Why is it that people who pay with credit and debit cards and checks hold up the line?

Question

I HATE it when people do that, ESPECIALLY with the checks! I'm USUALLY in a hurry when I'm in line! I pay by cash instead because if I pay with a credit or debit card or a check, something may be wrong with my check or card and people would get pissed with me for holding up the line! Why is it that other people don't take that into consideration whenever they're paying for something with a line behind them? WHY?!

To all of those who have answered my question with smart-aleck comments: SCREW YOU!!!! I DO NOT have bad credit!!! What I was TRYING to say is that either something may be wrong with my card, or, MOST LIKELY, something MAY BE wrong with the checking system or credit/debit system, such as it being down! Think BEFORE you answer with a smart-aleck comment!

ALSO, there are SOME people who write more than a certain amount of checks that they're SUPPOSED to write in a week or a month OR FORGET that they have a limited amount that they can spend on their cards because they hardly have any money left in it and a message on the screen may appear on the cashier's screen saying "INSUFFICIENT FUNDS" OR "DECLINED"! You MIGHT want to think about THAT!

Answer 1

Well first of all, using a debit card is very fast. I can get things done before the cashier is finished scanning all the food. Sometimes the checker is very slow. But using a check is horribly slow, the person has to wait until they know the total and then write it all out. I agree with you on using checks, but using a credit card or debit card is extremely fast. I don't carry cash it's too easy to spend, lose or get stolen. Maybe also you need to not be in such a hurry, give yourself more time sounds like you're way too stressed out.

Answer 2

This is much the same,with some extra. I went to baskin robbins the other evening.Two employees,about 6 customers,typical! don't mind waiting for the ice cream.As I am waiting a guy is getting a bunch of different things..a scoop of this,2 of that,a small sundae,he's reading off a list and I figure Dad the good guy is getting it for the family what a guy. He asks for a flavor and there out of it. He now takes his cell phone,calls home and after asking for one of the kids and explaining the problem to whoever answered,gets someone else and then says well go get her,then explains again and then says let me look, and starts looking in the case and telling what each flavor was. finally come to an agreement,then double checks everything,and here comes the credit card. And i still had 2 before me. Well I was annoyed,because now I had to have my ice cream at any cost.Blood pressure,probably up a point or two. but the more I thought about it, What a Dad!

Answer 3

I think you may just need to calm down a little. People have the right to manage their money any way they see fit. We don't all carry tons of cash. Keeping money in a checking account and paying by check or debit is just safer. I personally am trying to build up a really good credit rating so that I can get a better rate on my mortgage so I almost always pay by credit card then pay the entire bill when it comes.

Answer 4

Using a credit/debit card in a grocery store has nothing to do with being lazy to check their balances. It is all about - convenience - not wanting the extra effort of withdrawing from an ATM and being slapped ATM fees when you can simply use debit card - for those who use credit card, it can be because they're short of cash, they want to spend to get their rewards, or they simply want to use a credit card As long as grocery stores offer various modes of payment -- cash, check, food stamps, credit card, debit card -- people can freely use any of these payment modalities. And if you're at the back of the line, tough luck: you've just got to wait

Answer 5

At McDonald's the other day, the guy in front of me paid with cash and took about 4 times as long as it took me to swipe my card. I had ordered, paid, gotten my order and left the building before he'd finished putting his change in his pocket and stepped away from the counter.

Credit/debit cards are usually just about as quick as cash nowadays. And checks don't take a whole lot longer. Sounds like you are just in way too much of a hurry. Slow down.

And why aren't you taking into consideration that maybe these people are in a hurry as well and don't have the time to make a stop for cash beforehand? Or maybe they are the type of person that doesn't handle cash well?

Your question assumes things that don't always hold true. Chances are, the transactions seem to take longer to you because you are entirely too impatient.

Answer 6

Im sorry to hear that this bothers you so much lol..Actually if you think about it its almost the same.. when you pay with cash do you not have to wait for change hmm?? also depending on how fast or slow the cashier can count. with credit cards all you have to do is wait for the receipt to come out and sign it and be on your way..but i will agree it takes a little bit longer with checks but some stores have machines that print the information on the check for you instead of you sitting there writing it out holdin up the line maybe you should suggest to the people that they should make out the checks before they get there and hope you dont get slapped good luck and try to learn some patience, "patience is a virtue"

Answer 7

I find that debit or credit card is just as fast as using cash. The problem comes up when sometimes the machine does not read your data correctly. Also, I wait until the total is on the screen before entering my card. Just in case that cashier or the scanner reads the wrong price. I also decide which card I going to use.

Answer 8

I understand your frustration. But there are a few valid reasons people pay with something other than cash.

- They haven't had a chance to get to the ATM
- The ATM was broken when they got there
- They want the protection a credit card purchase provides (i.e., the ability to do a chargeback on a defective item the merchant refuses to take back, etc.)

Answer 9

I hardly ever have cash with me. That's why I use the card. It's really not that big of a deal to have to wait a little bit.

Answer 10

Why is it that everyone is always in a hurry- I have just as much to do as the average person and I'm willing to wait- rather than rushing why don't you take a moment to slow down and learn to be patient.