I spotted this article on tollroadnews about the toll collectors with mention of the iceman and the milkman http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/6482
I just bought a Pikepass, and I certainly don't miss having to stop and pay a toll and talk to toll takers.
I prefer the inhuman touch with toll collectors, where I can't avoid them altogether with my E-ZPass or SunPass transponders. I try to pay the toll, get any change I'm due and be on my way without saying a word (except, where appropriate, "thank you" or its local equivalent). That goes double at toll booths in Quebec and Mexico, where I don't speak the language well, but get by just fine anyway.
I like friendly toll collectors. I dislike it when they basically totally ignore me.
I disagree with the article about toll collectors finding a niche where traffic volumes are low or you have to stop anyways. While I like not stopping or waiting in line with the transponder, the big reason I have E-ZPass is so I don't have to fumble with cash. You have to either know the toll ahead of time and set aside the appropriate amount (and deal with change when arriving at your destination, since I rarely have the exact amount due to not using cash for anything) or hold up the line (especially since I usually travel alone).
For most things, I prefer automation vs. human interaction. As I get older, I'm becoming less and less of a people person. I try to use self-checkout at any store that offers it vs. going through a line with a person running the register. I'm glad that I can now schedule doctor's appointments with my local doctor online instead of having to call and talk to someone.
It would be nice if all E-ZPass or similar toll collection was done at highway speeds instead of having to slow down. At least my brief excursion onto the NY Thruway last week only required me to slow to 20 mph instead of 5 mph like the PA Turnpike requires.
And that depends on the Thruway booth. Some are 20, some are 5. It depends on where the toll booth lane is in relation to the parking lot for toll collectors and the pedestrian crosswalk connecting the lanes. It's annoying, but I can understand the lower limit given the visibility to the sides.
I'm with Oscar and HB. I prefer to deal with automation (electronic toll collection, ATMs, pay-at-the-pump, self-checkout, etc). Its faster, more accurate, and, sad to say, more courtious in many cases). The newest movie theatre in my area has an ATM like ticket vendor, and vending machines for the sodas, popcorn, etc). Better.
Gripe. I used to drive the WV Turnpike a lot, before they had EZ Pass and before their illegal toll increase. Toll was $1.25. Now obviously the majority of people were going to pay with a dollar bill and a quarter or five quarters. But apparently the toll takers hated to end up the day with other change. So they would sit there and make little piles of 75 cents out of dimes, nicklels and even 50c pieces. If you go caught without correct change, you got a handfull of random non-quarter change. Which I would just give back at the next toll booth.
Quote from: vdeane on March 30, 2013, 03:30:45 PM
I disagree with the article about toll collectors finding a niche where traffic volumes are low or you have to stop anyways. While I like not stopping or waiting in line with the transponder, the big reason I have E-ZPass is so I don't have to fumble with cash. You have to either know the toll ahead of time and set aside the appropriate amount (and deal with change when arriving at your destination, since I rarely have the exact amount due to not using cash for anything) or hold up the line (especially since I usually travel alone).
I have no problem with getting the right amount of cash. Here's how I do it: Look to the right and say, "Honey, will you get the toll ready for me?" And then, lo and behold! well in advance of the toll both, I have exact change in my hand. :love:
Yeah, it's so much easier when not traveling alone...
Back in my single days (during the brief period I owned a car), I would just get out exact change in advance (Chicago-area toll roads). Sometimes I would even count out the toll in pennies, put the pennies in an upside-down Frisbee, dump the whole Frisbee-load into the automatic cash basket, and then listen to the whirrrrr of it counting my cash.
Quote from: vdeane on March 30, 2013, 03:30:45 PM
I disagree with the article about toll collectors finding a niche where traffic volumes are low or you have to stop anyways. While I like not stopping or waiting in line with the transponder, the big reason I have E-ZPass is so I don't have to fumble with cash. You have to either know the toll ahead of time and set aside the appropriate amount (and deal with change when arriving at your destination, since I rarely have the exact amount due to not using cash for anything) or hold up the line (especially since I usually travel alone).
I got caught driving to O'Hare a few years ago. There was an oddball toll ($0.80 maybe?) on the exit for the airport, coins only. Not having $0.80 in coins, I was forced to run it. You'd think of all places to have user friendly toll booths, the entrance to the airport, one frequented by tourists and out of towners like myself, would be it.
Quote from: kphoger on April 01, 2013, 04:47:44 PM
Back in my single days (during the brief period I owned a car), I would just get out exact change in advance (Chicago-area toll roads). Sometimes I would even count out the toll in pennies, put the pennies in an upside-down Frisbee, dump the whole Frisbee-load into the automatic cash basket, and then listen to the whirrrrr of it counting my cash.
Sounds like the good,
really old days. Are there any cash baskets anymore that will even take pennies?
Maybe you can pull that stuff with a human toll-taker, though they might not take pennies or at the very least give you a big frown, since they don't need pennies to give out in change. Even with other kinds of cashiers, the reactions are mixed -- some are unhappy having to count out all the pennies I dump on them, others appreciate my fixing their penny shortage.
Quote from: oscar on April 01, 2013, 07:53:55 PM
Quote from: kphoger on April 01, 2013, 04:47:44 PM
Back in my single days (during the brief period I owned a car), I would just get out exact change in advance (Chicago-area toll roads). Sometimes I would even count out the toll in pennies, put the pennies in an upside-down Frisbee, dump the whole Frisbee-load into the automatic cash basket, and then listen to the whirrrrr of it counting my cash.
Sounds like the good, really old days. Are there any cash baskets anymore that will even take pennies?
Yes. The Illinois Tollway baskets (those that still exist) do take pennies.
I think I'm the oddball here. I prefer the good old way. I don't plan on using a transponder unless I take a toll often enough; which, in my case, means don't plan on having any transponder. I don't even take the A25 bridge often enough to make a transponder profitable for me.
Quote from: Dr Frankenstein on April 01, 2013, 08:33:24 PM
I think I'm the oddball here. I prefer the good old way. I don't plan on using a transponder unless I take a toll often enough; which, in my case, means don't plan on having any transponder.
Same. I rarely drive VA 195 or VA 76 (maybe once a year each), and haven't been on VA 895 or the tolled segmet of VA 168 in years. For other toll routes I encounter, I pretty much plan on only driving them the one time to clinch them.
Took my mother from her home near Valley Forge, PA to Point Pleasant a few years back. At the eastern barrier to the PA Turnpike, the toll taker greeted us with a sincere, "thanks, hope you are having a nice day." The New Jersey turnpike counterpart greeted us with a gruff "TWO DOLLARS!!!." I handed him 2 bucks and told him "Two dollars to you, as well!" The look of confusion on his face was priceless.
Also, back in the '90's, there was a night shift toll booth attendant on the WV Turnpike named Albert Gore. This was, of course, the name of the VP of our nation at the time. I always would ask him why the VP felt the need to moonlight, couldn't Bill give him a raise?
Come to think of it, our family dog would have been driven crazy by E-ZPass. Some of the NYSTA cash attendants had dog treats.
Quote from: Brandon on April 01, 2013, 08:27:47 PM
Quote from: oscar on April 01, 2013, 07:53:55 PM
Quote from: kphoger on April 01, 2013, 04:47:44 PM
Back in my single days (during the brief period I owned a car), I would just get out exact change in advance (Chicago-area toll roads). Sometimes I would even count out the toll in pennies, put the pennies in an upside-down Frisbee, dump the whole Frisbee-load into the automatic cash basket, and then listen to the whirrrrr of it counting my cash.
Sounds like the good, really old days. Are there any cash baskets anymore that will even take pennies?
Yes. The Illinois Tollway baskets (those that still exist) do take pennies.
Yeah, it was the good, really old days of about 2004. ;-) Back when horses were common on the E-W Tollway.
I would like the ability to drive a tollway when it's convenient to me, for clinching purposes or just for the ease and speed of a tollway. However, there are none I drive regularly enough to deal with the expense and hassle of a transponder. In ye olden days, I would keep a handful of change in the vehicle, but now I tend to forgo the use of toll roads. My experiences with pay-by-mail have been much less than stellar. Even though I've lived at the same address for 13 years, and have owned the same vehicles since 1999 and 2005, I have yet to receive a bill "on time." There is always a substantial "late" fee on the FIRST bill I receive.
I'd much prefer to pay as I go.
In Michigan where I live, the only toll roads we have are crossing the Mackinac Bridge or crossing into Canada (either through a tunnel or across a bridge). I have zero desire to purchase an EZ-Pass transponder and prefer to pay with cash for almost everything. I don't drive on toll roads often, but when I do, I plan in advance to make sure I have the right cash (coins or paper bills). Sometimes I have to research in advance to see if there is a human option for paying the toll. Most of the time (like if I'm on the Ohio Turnpike), that option is available so I don't have to worry about exact change.
Regarding gas stations, I rarely use pay-at-the-pump. I love using cash. However, the one inconvenience about paying with cash is that most gas stations around here require you to prepay, and I always like to have a completely full tank. That means I have to overestimate how much it will cost me to fill up my tank, go inside to pay, come back out to fill up, and then go back in a second time to get my change. That's okay though; my desire to pay with cash trumps this minor inconvenience.
Regarding self-checkout at the grocery store, I sometimes use it if I am only buying a few items. If I have a shopping cart full of groceries, I'd rather interact with a human cashier.
In general, I prefer the human touch in most transactions when it's possible.
I try to pay with a credit card for everything. 2% cash back is a major incentive, as is the ability to review my purchases online for more accurate budgeting.
I also like to pay at the pump when getting gas.
about the only place I prefer a human is at self-checkout lanes at the big box store.
At Home Depot, about 85% of the time, in my experience, a human operator is needed because an item does not match its expected weight, or the system randomly goes down, or the scanner's transparent window has been scratched opaque by vandals (WTF) and is only half-operative.*
Fresh 'n Easy is a lot better. that's about 1/3 of the time only for needing a human operator.
* and don't get me started on the 'you need to be 18 to buy spray paint' law in San Diego. Vandalize? I could destroy your property in minutes with items I can purchase without an age restriction. Between pool acid and a chainsaw, there ain't much standing in my way.
Chances are, the change baskets that still exist will take pennies...even if they say they don't. No one likes pennies - they're a pain to count, and they get heavy for a while.
Even though the booths on the NJ Turnpike had "NO PENNIES" stickers, we were supposed to take them. It didn't happen every often. I was one of the nice ones who would take them. I would also be one of the few that actually greeted people with "Hello", "Have a Nice Day", etc.
On the other hand, I wouldn't scream over radios and such. I'd talk in a regular tone of voice, and if they couldn't hear me, they'd get the idea and turn their radio down. Or if they ask me for directions, then say "Well, that's not what I have written here"...then it was a more sarcastic response.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 05, 2013, 02:09:56 PM
Chances are, the change baskets that still exist will take pennies...even if they say they don't. No one likes pennies - they're a pain to count, and they get heavy for a while.
Even though the booths on the NJ Turnpike had "NO PENNIES" stickers, we were supposed to take them. It didn't happen every often. I was one of the nice ones who would take them. I would also be one of the few that actually greeted people with "Hello", "Have a Nice Day", etc.
On the other hand, I wouldn't scream over radios and such. I'd talk in a regular tone of voice, and if they couldn't hear me, they'd get the idea and turn their radio down. Or if they ask me for directions, then say "Well, that's not what I have written here"...then it was a more sarcastic response.
As I said, the change baskets still used here in Illinois on the unattended ramp toll plazas do take (and always have taken) pennies. There's this odd quirk where a certain President (not current) from Illinois is on the coin. They've never had the stickers stating "no pennies" either. Every so often, before the I-Pass ORT era, you'd get some No Tolls numbnut throwing in 40 pennies in a basket on the Tri-State in protest. ISTHA didn't care - the machines took and counted them anyway.
Quote from: Brandon on April 05, 2013, 04:23:31 PM
Every so often, before the I-Pass ORT era, you'd get some No Tolls numbnut throwing in 40 pennies in a basket on the Tri-State in protest. ISTHA didn't care - the machines took and counted them anyway.
As I mentioned, I'd do that every so often. Not in protest, just to get rid of some pennies. It only took about five extra seconds to count the pennies. I would also do it every so often on the bus; it takes a lot longer to funnel pennies into a farebox than a toll basket, let me tell you!
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on April 05, 2013, 01:53:06 PM
In Michigan where I live, the only toll roads we have are crossing the Mackinac Bridge or crossing into Canada (either through a tunnel or across a bridge). I have zero desire to purchase an EZ-Pass transponder and prefer to pay with cash for almost everything. I don't drive on toll roads often, but when I do, I plan in advance to make sure I have the right cash (coins or paper bills). Sometimes I have to research in advance to see if there is a human option for paying the toll. Most of the time (like if I'm on the Ohio Turnpike), that option is available so I don't have to worry about exact change.
Regarding gas stations, I rarely use pay-at-the-pump. I love using cash. However, the one inconvenience about paying with cash is that most gas stations around here require you to prepay, and I always like to have a completely full tank. That means I have to overestimate how much it will cost me to fill up my tank, go inside to pay, come back out to fill up, and then go back in a second time to get my change. That's okay though; my desire to pay with cash trumps this minor inconvenience.
Regarding self-checkout at the grocery store, I sometimes use it if I am only buying a few items. If I have a shopping cart full of groceries, I'd rather interact with a human cashier.
In general, I prefer the human touch in most transactions when it's possible.
OT, but:
I absolutely HATE using cash here in the US. The fact that taxes are priced in at the register means I quickly end up with a pocket full of stupid small coins. Every other country on the planet does it right where something priced $3 at the store actually costs $3, not $3.18 like here.
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on April 05, 2013, 01:53:06 PM
Regarding gas stations, I rarely use pay-at-the-pump. I love using cash.
I dispise to go into a gas station. Because really there are no more "gas stations" around here. There are "convinece stores". Which means there are places with gas pumps out front that sell lottery tickets, beer, soda pop, smokes, and candy inside (along with other items at triple the regular price). Which means I am going to be in line behind a half-dozen people, including:
- The cigarette addict. Who will ask for varrious combination of weird generic brands, a pack at a time, until he runs out of money.
- The degenerate gambler. Who thinks its OK to start with 20 or 50 scratch off tickets and continue to play until down to zero. Often illiterate, asking the clerk "did I win?" (umm, if you are too stupid to know, you are probably too stupid to be risking your income).
- The food stamp scammer. Who will ask the clerk to re ring her purchases over and over, recharacterizing her purchases as "food" (which can be paid for by the "food stamp" portion of her welfare card) and "other" which can be paid for by the "general" portion of her welfare card) in order to max out the amount of stuff she can call "food". Never bothering to go to a real, umm, store (where the prices are 1/3rd as much) or asking about that big sign over the register reading "HELP WANTED".
- The alcoholic. Counting out change bummed in the parking lot to see if he has enough to get another pounder.
- The mom. With two or three kids, all of who have a candy bar and scream for it.
No thanks. Pay at the pump.
Quote from: SP Cook on April 07, 2013, 07:58:04 AM
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on April 05, 2013, 01:53:06 PM
Regarding gas stations, I rarely use pay-at-the-pump. I love using cash.
I dispise to go into a gas station. Because really there are no more "gas stations" around here. There are "convinece stores". Which means there are places with gas pumps out front that sell lottery tickets, beer, soda pop, smokes, and candy inside (along with other items at triple the regular price). Which means I am going to be in line behind a half-dozen people, including:
- The cigarette addict. Who will ask for varrious combination of weird generic brands, a pack at a time, until he runs out of money.
- The degenerate gambler. Who thinks its OK to start with 20 or 50 scratch off tickets and continue to play until down to zero. Often illiterate, asking the clerk "did I win?" (umm, if you are too stupid to know, you are probably too stupid to be risking your income).
- The food stamp scammer. Who will ask the clerk to re ring her purchases over and over, recharacterizing her purchases as "food" (which can be paid for by the "food stamp" portion of her welfare card) and "other" which can be paid for by the "general" portion of her welfare card) in order to max out the amount of stuff she can call "food". Never bothering to go to a real, umm, store (where the prices are 1/3rd as much) or asking about that big sign over the register reading "HELP WANTED".
- The alcoholic. Counting out change bummed in the parking lot to see if he has enough to get another pounder.
- The mom. With two or three kids, all of who have a candy bar and scream for it.
No thanks. Pay at the pump.
plus an incompetent clerk running the cash register who may or may not understand or speak English! Definitely pay at the pump
I pay at the pump just to avoid the walk and wait. Oh, and to avoid leaving the car unattended in case some brave thief tries something.
I use pay at the pump. I frequently use self-checkout. I would use an automated pay-as-you-go system if I were given the option. But where I am, my choices are transponder or pay-by-mail, and since pay by mail has so many problems, I don't use the toll roads.
Pay at the pump and the ATM both allow me to do my business without having to go inside somewhere, which is a small benefit to me. But, in the case of the self checkout at the grocery store, I'm already in the store. In the case of a toll road, I'm already on the road. In those two cases, the benefit to me is quite small.
Pay at the pump allows me to get in and get out at the gas station. ATMs are fine as I can take out money when I want without worrying about banker's hours. I'd rather go through a checkout line at the grocery store though as the automated ones are a pain in the ass to use with coupons. I do love my transponder since I don't have to slow down or stop for a toll anymore.
Quote from: SP Cook on April 07, 2013, 07:58:04 AM
No thanks. Pay at the pump.
Times have changed. Back in the MTR days, I remember a thread about what devices and supplies one takes on trips. I mentioned a cooler full of pop, and you said you preferred to stop at a store to get a soft drink and interact with the locals.
The problem with C-stores is they often have only one clerk to handle the long line of smokers, lottery players, alkies and others. Plus many allow smoking, or look the other way when people violate no-smoking laws, which means you reek after having been inside.
Each time a loaded tractor trailer starts from a complete stop, it will use ~ 1 gallon of diesel to return to highway speed. Multiply that by each truck stopping for every toll booth for a year, and in the US alone, it is a staggering number. This is a great argument for a standardized, national transponder. Think of not only the waste if fuel, but the environmental impact, and the safety aspect. Each truck which stops then has to merge back with cars, who have a higher percentage of transponder use, often due to the fact that they are local traffic.
Quote from: hbelkins on April 08, 2013, 06:00:13 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on April 07, 2013, 07:58:04 AM
No thanks. Pay at the pump.
Times have changed. Back in the MTR days, I remember a thread about what devices and supplies one takes on trips. I mentioned a cooler full of pop, and you said you preferred to stop at a store to get a soft drink and interact with the locals.
The problem with C-stores is they often have only one clerk to handle the long line of smokers, lottery players, alkies and others. Plus many allow smoking, or look the other way when people violate no-smoking laws, which means you reek after having been inside.
I usually pay at the pump and then go in for a caffeinated diet soda and I don't know that I've ever been in a convenience store anywhere in the world that had people smoking inside. Is that a Kentucky thing?
Quote from: djsinco on April 08, 2013, 08:02:44 PM
Each time a loaded tractor trailer starts from a complete stop, it will use ~ 1 gallon of diesel to return to highway speed. Multiply that by each truck stopping for every toll booth for a year, and in the US alone, it is a staggering number. This is a great argument for a standardized, national transponder. Think of not only the waste if fuel, but the environmental impact, and the safety aspect. Each truck which stops then has to merge back with cars, who have a higher percentage of transponder use, often due to the fact that they are local traffic.
I thought it was an argument for paying for our roads through gas taxes.
You have added another point for my argument; as trucks slow, stand, and re-accelerate, those areas of pavement are stressed and damaged way more than those where a heavy vehicle just passes through at speed....
Quote from: Brandon on April 08, 2013, 04:46:22 PM
Pay at the pump allows me to get in and get out at the gas station. ATMs are fine as I can take out money when I want without worrying about banker's hours. I'd rather go through a checkout line at the grocery store though as the automated ones are a pain in the ass to use with coupons. I do love my transponder since I don't have to slow down or stop for a toll anymore.
I'm always amazed at the people that will use an ATM in a store and get charged the surcharges (assuming it's not their bank's ATM), then pay with that cash at the checkout line. They could've used their ATM card at checkout then gotten extra cash back, without the fees.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 09, 2013, 09:35:36 AM
Quote from: Brandon on April 08, 2013, 04:46:22 PM
Pay at the pump allows me to get in and get out at the gas station. ATMs are fine as I can take out money when I want without worrying about banker's hours. I'd rather go through a checkout line at the grocery store though as the automated ones are a pain in the ass to use with coupons. I do love my transponder since I don't have to slow down or stop for a toll anymore.
I'm always amazed at the people that will use an ATM in a store and get charged the surcharges (assuming it's not their bank's ATM), then pay with that cash at the checkout line. They could've used their ATM card at checkout then gotten extra cash back, without the fees.
The same reason why some people still write checks at the register when the Debit Card will do the same exact thing minus the cost of the checks being printed out and faster check out as they do not have to present their ID.
Quote from: roadman65 on April 09, 2013, 11:37:08 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 09, 2013, 09:35:36 AM
Quote from: Brandon on April 08, 2013, 04:46:22 PM
Pay at the pump allows me to get in and get out at the gas station. ATMs are fine as I can take out money when I want without worrying about banker's hours. I'd rather go through a checkout line at the grocery store though as the automated ones are a pain in the ass to use with coupons. I do love my transponder since I don't have to slow down or stop for a toll anymore.
I'm always amazed at the people that will use an ATM in a store and get charged the surcharges (assuming it's not their bank's ATM), then pay with that cash at the checkout line. They could've used their ATM card at checkout then gotten extra cash back, without the fees.
The same reason why some people still write checks at the register when the Debit Card will do the same exact thing minus the cost of the checks being printed out and faster check out as they do not have to present their ID.
A check is not exactly the same thing as a debit card. A check: has stronger legal protections about what can be done with the account number and how the debt can be collected if it doesn't go through; takes money out a day or two later, so money can be moved from one account to another to cover it; lets you write on the check what it's for; shows who deposited it on the back. On some accounts, checks clearing is free but there's a service charge associated with every debit transaction.
Quote from: allniter89 on April 07, 2013, 10:39:46 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on April 07, 2013, 07:58:04 AM
Quote from: A.J. Bertin on April 05, 2013, 01:53:06 PM
Regarding gas stations, I rarely use pay-at-the-pump. I love using cash.
I dispise to go into a gas station. Because really there are no more "gas stations" around here. There are "convinece stores". Which means there are places with gas pumps out front that sell lottery tickets, beer, soda pop, smokes, and candy inside (along with other items at triple the regular price). Which means I am going to be in line behind a half-dozen people, including:
- The cigarette addict. Who will ask for varrious combination of weird generic brands, a pack at a time, until he runs out of money.
- The degenerate gambler. Who thinks its OK to start with 20 or 50 scratch off tickets and continue to play until down to zero. Often illiterate, asking the clerk "did I win?" (umm, if you are too stupid to know, you are probably too stupid to be risking your income).
- The food stamp scammer. Who will ask the clerk to re ring her purchases over and over, recharacterizing her purchases as "food" (which can be paid for by the "food stamp" portion of her welfare card) and "other" which can be paid for by the "general" portion of her welfare card) in order to max out the amount of stuff she can call "food". Never bothering to go to a real, umm, store (where the prices are 1/3rd as much) or asking about that big sign over the register reading "HELP WANTED".
- The alcoholic. Counting out change bummed in the parking lot to see if he has enough to get another pounder.
- The mom. With two or three kids, all of who have a candy bar and scream for it.
No thanks. Pay at the pump.
plus an incompetent clerk running the cash register who may or may not understand or speak English! Definitely pay at the pump
I have not ever noticed a strong correlation between "speaks English" and "can do math competently". I've had lots of clerks with shaky English who could recognize a US $20 and give back change quickly and efficiently. I've also had lots of "America fuck yeah" types who couldn't count past 8 without pulling their pants down.
as for the degenerate drunks ... yeah if you're using your last $1.82 in pennies to buy a 40 of King Cobra, you need to seriously re-evaluate your life decisions.
Or the guy who pumps $5 of gas, then wants a pack of cigarettes, then realizes he doesn't have enough money for both, then asks if they can take back some of the gas!
On long trips, though, we always use gas station stops as potty breaks, so we're going inside anyway. Half the time, too, we're buying a snack or a drink. Paying inside or outside doesn't really matter in that case. Paying cash up front, I can tack on snack purchases at the end and only have one transaction; paying at the pump, I save a tiny bit of walking. Neither one is that big a deal.
I've found that toll collectors on the Kansas Turnpike are pretty friendly about two out of three times, and are never really unpleasant. When there was a bad accident south of Wichita one day this year, in fact, I witnessed the toll collector at the Kellogg exit step out of the booth (exiting side) in between transactions to ask what direction entering motorists were going and to warn them of the situation. Very cool, and you don't get that with a machine.
Quote from: kphoger on April 09, 2013, 01:50:08 PM
Or the guy who pumps $5 of gas, then wants a pack of cigarettes, then realizes he doesn't have enough money for both, then asks if they can take back some of the gas!
people that fiend for cigarettes irk me. dude, it's a recreational expense, not an emergency - buy them
later.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 09, 2013, 09:35:36 AM
I'm always amazed at the people that will use an ATM in a store and get charged the surcharges (assuming it's not their bank's ATM), then pay with that cash at the checkout line. They could've used their ATM card at checkout then gotten extra cash back, without the fees.
AMEN!
Actually, If I need cash and there isn't a "my-bank" ATM around, I'll try to find a store where I can buy something, usually non-perishable, that I'll eventually use (Ex: a bottle of shampoo), pay for it with a card and get cash back.
Most of the time, ATM fees are outrageous these days The fact
my bank now charges $2.50 any time I use some other bank's ATM (on top of that ATM's charges) particularly grinds my gears.
There is a 7-Eleven near where I live where the ATM doesn't charge a fee. And it is not a major bank ATM. Also my bank reimburses me up to 15.00 per month for other banks ATM charges in addition to not charging a fee themselves. The reimbursement covers about 5-6 atm withdraws a month, which is more than enough.
Quote from: Mr_Northside on April 09, 2013, 02:56:03 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 09, 2013, 09:35:36 AM
I'm always amazed at the people that will use an ATM in a store and get charged the surcharges (assuming it's not their bank's ATM), then pay with that cash at the checkout line. They could've used their ATM card at checkout then gotten extra cash back, without the fees.
AMEN!
Actually, If I need cash and there isn't a "my-bank" ATM around, I'll try to find a store where I can buy something, usually non-perishable, that I'll eventually use (Ex: a bottle of shampoo), pay for it with a card and get cash back.
Most of the time, ATM fees are outrageous these days The fact my bank now charges $2.50 any time I use some other bank's ATM (on top of that ATM's charges) particularly grinds my gears.
Sheetz has free ATM's.
Quote from: kkt on April 09, 2013, 11:56:29 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 09, 2013, 11:37:08 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 09, 2013, 09:35:36 AM
Quote from: Brandon on April 08, 2013, 04:46:22 PM
Pay at the pump allows me to get in and get out at the gas station. ATMs are fine as I can take out money when I want without worrying about banker's hours. I'd rather go through a checkout line at the grocery store though as the automated ones are a pain in the ass to use with coupons. I do love my transponder since I don't have to slow down or stop for a toll anymore.
I'm always amazed at the people that will use an ATM in a store and get charged the surcharges (assuming it's not their bank's ATM), then pay with that cash at the checkout line. They could've used their ATM card at checkout then gotten extra cash back, without the fees.
The same reason why some people still write checks at the register when the Debit Card will do the same exact thing minus the cost of the checks being printed out and faster check out as they do not have to present their ID.
A check is not exactly the same thing as a debit card. A check: has stronger legal protections about what can be done with the account number and how the debt can be collected if it doesn't go through; takes money out a day or two later, so money can be moved from one account to another to cover it; lets you write on the check what it's for; shows who deposited it on the back. On some accounts, checks clearing is free but there's a service charge associated with every debit transaction.
Also: with a check, you're writing the amount. With a debit card, you hope there isn't some technical problem causing you to be over-charged (which does happen). While with a credit card you can dispute that, with a debit card you can't, so the money is gone forever with no recourse.
I am astonished that people prefer debit cards to credit cards.
apart from the opportunity to get cash back, I see no advantages, and the inability to review and dispute purchases within the next month or so seems to be a critical weakness.
why do people like them so much?
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 10, 2013, 12:09:47 PM
I am astonished that people prefer debit cards to credit cards...why do people like them so much?
I suppose they can't spend more than they have, which doesn't ruin their monthly limits, and essentially, there's no bill to pay later. On the other hand, some people don't want nor can have credit cards due to their credit score. I prefer my credit card; I get an idea at the end of the month what I'm spending money on, and I very rarely carry much cash. Hell, I don't even know my PIN any more on my ATM card, I probably last used it 8-9 years ago.
...which means I see a teller at the bank. That's an example of when I prefer to see someone in person rather than a machine that might make a mistake. Many years ago, I withdrew $100, but exactly nothing came out of the slot. I complained, and received the money back in my account
seven business days later. Even though that wouldn't deplete me as badly today, I say: Screw That.
As for tolls, I much prefer the electronic collections; I don't have to wait for someone who suddenly asked for directions from the collector, fumbles with cash, and the like. Although I visit the c-stores inside gas stations frequently for a snack or drink, I despise the 1-2 times of year I have to pre-pay for some reason (for example, a credit card machine that doesn't work). I vaguely know my own car's tank, but some rental car that must be filled? Good luck!
Self-checkout isn't perfect; I like it when it works. But when it doesn't work, probably because I bought cold medication or something with a UPC that couldn't be read, I hate watching that flashing light, and then waiting 5 minutes for some imaginary personnel to tell me I'm an idiot.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 10, 2013, 12:09:47 PM
I am astonished that people prefer debit cards to credit cards.
apart from the opportunity to get cash back, I see no advantages, and the inability to review and dispute purchases within the next month or so seems to be a critical weakness.
why do people like them so much?
Well, cash back, as you mentioned. I also like that the transaction is declined if the money isn't there; although many banks offer the option to overdraw on debit purchases, I believe by law you must opt-in to this feature. There are also still those banks that issue debit-only cards, so if that's the account you want to use, then debit is your only option.
But your typical bank card works as both credit and debit, and in many or most instances, I'd agree that credit is preferable.
Quote from: vdeane on April 10, 2013, 11:39:27 AM
Quote from: kkt on April 09, 2013, 11:56:29 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 09, 2013, 11:37:08 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 09, 2013, 09:35:36 AM
Quote from: Brandon on April 08, 2013, 04:46:22 PM
Pay at the pump allows me to get in and get out at the gas station. ATMs are fine as I can take out money when I want without worrying about banker's hours. I'd rather go through a checkout line at the grocery store though as the automated ones are a pain in the ass to use with coupons. I do love my transponder since I don't have to slow down or stop for a toll anymore.
I'm always amazed at the people that will use an ATM in a store and get charged the surcharges (assuming it's not their bank's ATM), then pay with that cash at the checkout line. They could've used their ATM card at checkout then gotten extra cash back, without the fees.
The same reason why some people still write checks at the register when the Debit Card will do the same exact thing minus the cost of the checks being printed out and faster check out as they do not have to present their ID.
A check is not exactly the same thing as a debit card. A check: has stronger legal protections about what can be done with the account number and how the debt can be collected if it doesn't go through; takes money out a day or two later, so money can be moved from one account to another to cover it; lets you write on the check what it's for; shows who deposited it on the back. On some accounts, checks clearing is free but there's a service charge associated with every debit transaction.
Also: with a check, you're writing the amount. With a debit card, you hope there isn't some technical problem causing you to be over-charged (which does happen). While with a credit card you can dispute that, with a debit card you can't, so the money is gone forever with no recourse.
But after you wrote that check, it then needs to be processed. A bank operator will key in, or a machine will read and process, the amount written, and that's where errors can occur. Additionally, the person writing the check can accidently write a numeric amount that differ from the written amount.
The other problem with a check - it's the absolute, most unsecure document available anywhere. Your banking account number, your banking ABA number, and for most people your name and address are on the check! And you are handing that over to someone who you don't know, who will need to hand it to someone else later, and so on...
Quote from: formulanone on April 10, 2013, 01:03:01 PMI suppose they can't spend more than they have, which doesn't ruin their monthly limits, and essentially, there's no bill to pay later.
I record the expense as having been spent the moment I charge the card. then, every week or so, I review my charges and pay off the entire balance. it's the best of both worlds... can't spend more than I have, and I get to see if any unusual charges pop up.
that said, there is a bill to pay, but it's accounting. it's like putting the money from one ledger to another - I never feel the psychological hit of "wow, I just spent $800" because that is the balance. it's more like "this $800 was already gone; I'm just dotting the t's and crossing the i's."
QuoteOn the other hand, some people don't want nor can have credit cards due to their credit score. I prefer my credit card; I get an idea at the end of the month what I'm spending money on, and I very rarely carry much cash. Hell, I don't even know my PIN any more on my ATM card, I probably last used it 8-9 years ago.
...which means I see a teller at the bank.
my bank (Wells Fargo) makes me swipe my card and type in my PIN every time I go to a teller.
for large check deposits and/or cash withdrawals I too use one. Wells Fargo just introduced mobile phone deposit (whoo hoo!) but with silly low limits... $1000 per day, $3000 per 30 days. I asked the teller for a line increase - even offering to pay about $5/mo for the convenience - and they said that it's not a matter of my transaction activity; it's a blanket limit across all customers while they experiment with mobile deposit.
so that means every so often I'm still going to the teller.
QuoteAlthough I visit the c-stores inside gas stations frequently for a snack or drink, I despise the 1-2 times of year I have to pre-pay for some reason (for example, a credit card machine that doesn't work). I vaguely know my own car's tank, but some rental car that must be filled? Good luck!
I don't at all appreciate the "prepay dance" - where they ask me to guess how much is going to go in. I always tell the clerk "go ahead and authorize a hold of $100", indicating that I know what is going on inside the system. the one time I prepaid with cash in the last ~10 years (the gas station credit card readers were all down), I put down a $100 bill and asked them to open up pump number 3 and informed them I'd probably be only putting in about 45 bucks. ended up $49, close enough - but I still wasn't about to play blackjack with them. they're a sentient being; they can give me change when I am done.
Quote from: empirestate on April 10, 2013, 01:51:38 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 10, 2013, 12:09:47 PM
I am astonished that people prefer debit cards to credit cards.
apart from the opportunity to get cash back, I see no advantages, and the inability to review and dispute purchases within the next month or so seems to be a critical weakness.
why do people like them so much?
But your typical bank card works as both credit and debit, and in many or most instances, I'd agree that credit is preferable.
For most people, it's meaningless if you process it as a credit or debit card. The transaction will process in about the same amount of time either way. On occasion, the bank will have a promotional offer that is only valid if you select credit or debit - whatever is applicable to the promotion.
However, it matters more for the business. There are different rates the business is charged depending on how it's processed. As a transaction using a PIN # is considered more secure, it costs the business less to process a debit transaction as opposed to a credit transaction.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 10, 2013, 01:55:52 PM
The other problem with a check - it's the absolute, most unsecure document available anywhere. Your banking account number, your banking ABA number, and for most people your name and address are on the check! And you are handing that over to someone who you don't know, who will need to hand it to someone else later, and so on...
You're also giving that information to the store when you swipe the card. The data on that magnetic strip is NOT encrypted. There's nothing to stop someone from hooking it up to a computer without your knowledge and recording everyone's card number.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 10, 2013, 01:57:26 PM
my bank (Wells Fargo) makes me swipe my card and type in my PIN every time I go to a teller.
My bank (Bank of America) did the same about a year or two ago. Their reason: "Security."
They seemed astonished that I didn't carry my ATM card with me; I told them I kept it in my safe.
Why would you do that?
"Security."
There was a two-second moment of dead silence at the bank. They haven't asked me since.
Quote from: formulanone on April 10, 2013, 06:56:02 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 10, 2013, 01:57:26 PM
my bank (Wells Fargo) makes me swipe my card and type in my PIN every time I go to a teller.
My bank (Bank of America) did the same about a year or two ago. Their reason: "Security."
They seemed astonished that I didn't carry my ATM card with me; I told them I kept it in my safe.
Why would you do that?
"Security."
There was a two-second moment of dead silence at the bank. They haven't asked me since.
Bizarre. My bank, a regional bank in the area, doesn't do anything of the sort. In fact, they belong to a group for ATMs called "Allpoint". If you go to one of those, anywhere in the US, there are no fees for using the ATM.
Toll collector thread = hijacked?
Quote from: djsinco on April 10, 2013, 09:34:29 PM
Toll collector thread = hijacked?
Nostalgia for lost human touch thread = active.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 10, 2013, 01:57:26 PM
my bank (Wells Fargo) makes me swipe my card and type in my PIN every time I go to a teller.
My bank, also Wells Fargo, also makes me swipe mine, but it's always because I don't have my account number memorized. I didn't realize they had a policy beyond that reason.
My bank also charges me $5.00 every month for not having enough money. I never have, and never will, understood the logic behind that. "Hey, you owe me $5!" "I don't have $5." "In that case, you owe me $10!" "OK buddy, good luck collecting that!"
By the way, what is the correct tense of "to understand" I should have used in the sentence above?
So, speaking of toll collectors and the "human touch," has anyone else seen toll takers sporting latex gloves anywhere other than the GW Bridge?
NJ Turnpike. We were supposed to start wearing them after the Anthrax scares after 9/11. For many of us, that barely lasted a weekend. I also saw motorists doing the same thing. They would put the gloves on, handle the money, then take them off. In the meantime, they're touching their steering wheel, wallet, etc. If anything was actually on the money, they would have transferred the agent with the gloves on, then touched it with their bare hands later. Gloves are a feel-good preventive measure that accomplishes nothing.
Quote from: empirestate on April 11, 2013, 01:01:41 AM
My bank also charges me $5.00 every month for not having enough money. I never have, and never will, understood the logic behind that. "Hey, you owe me $5!" "I don't have $5." "In that case, you owe me $10!" "OK buddy, good luck collecting that!"
There is an administrative cost to the bank for maintaining an account. Normally, this cost is covered by the gains from investments the bank makes with the money you deposit (and you see a smidge of those gains as interest). But, if the amount of money you keep in the account is too small, the bank can't do much with it investment-wise and it costs them more to keep the account active than they can make off the money in it. So, when you're in this situation, they charge you for the privilege of keeping the account open so they don't lose money on it.
Of course, banks may start charging fees for reasons other than low balance. I had a bank account when I was in college that after three years I randomly started getting slapped with a $20 a month fee despite being told when I opened the account that there was no minimum balance and there would be no fees. I closed the account and opened a new one elsewhere. Fee problem went away. (and they never were able to explain to me
why the fee was being charged - it wasn't a low balance issue!)
I'd recommend talking to your bank about why exactly the fee is being charged and what you can do to make it go away. If you can't, then close the account and get a new bank!
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 11, 2013, 03:08:25 AM
NJ Turnpike. We were supposed to start wearing them after the Anthrax scares after 9/11. For many of us, that barely lasted a weekend. I also saw motorists doing the same thing. They would put the gloves on, handle the money, then take them off. In the meantime, they're touching their steering wheel, wallet, etc. If anything was actually on the money, they would have transferred the agent with the gloves on, then touched it with their bare hands later. Gloves are a feel-good preventive measure that accomplishes nothing.
If I may ask: Were the toll collectors supposed to use a new set of gloves with each customer?
Quote from: empirestate on April 11, 2013, 01:01:41 AM
My bank, also Wells Fargo, also makes me swipe mine, but it's always because I don't have my account number memorized. I didn't realize they had a policy beyond that reason.
I
do have mine memorized. I wonder if I could withdraw with just an ID and this information. (they always ask me for ID to make a cash withdrawal; even if I had just entered my PIN correctly.)
Quote from: empirestate on April 11, 2013, 01:01:41 AM
I never have, and never will, understood the logic behind that.
Quote
By the way, what is the correct tense of "to understand" I should have used in the sentence above?
To be correct, it needs to be rephrased. Try "I never have understood, and never will understand, the logic behind that." Or for a shorter sentence that's a little farther in meaning, "The logic behind that is incomprehensible."
Quote from: Duke87 on April 11, 2013, 12:14:06 PM
Quote from: empirestate on April 11, 2013, 01:01:41 AM
My bank also charges me $5.00 every month for not having enough money. I never have, and never will, understood the logic behind that. "Hey, you owe me $5!" "I don't have $5." "In that case, you owe me $10!" "OK buddy, good luck collecting that!"
There is an administrative cost to the bank for maintaining an account. Normally, this cost is covered by the gains from investments the bank makes with the money you deposit (and you see a smidge of those gains as interest). But, if the amount of money you keep in the account is too small, the bank can't do much with it investment-wise and it costs them more to keep the account active than they can make off the money in it. So, when you're in this situation, they charge you for the privilege of keeping the account open so they don't lose money on it.
Of course, banks may start charging fees for reasons other than low balance. I had a bank account when I was in college that after three years I randomly started getting slapped with a $20 a month fee despite being told when I opened the account that there was no minimum balance and there would be no fees. I closed the account and opened a new one elsewhere. Fee problem went away. (and they never were able to explain to me why the fee was being charged - it wasn't a low balance issue!)
I'd recommend talking to your bank about why exactly the fee is being charged and what you can do to make it go away. If you can't, then close the account and get an account at a new bank credit union!
FTFY!
Quote from: Duke87 on April 11, 2013, 12:14:06 PM
Quote from: empirestate on April 11, 2013, 01:01:41 AM
My bank also charges me $5.00 every month for not having enough money. I never have, and never will, understood the logic behind that. "Hey, you owe me $5!" "I don't have $5." "In that case, you owe me $10!" "OK buddy, good luck collecting that!"
There is an administrative cost to the bank for maintaining an account. Normally, this cost is covered by the gains from investments the bank makes with the money you deposit (and you see a smidge of those gains as interest). But, if the amount of money you keep in the account is too small, the bank can't do much with it investment-wise and it costs them more to keep the account active than they can make off the money in it. So, when you're in this situation, they charge you for the privilege of keeping the account open so they don't lose money on it.
Of course, banks may start charging fees for reasons other than low balance. I had a bank account when I was in college that after three years I randomly started getting slapped with a $20 a month fee despite being told when I opened the account that there was no minimum balance and there would be no fees. I closed the account and opened a new one elsewhere. Fee problem went away. (and they never were able to explain to me why the fee was being charged - it wasn't a low balance issue!)
I'd recommend talking to your bank about why exactly the fee is being charged and what you can do to make it go away. If you can't, then close the account and get a new bank!
And also, any excuse to add a fee! I've read that some banks will even adjust the minimum balance for accounts that consistently stay above it but come close to it.
Quote from: Duke87 on April 11, 2013, 12:14:06 PM
Quote from: empirestate on April 11, 2013, 01:01:41 AM
My bank also charges me $5.00 every month for not having enough money. I never have, and never will, understood the logic behind that. "Hey, you owe me $5!" "I don't have $5." "In that case, you owe me $10!" "OK buddy, good luck collecting that!"
There is an administrative cost to the bank for maintaining an account. Normally, this cost is covered by the gains from investments the bank makes with the money you deposit (and you see a smidge of those gains as interest). But, if the amount of money you keep in the account is too small, the bank can't do much with it investment-wise and it costs them more to keep the account active than they can make off the money in it. So, when you're in this situation, they charge you for the privilege of keeping the account open so they don't lose money on it.
It's not that I don't understand the bank's reasoning for charging fees, like them or not. It's simply that when I run through it from a logical standpoint, it doesn't hold up. The logical flaw is more evident with respect to overdraft fees, but minimum-balance charges present a similar paradox.
Quote from: Duke87 on April 11, 2013, 12:14:06 PM
I'd recommend talking to your bank about why exactly the fee is being charged and what you can do to make it go away. If you can't, then close the account and get a new bank!
I already know the answers to that; it's just that I'm not in a position to take advantage of those options. My earning potential isn't currently at a level to meet the minimum balance threshold for waiving fees, and while direct deposit is another way to avoid them, the nature of my work means I'm typically not payrolled by any single employer with enough regularity to do that.
Yeah, I could get another bank, but while at this point the fees are enough of an irritatant to warrant mentioning here in the context of this (off) topic, they aren't yet at the point where I'm greatly compelled to start bank-shopping. I used to have Wells Fargo as my West Coast bank and Wachovia as my East Coast bank; now that they're combined I only need the one (though I'm less proud to be a WF customer than I was at first). Their now-nationwide reach is an important consideration for me in my travels; for example, it was always handy to hop off a cruise ship in Alaska–they pay in cash, large wads of it–and drop my money straight into my own bank. Now they also have locations in my current home city of New York, and I still get paid frequently in cash. I'm happy enough with them that the fees are a disappointment, a let-down really, but not a deal breaker.
Quote from: djsinco on April 11, 2013, 01:56:07 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on April 11, 2013, 12:14:06 PM
new bank credit union!
FTFY!
Actually, I do belong to a credit union, but unfortunately I no longer live where it's located. I still keep it around for savings purposes and the credit card they offer, services that don't require cash liquidity. Before long I expect I'll get an account at the credit union here in town for which I'm eligible (Actors').
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 11, 2013, 12:34:04 PM
Quote from: empirestate on April 11, 2013, 01:01:41 AM
My bank, also Wells Fargo, also makes me swipe mine, but it's always because I don't have my account number memorized. I didn't realize they had a policy beyond that reason.
I do have mine memorized. I wonder if I could withdraw with just an ID and this information. (they always ask me for ID to make a cash withdrawal; even if I had just entered my PIN correctly.)
I've typically had my numbers memorized in the past, but frankly I make so few teller transactions anymore that I seldom even use the account number.
Quote from: kkt on April 11, 2013, 12:57:42 PM
Quote from: empirestate on April 11, 2013, 01:01:41 AM
I never have, and never will, understood the logic behind that.
Quote
By the way, what is the correct tense of "to understand" I should have used in the sentence above?
To be correct, it needs to be rephrased. Try "I never have understood, and never will understand, the logic behind that."
Yeah, I started to type that, but it became so unwieldy that I opted instead for the awkward construct followed by the disclaimer. I'm not unwilling to break rules sometimes, provided I make it clear that I do know what they are and am intentionally doing so. :-P Still, I do feel as though there is, or ought to is, a guideline somewhere that prescribes tense-matching for dependent clause situations like this one. Or perhaps there ain't.
Quote from: empirestate on April 11, 2013, 11:17:51 PM
Quote from: djsinco on April 11, 2013, 01:56:07 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on April 11, 2013, 12:14:06 PM
new bank credit union!
FTFY!
Actually, I do belong to a credit union, but unfortunately I no longer live where it's located.
That is precisely the problem I have with credit unions. While I understand the populist appeal of flipping off the big time banking industry, the reality is that belonging to a bank that has ATMs all over the country, and has a branch a block away from my office where I can deposit checks
and obtain foreign currency any time during the day is too convenient to say no to.
Quote from: Duke87 on April 14, 2013, 06:12:12 PM
Quote from: empirestate on April 11, 2013, 11:17:51 PM
Quote from: djsinco on April 11, 2013, 01:56:07 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on April 11, 2013, 12:14:06 PM
new bank credit union!
FTFY!
Actually, I do belong to a credit union, but unfortunately I no longer live where it's located.
That is precisely the problem I have with credit unions. While I understand the populist appeal of flipping off the big time banking industry, the reality is that belonging to a bank that has ATMs all over the country, and has a branch a block away from my office where I can deposit checks and obtain foreign currency any time during the day is too convenient to say no to.
My credit union is part of a credit union network wherein members may use any member institution's ATM and not incur a fee.
Most credit unions are in an alliance and allow any member to use ATM for free, and many also allow deposits to be made if desired.
I should mention that I usually fill up with gas at at the grocery store. So all prepaying makes me do is walk about 15 feet over to the window and back.
Quote from: Brandon on April 10, 2013, 07:19:34 PM
Quote from: formulanone on April 10, 2013, 06:56:02 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 10, 2013, 01:57:26 PM
my bank (Wells Fargo) makes me swipe my card and type in my PIN every time I go to a teller.
My bank (Bank of America) did the same about a year or two ago. Their reason: "Security."
They seemed astonished that I didn't carry my ATM card with me; I told them I kept it in my safe.
Why would you do that?
"Security."
There was a two-second moment of dead silence at the bank. They haven't asked me since.
My bank, a regional bank in the area, doesn't do anything of the sort. In fact, they belong to a group for ATMs called "Allpoint". If you go to one of those, anywhere in the US, there are no fees for using the ATM.
Allpoint is one of the 2 networks my credit union uses. Many DFW-area ATMs have Allpoint access--I haven't paid an ATM fee in quite a while.
Quote from: US81 on April 11, 2013, 12:23:39 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 11, 2013, 03:08:25 AM
NJ Turnpike. We were supposed to start wearing them after the Anthrax scares after 9/11. For many of us, that barely lasted a weekend. I also saw motorists doing the same thing. They would put the gloves on, handle the money, then take them off. In the meantime, they're touching their steering wheel, wallet, etc. If anything was actually on the money, they would have transferred the agent with the gloves on, then touched it with their bare hands later. Gloves are a feel-good preventive measure that accomplishes nothing.
If I may ask: Were the toll collectors supposed to use a new set of gloves with each customer?
Once in a while, I'd see an NTTA (DFW-area tollroads) toll collector (before all-electronic tolling came along) use latex gloves. I figured they had some kind of Howie Mandel/OCD thing about handling other people's money or something.
Ohio's Turnpike seemed to be glove-free from my most recent visits. Didn't think it was worth a $10 handling fee to use the transponder for 75 cents, so I coughed up some change. Interestingly, a "closed" transponder didn't generate a ticket from the automatic toll ticket dispenser, so a push button signaled an attendant the adjacent booth to hand me a ticket manually.
Gloves might also be for our protection. A sick person hands in money, the toll collector hands it back out to you, your child sticks it in his mouth and gets sick....
Quote from: kphoger on April 15, 2013, 08:56:57 PM
A sick person hands in money, the toll collector hands it back out to you, your child sticks it in his mouth and gets sick....
Feeding a kid money is a bad investment.
Quote from: kphoger on April 15, 2013, 08:56:57 PM
Gloves might also be for our protection. A sick person hands in money, the toll collector hands it back out to you, your child sticks it in his mouth and gets sick....
unless the gloves are explicitly coated with a germicide, they will not make an impact on a two-hop transmission like that.
Sorry, didn't think that through. Let's try that again.
Sick toll collector hands you money, you get sick.
Quote from: kphoger on April 15, 2013, 04:06:04 PM
I should mention that I usually fill up with gas at at the grocery store. So all prepaying makes me do is walk about 15 feet over to the window and back.
Do you buy all your groceries at a gas station to balance that?
I suppose you could say that, since the gas station and grocery store are the same company.
Quote from: kphoger on April 15, 2013, 09:36:54 PM
Sorry, didn't think that through. Let's try that again.
Sick toll collector hands you money, you get sick.
Because sick patron handed toll collecter money; got toll collector sick.
My head is reeling....
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 16, 2013, 02:38:01 PM
Because sick patron handed toll collecter money; got toll collector sick.
it is a little-known fact that toll collectors are not allowed to ever leave their booth, for any reason.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 16, 2013, 02:59:32 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 16, 2013, 02:38:01 PM
Because sick patron handed toll collecter money; got toll collector sick.
it is a little-known fact that toll collectors are not allowed to ever leave their booth, for any reason.
Other way around. Toll collectors are in fact prohibited from leaving the CHAIR. The booth was built around the chair for their protection.
Sounds like an OSHA ergonomics violation to me.
One more reason for Chris Christie to get rid of 'em altogether!
Quote from: djsinco on April 16, 2013, 08:57:49 PM
Sounds like an OSHA ergonomics violation to me.
One more reason for Chris Christie to get rid of 'em altogether!
Well, he'll have to be reelected to have a shot at that, and there's no guarantee it will happen in the next 4 years. The timetable for all-electronic on the Turnpike is indefinite (and not even all that definite on the Parkway), so collectors are probably around for at least one more election cycle. Who's up in 2017/2018?
In the early 1970's, there was a toll collector in the GSP who was selling weed to those who had the secret password. He worked at night on the northernmost northbound toll barrier (Bergen County.)
How's that for nostalgia?