What ever happened to people knowing the roads?

[1995hoo]

What I hate is the person in front of me in line is taking 5 minutes to hunt down the two pennies in his pocket/her purse in order to get that nickel in return, instead of just taking the 3 pennies.

Nearly everyone goes to the register to check out, and refuses to even touch their wallets until the order is rung up.  Seriously...they knew they were going to have to pay.  And, oh, look, they pull out a $20 bill.  For a $1 item.  I don't care about that in general - what I care about is that they could've had that $20 in hand already, instead of waiting for the item to be rung up before even touching their wallet.  So don't dare go "Oh, wait, I think I may have the change also"...

BTW, congestion at toll plazas?  Yeah...this is one of the reasons why. 

I always hate it when I get stuck behind a woman–not trying to stereotype, but it's always a woman doing this–who wants to pay by check. She could very easily fill in the date and the name of the store, sign the check, and fill in her check register while the cashier is ringing it up, then fill in the amount at the end. Never happens. They always wait until the cashier is done before they even start looking for the checkbook in their gargantuan pocketbooks, much less filling in the check. Perhaps this is a function of most check-writers I see these days being little old ladies who memorize the prices of every item they buy and so watch the checkout display like hawks to harp on even a 1¢ discrepancy.

As I said before, it's one reason why I prefer the self-checkout at the grocery store, but I go a step further. The store nearest my house has a self-scanner device, so I scan all the items as I go and bag them directly in the cart. Makes it a whole lot faster when I get to the checkout because I just scan the "end of order" barcode, pay (scanning any coupons if needed), and go. One old lady once told me I'm stupid for doing that because the cashiers will bag your groceries for you. I looked at her and said, more or less, "Wait, you're telling me I'm stupid, but you're loading up your grocery cart so you can go up front and unload your cart onto a belt so a cashier can rearrange your groceries and put them all back into your cart again?"

[mhh]

I've had countless examples where I confused a cashier by giving change in anticipation of the change I would get in return.

Example: Total comes to $4.87. I give the cashier $5.02, in anticipation of getting a nickel and a dime back instead of a dime and three pennies. The cashier looks puzzled and says "it was $4.87" and then I explain to them the change they're supposed to give back to me. I've said that there will come a day when fast food places will go out of business, because they attract the stupidest people, and that class of people is too stupid to work at a fast food place.

One time I went to a c-store and bought a soda after filling my tank.  I think it came out to $.97 and I handed the girl a dollar and two cents expecting a nickel back.  I wish I had a camera phone back then to record the sheer look of horror on her face.  She stood there dumbfounded, finally pushed the pennies back to me, and gave me 3 cents change.  I was as nice as could be and didn't say anything to her, but I was cringing inside.

A few years ago I made a $4.75 purchase at a bowling alley snack bar. I paid with a $5 bill. The cashier said "This'll take just a minute; my calculator broke". She then calculated my change with a pencil and paper and gave me 35 cents back.

[1995hoo]

A few years ago I made a $4.75 purchase at a bowling alley snack bar. I paid with a $5 bill. The cashier said "This'll take just a minute; my calculator broke". She then calculated my change with a pencil and paper and gave me 35 cents back.

I've given money back on occasion when I've been given too much change, mainly because I remember when I worked retail one summer during college the store would hold the cashiers responsible for shortages in the till.

(Edited because my iPad changed "till" to "toll.")

[jeffandnicole]

So, tonight, I stopped at a KFC.  Order came to $7.27. I just so happened to have 2 pennies in my pocket, so I handed the cashier $8.02.

Now, doing this, I was absolutely thinking of this thread.  And I was so ready to come on here to tell you that the cashier at KFC was better than the cashiers that some of you those experienced.  Anyway, back to the story...

She takes the $8.02.  She yells (almost silently) that she needs quarters, so she starts reaching for the dimes.  Ugh.   And then, after counting 7 dimes, she reaches for the...pennies.  3 of them.  And hands me back 73 cents. 

So, those 2 pennies I gave her? She never typed it into the register as $8.02.  She only typed in $8.00. She just put them in the register. I said I gave her the 2 cents, and her response was that the order was $7.27 so I didn't need them.

Oh...she also typed in the order wrong as well (I wanted Original...she typed in Extra Crispy).  Luckily the order delivery person called out the exact order, so I was able to catch that at that time.

Sigh.

(Several customers later, as I left, she called back for the quarters again.  She was down to just a few dimes and pennies.

[roadman65]

I had a guy back in the days when Arco had stations in New Jersey.  As we all know that NJ still has full service gasoline and will till the end of the universe, but that is a different story, but the bill came to 11 bucks.  I had a twenty on me along with a single.  I handed the guy total of twenty one dollars so I could receive a ten spot back.  He actually thought I was giving him a gratuity and gave me nine bucks back.

This was in 1985 when I worked in Somerset en route to work via I-287 getting gas on Stelton Road at the I-287 interchange, so I can feel for you guys now.

[Scott5114]

Throwing extra coins at a cashier for the sake of getting a more aesthetically pleasing amount of change back is just adding a needless complication into a business transaction. You will not die if you have 5 pennies in your pocket. Actually, I never pay for anything with coins; I take my coins to the bank and just deposit the lot using their coin counter (if your bank charges for this service, get a new bank).

[vdeane]

I can understand the change thing.  Many people, myself included, use credit cards exclusively and don't have much reason to think about cash.

[1995hoo]

Throwing extra coins at a cashier for the sake of getting a more aesthetically pleasing amount of change back is just adding a needless complication into a business transaction. You will not die if you have 5 pennies in your pocket. Actually, I never pay for anything with coins; I take my coins to the bank and just deposit the lot using their coin counter (if your bank charges for this service, get a new bank).

I use the Coinstar machine at the grocery store and I get either a grocery-store gift card or an Amazon gift card. Neither of those carries a fee, whereas a cash voucher does. Since my wife and I are voracious readers, the Amazon card (actually a slip of paper with an alphanumeric code) is worthwhile.

[ce929wax]

1) Cycling is the new way of getting around -- if you drive a car, you either hate mother earth or you're just a fat loser.

you must not have graduated college yet.

I believe he said in parentheses that that wasn't his opinion.

Reading comprehension is going down the shitter too.  Either that or it is selective reading.

[mhh]

A few years ago I made a $4.75 purchase at a bowling alley snack bar. I paid with a $5 bill. The cashier said "This'll take just a minute; my calculator broke". She then calculated my change with a pencil and paper and gave me 35 cents back.

I've given money back on occasion when I've been given too much change, mainly because I remember when I worked retail one summer during college the store would hold the cashiers responsible for shortages in the till.

(Edited because my iPad changed "till" to "toll.")

I thought about giving her the dime back but she probably woundn't have understood why I was giving it back, so I threw it in her tip jar instead.

[ZLoth]

Hmmm.... I treat technology like a tool. GPS is a tool. Internet is a tool. If it weren't for the Internets, I would not have discovered time lapse videos, and the fun of road geekery.

I think that part of the issue is that the joy of learning something new and exciting is driven out of us by the education system, and a sense of curiosity is strongly discouraged. The work environment has changed drastically from 25 years ago, and we are doing more work in the same amount of time, sometimes doing the work of three people.

I always hate it when I get stuck behind a woman–not trying to stereotype, but it's always a woman doing this–who wants to pay by check. She could very easily fill in the date and the name of the store, sign the check, and fill in her check register while the cashier is ringing it up, then fill in the amount at the end. Never happens. They always wait until the cashier is done before they even start looking for the checkbook in their gargantuan pocketbooks, much less filling in the check. Perhaps this is a function of most check-writers I see these days being little old ladies who memorize the prices of every item they buy and so watch the checkout display like hawks to harp on even a 1¢ discrepancy.

These "little old ladies" are also probably counting on the antiquated "check float" that used to exist between writing the check and when the bank processed the check. With improvements in technology, some retail establishments can actually process the check right there and then, and present the customer with the voided and processed check, the money already pulled from the account. You might as well pay through your debit card, but doing that would blow their minds.

I'm surprised that checks haven't been eliminated by now, but there are enough businesses that rely on the check. If I were to pay my property taxes by credit card, the county will add on a $20 processing fee, but if I pay by check, there is no processing fee. (Sigh)

[1995hoo]

....

I'm surprised that checks haven't been eliminated by now, but there are enough businesses that rely on the check. If I were to pay my property taxes by credit card, the county will add on a $20 processing fee, but if I pay by check, there is no processing fee. (Sigh)

In some situations, checks are required. The Virginia State Bar requires payments an attorney makes to a client (example–you settle his case and he gets money out of it) to be by check. Wire transfer isn't allowed even though there's still a record of it and it's faster. You must use a paper check, period.

The county adds a fee on your property taxes because the credit card issuer charges a fee and the county, quite understandably, isn't going to give up part of the taxes to the card issuer. But a flat fee is a weird way to do it instead of charging a percentage that's closer to what the issuer charges. Sometimes the county will come out ahead, sometimes they'll come out behind (depends on real estate values, obviously), so maybe it all averages out in the end. (If you pay your federal income tax with a credit card, you have to use a third-party processor that charges a percentage-based fee for the same reason. I think it's not unreasonable to have to pay a fee because you should still have to pay the full amount of tax regardless of your method of payment.)

[ZLoth]

The county adds a fee on your property taxes because the credit card issuer charges a fee and the county, quite understandably, isn't going to give up part of the taxes to the card issuer. But a flat fee is a weird way to do it instead of charging a percentage that's closer to what the issuer charges. Sometimes the county will come out ahead, sometimes they'll come out behind (depends on real estate values, obviously), so maybe it all averages out in the end. (If you pay your federal income tax with a credit card, you have to use a third-party processor that charges a percentage-based fee for the same reason. I think it's not unreasonable to have to pay a fee because you should still have to pay the full amount of tax regardless of your method of payment.)

It's not a flat fee, only that I recall that the processing fee was around $20 on top of the property tax. Either way, because of the premium of using a card with a Visa or Mastercard logo is the big reason why checks won't go anywhere any time soon. At least the treasurer of the two Toastmaster groups that I belong to accept PopMoney transfers which are fee-free through my credit union.

[ixnay]

Take your gas station attendant example.  The person working there didn't graduate college with a degree in finding things.  You are talking to an average, everyday Jane or Joe that may not even live in the local area.  If you ask them how to get to one of the most popular attractions or hotels in the area, they can probably get you there.  If you ask them how to get to a lesser known attraction you found on the internet, chances are that gas station person isn't aware of the lesser known attraction either. 

Moving back near the topic...

It was this way during the incubation period of the internet too.  I was on a day trip to Gettysburg, PA to drive around the battlefield there, and afterwards I drove down to Frederick, MD to attend a minor league baseball game.  When I reached Frederick, I stopped in a fast food place to relieve myself, and I asked one of the help for instructions to the stadium.  He didn't know where it was (either out of town he lived and/or he wasn't a baseball fan).  The manager standing nearby gave me instructions that took me via downtown Frederick.  (I partly blame myself for this because I didn't bring an official State Highway Administration Maryland map with me.  With it, I could've gotten back on U.S. 15 south to I-70 east to the stadium exit [blush].)

ixnay

[SSOWorld]

I'm one that will research the route ahead of time.  I do not bother though to anticipate construction - especially further on the route on long trips - but very often haven't ran into detours that prevent a clinch or two. 

I've gotten into starting a GPS route to bring up ETA - especially if the trip is tight-timed (be there for a party/work/meeting/etc) as the Google Maps app is really good with ETAs.  I've been also using it or last few turns efforts, but it's not perfect - especially in New Jersey - I've seen it route me onto a road where I've seen ahead that an unnoticed (by GPS) ramp provides quicker access - GPS overridden, because road awareness.

[Laura]

When you are younger, you learn the streets well because you ride around on a bicycle a lot, and you don't have all the worries of an adult. Riding a bicycle or walking allows you to pay attention to details that you would not notice while driving, because you are moving slower, and you don't have to focus your attention on driving.

And since kids are generally not allowed to do this anymore due to helicopter parenting, they don't even learn the local roads, even if they stay in the same area to adulthood.


iPhone

[codyg1985]

I always hate it when I get stuck behind a woman–not trying to stereotype, but it's always a woman doing this–who wants to pay by check. She could very easily fill in the date and the name of the store, sign the check, and fill in her check register while the cashier is ringing it up, then fill in the amount at the end. Never happens. They always wait until the cashier is done before they even start looking for the checkbook in their gargantuan pocketbooks, much less filling in the check. Perhaps this is a function of most check-writers I see these days being little old ladies who memorize the prices of every item they buy and so watch the checkout display like hawks to harp on even a 1¢ discrepancy.

And it is usually an old woman, too. I agree...can't they just have the thing filled out before the total comes up? I hate paying with checks, or anything to do with checks. The entire system is SLOOW. Although, sometimes it can be a good thing if you are out of money it is a day or two before you get paid.

I can understand the change thing.  Many people, myself included, use credit cards exclusively and don't have much reason to think about cash.

I mostly use my debit card for transactions, but when I do use cash, I try to have enough change so that if something comes to, let's say $4.05, and I have a $5, I give the cashier something greater than $5.05 so that I don't get a crap ton of change back. On the other hand, if I want a crap ton of change, I can just give her the $5.

I'm one that will research the route ahead of time.  I do not bother though to anticipate construction - especially further on the route on long trips - but very often haven't ran into detours that prevent a clinch or two. 

I've gotten into starting a GPS route to bring up ETA - especially if the trip is tight-timed (be there for a party/work/meeting/etc) as the Google Maps app is really good with ETAs.  I've been also using it or last few turns efforts, but it's not perfect - especially in New Jersey - I've seen it route me onto a road where I've seen ahead that an unnoticed (by GPS) ramp provides quicker access - GPS overridden, because road awareness.

I do much of the same thing. That way I am not reliant on a GPS. Sometimes I will write down which roads to take in case I forget, but a lot of times I can remember which roads I am taking so when I am out in the field I can just rely on signage alone.

When you are younger, you learn the streets well because you ride around on a bicycle a lot, and you don't have all the worries of an adult. Riding a bicycle or walking allows you to pay attention to details that you would not notice while driving, because you are moving slower, and you don't have to focus your attention on driving.

And since kids are generally not allowed to do this anymore due to helicopter parenting, they don't even learn the local roads, even if they stay in the same area to adulthood.

Helicopter parenting? That's a new one I haven't heard before.

[roadman65]

I think she means the parents watching out for the pervs.

Anyway, about checkbooks they do the same thing in church too.  They hold up mass when the collection basket is being passed around so they can search their purse for their checkbook long after seeing the basket being passed around ten or twelve pews ahead of them.  Heck people know that soon as the choir director starts announcing the Offertory Hymn that should be the cue that the basket is coming around.

Not trying to preach religion here, but to mention that its the older women who do that there as well.  And what gets me is that my bank charges heavily to have paper checks.  Why don't these ladies use the darn debit card and save not only the time, but money for themselves!

[jeffandnicole]

Some parents are so bad...and their children are so used to it...that when the kid is a senior in college and is going on their real-world full-time job interviews, the parents want to be there with them.

[spooky]

Some parents are so bad...and their children are so used to it...that when the kid is a senior in college and is going on their real-world full-time job interviews, the parents want to be there with them.

I've heard of parents calling a company's hiring manager to ask why their child didn't get hired for that first post-college job.

[realjd]

I'm surprised that checks haven't been eliminated by now, but there are enough businesses that rely on the check. If I were to pay my property taxes by credit card, the county will add on a $20 processing fee, but if I pay by check, there is no processing fee. (Sigh)

They're useful for paying outside of a store environment, like if a plumber wants payment upon completion of the work. I also use checks to pay my lawn guy.

Personally, I have a Square the I use if someone needs to pay me. It's much more convenient than a check and is useful for splitting a bill at a restaurant, selling things on craigslist, and things like that.

[jeffandnicole]

The 'processing' fee for a credit card is really the fee the county is getting charged by their merchant service provider, which is probably in the neighborhood of around 3% or so of the transaction, especially in cases where the payee writes down their credit card info to be processed (unlike at a store, where the credit card would be swiped).

[DaBigE]

Anyway, about checkbooks they do the same thing in church too.  They hold up mass when the collection basket is being passed around so they can search their purse for their checkbook long after seeing the basket being passed around ten or twelve pews ahead of them.  Heck people know that soon as the choir director starts announcing the Offertory Hymn that should be the cue that the basket is coming around.

Not trying to preach religion here, but to mention that its the older women who do that there as well.  And what gets me is that my bank charges heavily to have paper checks.  Why don't these ladies use the darn debit card and save not only the time, but money for themselves!

What would be even easier is if they signed up for electronic deposits/withdrawals and skip the checks altogether (if their religious institution has it, of course). Both churches I have belonged to have had this as an option, not only for convenience of their parishioners, but also as a way to save on the cost of printing offering envelopes.

[Zzonkmiles]

I wonder if the driving equivalent of the cash register scenarios posed earlier would be to install conveyor belts on roads before interchanges so that you don't have to read all those pesky signs, especially if the ramps might be closed because of road construction or something or if the interchange is moderately complex with lots of signage.

Oh, and I also think the prevalence of automatic transmissions in vehicles is a contributing factor because it allows drivers to focus just a little bit less on the road and makes driving a more passive experience.

[PHLBOS]

What would be even easier is if they signed up for electronic deposits/withdrawals and skip the checks altogether (if their religious institution has it, of course). Both churches I have belonged to have had this as an option, not only for convenience of their parishioners, but also as a way to save on the cost of printing offering envelopes.

There was an old email joke that circulated that listed several signs that one was in a bad church; one of them listed... if there's an ATM in the foyer. 

All joking aside; since giving to one's place of worship is usually on a voluntary basis (although many encourage consistent tithing/giving, etc. of their members), many would likely object to such... on the grounds of invasion of privacy. 

Another reason against such: if the religious institution in question turns out to be corrupt (which can happen); giving that institution the ability to automatically withdrawls from their members/parishoners would be opening a Pandora's Box so to speak.