4 ms·

> where "checks" are still used for ordinary transactions like buying groceries. I've been wondering if there are statistics regarding the usage of checks. Wh

> where "checks" are still used for ordinary transactions like buying groceries. I've been wondering if there are statistics regarding the usage of checks. When I was younger almost every week I'd get stuck in line by someone very, very slowly writing a check. But I haven't seen someone write one in...well it must be at least 3 or 4 years ago and that was at some tiny store that didn't accept credit cards. Do people really still write checks in a number that's in any way significant?

maxerickson 10y ago
I saw a middle aged person buy groceries with a check a week ago.
- khedoros1 10y ago
  I don't think I've seen anyone buy groceries with a check in about 20 years, although it doesn't surprise me that it still happens.
  - ghaff 10y ago
    I've seen it way more recently than that but it's not all that common.
ghaff 10y ago
I don't in stores but it's still pretty much the standard way to pay a lot of service people. (Physical checks are also used in a number of payments I make through my online bank bill pay although I never see the actual check.)
- BinaryIdiot 10y ago
  > it's still pretty much the standard way to pay a lot of service people Fair enough I was mostly referring to using them at retail locations like I thought parent was alluding to. I forgot I also pay more service folks with a check (though with things like stripe I see more and more service folks using those to prevent bounced checks).
rileyteige 10y ago
I write 5 or 6 checks per month for various things like paying the vet (horses), paying the farrier (horses), paying an instructor of mine, paying board (horses again), etc. Also rent - my apartment complex supports ePay, but adds a surcharge. No surcharge with checks.
LyndsySimon 10y ago
My wife still prefers to use them for groceries - I'm not really sure why, but she does. They aren't any slower than a card nowadays, with check printers. You don't even have to sign them.
- astrodust 10y ago
  Card = tap and done here. For larger purchases chip and a 4-digit PIN. Never bounces. Never gets stolen and used to make fraudulent withdrawals, at least so long as skimmers are mostly mag-stripe readers.
  - LyndsySimon 10y ago
    > Card = tap and done here Almost nowhere we shop has NFC readers yet. They're gaining adoption, but they're far from ubiquitous. Those that do often require that you sign a receipt in addition to presenting your device or card. I've had one place go as far as to require a PIN and a signature... on a purchase where I had to unlock my phone with a fingerprint. Compare that to "hand the clerk a paper check, clerk inserts it into the register, then hands it back to you". > Never bounces Sure they can. They can also be reversed, in some cases weeks after the purchase. Large retailers who print/scan checks (e.g., WalMart) present it to the bank electronically, instantly. There's actually a significantly stronger guarantee that the money is actually there in that case. > Never gets stolen and used to make fraudulent withdrawals, at least so long as skimmers are mostly mag-stripe readers. This is a risk, sure - but it's on the retailers, not the consumer. It's a hassle for a consumer but most banks will happily reverse the charges for you if you report a checkbook stolen.

maxerickson 10y ago

I saw a middle aged person buy groceries with a check a week ago.

khedoros1 10y ago
I don't think I've seen anyone buy groceries with a check in about 20 years, although it doesn't surprise me that it still happens.
- ghaff 10y ago
  I've seen it way more recently than that but it's not all that common.

ghaff 10y ago

I don't in stores but it's still pretty much the standard way to pay a lot of service people. (Physical checks are also used in a number of payments I make through my online bank bill pay although I never see the actual check.)

BinaryIdiot 10y ago
> it's still pretty much the standard way to pay a lot of service people Fair enough I was mostly referring to using them at retail locations like I thought parent was alluding to. I forgot I also pay more service folks with a check (though with things like stripe I see more and more service folks using those to prevent bounced checks).

rileyteige 10y ago

I write 5 or 6 checks per month for various things like paying the vet (horses), paying the farrier (horses), paying an instructor of mine, paying board (horses again), etc. Also rent - my apartment complex supports ePay, but adds a surcharge. No surcharge with checks.

LyndsySimon 10y ago

My wife still prefers to use them for groceries - I'm not really sure why, but she does. They aren't any slower than a card nowadays, with check printers. You don't even have to sign them.

astrodust 10y ago
Card = tap and done here. For larger purchases chip and a 4-digit PIN. Never bounces. Never gets stolen and used to make fraudulent withdrawals, at least so long as skimmers are mostly mag-stripe readers.
- LyndsySimon 10y ago
  > Card = tap and done here Almost nowhere we shop has NFC readers yet. They're gaining adoption, but they're far from ubiquitous. Those that do often require that you sign a receipt in addition to presenting your device or card. I've had one place go as far as to require a PIN and a signature... on a purchase where I had to unlock my phone with a fingerprint. Compare that to "hand the clerk a paper check, clerk inserts it into the register, then hands it back to you". > Never bounces Sure they can. They can also be reversed, in some cases weeks after the purchase. Large retailers who print/scan checks (e.g., WalMart) present it to the bank electronically, instantly. There's actually a significantly stronger guarantee that the money is actually there in that case. > Never gets stolen and used to make fraudulent withdrawals, at least so long as skimmers are mostly mag-stripe readers. This is a risk, sure - but it's on the retailers, not the consumer. It's a hassle for a consumer but most banks will happily reverse the charges for you if you report a checkbook stolen.