Double skim latte with interest, please …
Posted by Rick - 13/06/02 at 01:06:34 pmAaron recently wrote about a pet peeve of his concerning people who are slow in market express lanes. My initial reaction was that people need to slow down, and not let the little things upset them. For the most part, I still feel that way. I don’t see any reason to get frustrated when people are slower than we would like them to be. Not just in checkout lines, but on the roads as well. If one is really in that much of a hurry perhaps they should look at why this is, rather than blaming others. Did they not leave their homes early enough to be at work on time, and are now pissed at the old lady in front of them—who has the nerve to not run the red light—for making them late? She didn’t make them late. They made themselves late.
If we want to be upset with a group of people for holding up lines at shops it shouldn’t be the people who are being kind and making small talk with the cashier while fumbling for change or their wallets. We should be mad at the lazy—and stupid—bastards who insist on paying for everything with a bloody credit card!
At first I thought this practice was an anomaly. I saw a few people doing it occasionally at area coffee and food shops, but didn’t think much about it. However, lately it seems that every time I am in a line it is being held up by someone paying for their scone and triple Mocha Coconut Frappuccino® (skim, of course) with a credit card. Savvy Starbucks noticed this trend rather early too, as they now offer their own debit card to help “breeze into your local participating Starbucks to pick up your favorite beverage without worrying about cash.”
I realise that there are times when one hasn’t had a chance to get to an ATM. I realise there are times when one has already placed their order only to realise that they have neglected to check their cash situation first. This rant isn’t aimed at such folks. This rant is aimed at the people I see practicing this idiocy daily. The ones who are more-than-likely part of that large group of Americans who pay less than the full balance on their credit cards each month. I’m sorry, but the rewards programs and frequently flyer miles aren’t worth the debt, and certainly not worth inconveniencing others.
See? I didn’t mention my sweetie—or how much I miss her—once in this post. D’oh!
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I must admit that I am one who uses a card at the market, this is largely for convenience, and also it allows me to get ATM money without having to pay a foolish surcharge. I think the line should be drawn if the purchase is less than $20 or instead of using debit the purchase is charged as credit requiring a signature. If you need to charge your cup a’ joe, than you just may have a caffeine problem.
Comment by Pete — June 13, 2002 #
I’ve been the jackass in line who had to charge $2.42 for a cup of coffee because I forgot there were only cobwebs in my wallet. I try not to be that person.
Comment by Liz — June 13, 2002 #
Last week I stopped by this gourmet candy shop in Tyson’s II (they had English Cadbury’s there) and the woman at the register in front of me wrote a check for two bucks and change. Then the cashier told me that this was the second time very recently that she had done this!
Yes, as an occasional mistake, it’s one thing. As a matter of course, it’s another.
Comment by Lori — June 13, 2002 #
BTW — if I may shed some light on the impatient, I don’t think it’s a matter of needing to leave the store or get to our destination five minutes faster. I think many people (including myself) just hate waiting. I suppose it’s sort of a frustration thing, since you’re not in control of the situation, it stresses you out.
Or maybe we’re just jerks.
Comment by Lori — June 13, 2002 #
Personally, I always try to get through whatever line I’m in as quickly as possible. It’s simply a matter of being considerate to those around us-a very lost art in this day and age.
Comment by Josh — June 13, 2002 #
I do the “pay for a $4.50 pack of cigarettes” with my debit card, but I make the effort to do it as quickly as possible. I swipe, I sign, I’m out. Some people who pay with cash need to learn how to do that.
Comment by Beatriz — June 14, 2002 #
Ok, I agree that the “large number of Americans” who don’t pay their balance are not good at money management, but I will tell you that we pay EVERYTHING with our cc, and pay off the balance each month. It quickly adds up to a free flight, and hey, the cc company makes no money off our transaction. It’s convenient, and fast if you’re considerate, and step aside for the next person to order. It’s no different than using a debit card for us. What you really should be asking yourself is how responsible it is to being buying the daily designer coffee — let’s see, $4.00 for large latte, 5x per week, that’s $80 per month — $960 a year — just on a cup of coffee!!!
Comment by Stephany — June 14, 2002 #
Form of payment doesn’t bug me, but here are 2 scenarios that never fail to irritate me:
* Checkout people who chat with their pals — a total no-no in cashwrap etiquette when I was in retail — while ringing me up, leaving me standing there … waiting … for the private conversation to end. I just wanna buy my kitty litter and leave — I don’t want to hear about so-and-so’s party on Saturday night.
* Witches in floor length furs haggling over whether the item costs $1.39 or is on sale for $1.19. “It’s the principle!” they sniff. Um, ladies? Yer wearing several dead animals. Don’t talk to me about principles, OK?
Comment by Kim — June 14, 2002 #
BTW, love the USA design - but Mexico’s going to be tough. And talk about annoying - I almost got rear-ended Wednesday night by a carload of crazy Laker fans (who cares…), I cannot imagine what it will be like Monday - lots of crazy fans out here!
Comment by Stephany — June 14, 2002 #
Well, well. I enjoy not having to carry cash around with me. And generally when I swipe and go, i’m out faster than the three poor saps in front of me who the $5.50/hr cashier/slave had to make change for…did I see that cashier take off her shoes to count change? nah…
Comment by jawrat — June 14, 2002 #
I’ve actually found that in some cases it’s faster to swipe and go than to pay cash - usually when you have a really slow cashier and would need change. That said, I almost always use my debit card (one less thing to worry about when i go to pay my bills) which is slightly faster than credit.
What I feel really bad about though is if something doesn’t ring in right or a sale price doesn’t come up, because that really does hold the line up. On the other hand, I feel pretty strongly that if a store advertises a price, they should honor it even if the difference is only a few cents. Granted, I don’t wear fur (nor could I afford it) and sometimes those pennies really do add up.
Finally, I do think little courtesies add up on both sides. Yes, it’s polite to move through lines as quickly as possible so you don’t hold up the people behind you. But at the same time, I think people should take the time to say please and thank you and ask how the cashier’s day is going. They’re people, not automatons, and sometimes those little kindnesses can really brighten what must be a pretty dreary job.
Comment by Loren — June 14, 2002 #
Sorry, but I have to put in my two cents’ worth in favor of plastic at the grocery store. Someone mentioned above that the cashier doesn’t have to make change. With a debit card, you can get cash without a surcharge and you don’t have to wait to sign the receipt. With a credit card, you get an extra 4 weeks or so of grace period where you’re not paying interest on your purchase, and your money can be hanging out somewhere else, making interest.
I generally pay for everything with credit, but only perhaps two times have I paid off less than the balance at the end of the month. But I must admit that less than an hour ago, I found myself in Starbuck’s, signing a receipt for $2 and change for my iced mocha…
Comment by Terrek — June 14, 2002 #
Clearly, debit cards are the quickest way to pay and get through the line. The slowest method of payment, and the one that gets me most frustrated, is writing a check. It just seems to be the most bass ackwards way of paying for things these days.
Comment by Josh — June 14, 2002 #
who writes checks anymore?
great design, rick!
Comment by miss ellen — June 17, 2002 #
What’s a check?
Comment by Thomas — June 17, 2002 #
The check at the grocery store is the all time worst. Ok, maybe second worst to the person who sends their kid back in to get ice cream or something after the cashier has already started ringing everything up.
I also think that the debit card is a very fast option. While the cashier is ringing up the goods, I swipe my card, put in my pin and then your just waiting for the total. The total comes up and you hit enter. Nothing to sign, yer outta there…
Comment by hencio — June 17, 2002 #
What a surprise that you haven’t been posting today. Is something important happening?
Comment by Liz — June 18, 2002 #
Dude, you’re so not married. If it weren’t for that plastic in my wallet, I’d never be able to buy anything.
Comment by Keith — June 18, 2002 #
something tells me that wherever rick is right now, he’s got a huge smile on his face.
Comment by laura — June 18, 2002 #
Actually, the fastest payment option I’ve encountered is the Mobil/Exxon Speedpass. Just wave the key tag over the sensor, and you’re all set. Once, I was able to pull up into a gas station just as the guy in front of me finished pumping his gas. I was able to fill up and take off before he’d even finished paying for his gas.
Granted, there are security concerns that prevent the Speedpass from becoming as universal, but, maybe coupled with a built in biometric sensor (thumbprint scanner, maybe?) and Bluetooth, it can make the wallet itself a thing of the past.
Comment by tomcheng — June 19, 2002 #
what, nothing to share with us, Rick????? nothing interesting going on?????????????????
Comment by Lori — June 20, 2002 #
I already shared any news I am going to share with those people who I deemed worthy of said news at this time, Lori. I assume you got that email.
I don’t normally go into detail about my personal life here. Besides, my betrothed said it all rather well, I think
Comment by Rick — June 20, 2002 #
Since I’m not worthy of said news via said email ;-), I’ll congratulate you here on what I deduce your betrothed said yes to many times =)
CONGRATULATIONS!
Comment by Kim — June 20, 2002 #
Kim, I don’t have your email, and LiveJournal doesn’t allow riff raff like me to contact you through your site:
“Sorry…
To use the “Tell a Friend” feature, you must first login”
I am very sorry to have left you out. It wasn’t intentional.
Comment by Rick — June 20, 2002 #
*No apologies or exlanations necessary* I was totally just poking fun at the inclusive phrasing you used in yer reply to Lori.
Comment by Kim — June 21, 2002 #