, unlike credit cards, you have NO PROTECTION."

WRONG.

Absolutely 100% WRONG.

The protections you have are outlined under the Electronic Funds Transfer Act.

The levels of protection are different between the two types of cards and are outlined in this article:

https://www.identityiq.com/scams-and-fraud/credit-card-fraud-v-debit-card-fraud-are-you-protected/


Credit card transactions and protections are governed by the Fair Credit Billing Act, which is also outlined in the article above.



As for why the "teller" at your bank won't use the bank's bill payment service? The only reason I can think of is that she's a stupid panic monkey who's afraid of technology and who thinks that paper money is actually a sign that Satan walks the earth and possesses us all.   

The process for you paying a bill by writing out a check and sending it in is, in reality, NO different than you clicking a few buttons on your computer. Often the bank's bill payment service literally writes a check and sends it to your biller (for smaller companies that don't do bundled electronic transactions).

Online bill payment is generally safer and more secure than writing a physical check and mailing it out because of the multiple layers of encryption and protection -- your computer (if you're keeping your software up to date) your bank's, and the processor. And, in the case of full electronic bill payments via bundled transactions (larger companies, utilities, etc.), THEIR encryption and protection.