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Agree? Disagree? Explain.

August 9, 2011 by Auntie Kate of Too Good to be Threw

I do not accept checks in my resale store. No one writes them anymore anyway except for little old ladies. Why take the risk?

Agree? Disagree? Explain.

Posted in Shopkeeping talk | Tagged resale shopkeeping | 20 Comments

20 Responses

on September 3, 2011 at 8:55 pm Linda Buck

I prefer to write checks as I cannot remember to deduct any
other kind of transaction from my balance. Checks are always
welcome in our store, along with cash and credit cards…with
people overspending with their credit cards, the fees are going
sky high. I expect cc won’t be that popular forever with that
happening. I always feel insulted if someone doesn’t take checks –
it shows their lack of trust, and in our bedroom community, that
doesn’t fly…
L. Buck, Bedford, NH
on August 15, 2011 at 12:43 pm Bernadette Atkins

Bernadette ,DejaVu Boutique
Washington Court House, OH

Disagree.

I fortunatly have not had many issues. I just get proper information on customer so if anything does happen I can call or send a brief message to them. When I call or write them I always let them know everyone makes mistakes, if they could come in and pay cash, I obsorb the check fee. Plus it gets them back in my boutique and makes them not feel bad. I try not to turn away any sale!! I want them all to feel special!!
- on August 15, 2011 at 12:56 pm Auntie Kate
  
  Thanks Bernadette, you must have really low bounced-check fees… or really high average sales to be able to pay for your customers’ mistakes… average fee is $35! Of course your attitude is wonderful… just hope you’re not out a lot of money.
on August 11, 2011 at 8:29 am Kitty

Disagree.
I’ve been in business 20 years and have had my share of bad checks. But we do have a check service which also serves as the collection agency. This saves me the headaches from the liars and has prevented us from taking many of the fly-by-night bad checks several times.
However, I agree with the earlier post that even if we don’t collect on a check here or there, it is still less than those debit fees.
on August 10, 2011 at 6:39 pm Sharon from Little Green Beans

Check writing is really out of fashion in my tech-savvy town and high risk for a new store. Most of our customers use debit cards. Does anyone do payouts via PayPal or Google Checkout? I want to explore these options.
on August 10, 2011 at 3:56 pm Amy

Although I disagree, I can see the temptation to not accept checks. We’ve had 2 bad ones in the past month and although they’ve both eventually been paid, it’s a complete PITA!

And I also miss the board!!!!
on August 10, 2011 at 10:49 am Joe Schroeder

We’ve been in business for 11 years and still take checks. In fact, I even encourage them. It costs a lot less to process a check than a debit or credit card. We do have some stipulations – local checks only, must have license and phone number. We also keep a list of bank phone numbers handy to verify funds if we aren’t feeling it. I hate to be prejudice, but the only checks that really scare me are from Woodforest (the Walmart Bank). We usually will not accept checks during any festival that is happening in our town, though. In 11 years, we’ve only had two checks that we’ve been unable to collect upon.
on August 10, 2011 at 9:18 am Sharon

I do take checks.I have been in business 2 years now. I haven’t had (knock on wood) a bad check yet. I have very few come through my store. Personally I can’t tell you the last time (I) wrote a check. If a customer asks if I would like a check or CC I always choose the CC. Like Ruth, I too am a fraid of what will take place with the CC rules. Ruth, I love the idea of a discount for cash/checks.
on August 10, 2011 at 9:03 am Ruth

We take checks, in fact we prefer them over debit/credit cards. In 4 years I have had 4 checks that were bad. The customer was always quick to come in and correct the problem. Starting in September we will offer a discount for cash and checks. With the implementation of the new Frank/Dodd rules going into effect in October I am anticipating fees to skyrocket for Credit Cards. So to keep our prices low we will accept checks with proper ID. The other tool in our bag is that the local Prosecutor has a program to collect bad checks and is very proactive. I disagree with the response that cash and checks will disappear. With the charges from banks coming down the pike, cash will be king again. Good question, Kate. Thanks
on August 9, 2011 at 10:31 pm Sylvia Howard

I technically have been open for 1.5 years and I have always accepted checks. Many of my older customers prefer writing a check to using a debit or credit card. I have only had one check returned and I will continue to accept checks, with proper identification, as another option of payment.
on August 9, 2011 at 9:22 pm Simone

We don’t take checks. We’ve lost probably 3 sales in 3 years, and I’ve taken another 4 or 5 from regulars in a pinch. But for 99.9% of our customers it’s a non-issue.
on August 9, 2011 at 9:05 pm Donna Hitz

I get one or two or maybe even six checks a day. Most of my customers are over 55 and they write checks. Eventually they(the banks) will do away with checks and cash and we will all use debit cards or credit. In the meantime I will take it any way I can get it. I have to make a deposit at the end of the day anyway so what difference does it make. Since 1998 I’ve only had one check I was unable to collect on.
on August 9, 2011 at 9:02 pm Jodi

I disagree! I still use my checkbook sometimes and I’m not a little old lady… even though I feel like it sometimes! (I am 34.) I agree with another post that we shouldn’t refuse to take their money! I will admit that I’m quick to use my bank card often but I still carry my checkbook, too. In our small town very few locally-owned stores take credit cards and most people are okay with that here.

On a side note… I sure miss the forum, Kate!!! I hope it will be up soon!!!
on August 9, 2011 at 9:00 pm S

Over the 18 years I have been in business, I have watched my customers switch from mostly checks to mostly debit cards. I have also watch my bank fees for processing all these cards soar. If I added up all the bad checks that I couldn’t collect on since I opened my store, they would not total even one month of card processing fees. I welcome a regular customer with a check book. We all do keep customer lists right? If someone is already on your customer list, what’s the worry in taking a check from them? If they are not on my customer list, I can usually call their bank to verify the check.
on August 9, 2011 at 8:24 pm Doris Evich, Twice As Nice Consignment, Myrtle Beach, SC

I disagree. But I do have the SecureCheck service, that goes along w/my credit card service. Lots of people in my area still use checks. You need to accommodate your customers as best you can.
on August 9, 2011 at 7:58 pm Leslie Morgenthau Rawlings

We’ve been in business for a year and just recently had three hot checks from the same customer. We’d had one earlier but it was handled easily and the lady was very apologetic, and has since become a regular customer. The recent case will probably end up being a loss for us.
We are not going to quit taking checks however. Most of our best cutomers are little old ladies. We are located next to a beauty shop and the weekly shampoo and set girls are our bread and butter. If we tell these ladies they can’t write us a check we might as well lock our doors.
on August 9, 2011 at 7:49 pm Bonnie

Agree.
Nobody tries to write cheques anymore where we are (small town Alberta, Canada). The few times I’ve taken them in the past resulted in some bad problems.
on August 9, 2011 at 7:44 pm Cassaundra Henderson

I have only had my store for 5 months and have already had 2 hot checks. One customer was a regular and when called immediatly came to recover. The other one was a out of state check and has moved, phone number changed, etc. But, I will continue to accept checks but I encourage check users to use their debt card…..We will see how that works.
on August 9, 2011 at 7:42 pm emilie

Disagree. They may be rare but refusing checks is like telling them that you are refusing to sell them something . After all we pay consignors , vendors in checks.
on August 9, 2011 at 7:37 pm Martha Valerio

Nah I disagree…you want to give your customers all the choices they can get…so that they can make that purchase. It’s all about convenience. I have gotten hot checks but not enough to stop taking them. I will certainly take them, but I am not getting them like I used to.

Comments are closed.