Debit or Credit?

If only there will be no more credit card so that at least, we could save on the number of papers that needs to be signed and at least reduce the killing of our trees. But then again, that is technology, and people should have to follow it, in this time.

We have to keep copies of all the slip regardless....it's the law here. The only difference to me is which button to hit. it'd be cool if they just would answer and not make me decide for them.

Lodyllesovo, you are making a good connection between not using credit/debit, using cash instead, and being able to save money and never go into debt. You are right: using credit and/or debit cards only seems to get people into more trouble than the so-called convenience they are delivering is worth.

However--even though the smartest route for most people would not to have a credit/debit card at all, it most likely is not going to change until these people run into a problem and learn the hard way. I've vowed my entire life never to hold a credit or debit card, and I've stayed true to that and in turn have a great financial standing (because I only buy what I can afford). It's sad to see most of everyone I know running into problems now because as you know, the U.S. is in a less than satisfactory economic state, and the debts that may have seemed small before the economy went downhill are now daunting to people because they simply don't have the means.

Basically, I agree with you that people need to use simpler paying methods to have a simpler financial state. However, in terms of the cashier trying to spread the word to customers...bringing up how awful cards are for payment is not something a customer service representative will be awarded for saying to the customer. Anyone who has worked in customer service knows it takes more patience sometimes than babysitting a room full of teething children--because customers tend to be worse off than children if they are what customer service deems as "stupid" or "bad" customers. Plus, you never know...the cashier posting this may very well pay for cash. He/she is only bringing up the annoyance of when customers cannot simply say "debit" or "credit" but instead say "whichever is easier." By the way...that takes a lot more breath to say than a single word. Customers are peculiar creatures.:)

Thanks for helping me answer this. I really am not here to judge their payment method at all. It's not my place. A debit/credit card is very different from a credit card anyway as it is drawn from their checking account but can be run as either a debit or a credit. Cash is quicker for sure but more and more people just don't carry it.

I suggest that he just use CASH at least he will not be hassled by the "credit or debit" question. I think most of you people should start to learn how to use cash in your transactions. It's just that I worked in one of the banks in US, and then most of the calls I received are all about overspending. They keep on asking why they overspend and even blamed the bank, that the bank took their money. I mean, hello, it's your money, you're the one spending it, then your blaming the BANK? My goodness..... If you don't have enough funds in your bank accounts, then don't spend.

With a Debit card you can only use what you have in the Bank and a Credit Card you can only go up to your Limit, it is much safer in these Days to carry them instead of Cash and having the risk of having your Bag pinched it is a quick Phone call to cancel your Cards but the Money in cash you can never get back, in these Days I would say it is easier to pay that way
I agree People should watch what they are spending but it does not mean it is better to pay by cash to watch this

I love it when they say,"whatever is easier for you." I just laugh and say, it'd be easier if I didn't have to decide or think for you." Most don't get it. Or they'll say which is quicker? Well, it is quicker if they know what they want and I don't have to pause and decide for them. It's annoying. It really is. I generally will hit debit if they don't give a straight answer.

That was one of the sneaky tricks I read about banks doing recently. The experts in this case said to always do credit, even if it is a debit card because of the bank charging the debit fees.

The banks do get their money don't they? If they choose credit, my boss gets a fee so they get their little fees either way.

Sounds like they were trying to scam you. Thing is...they would never have stood a chance because if the money wasn't there, they were risking it to use the card even as a credit. With credit, it usually takes a day or 2 longer to come out of your account but not always.

Hi dark,

Actually, I go way out of my way for my customers. I have been doing this for years. I only posted it because I am well aware that people do this little things with no idea of how it is on the other side. I don't complain to my customers about it at all and am always smiling and cheerful to them. I 'm not angry at all with this...just find it a bit annoying and thought a little awareness would help us all. I have actually joked about it to a couple of regular customers who I know well enough to do that but trust me...I am not rude at all under any circumstances to the customers. I'm not changing careers...I love my job & my customers and I've been here for a very long time. I don't really have any big problem with this...it is just annoying. Is there really any harm in raising a bit of awareness? I'm pretty sure that most people have no idea.

I am glad to hear that it does not extend to the customer. I understand things can be aggravating but being a customer as well as a prior manager/customer service the decline of such service to me is one of my pet peeves not saying you are doing it if you say you are not then you would know more than me but on a whole as you may of seen it is declining. I personally get real tired of going to stores spending hundreds in sense paying there salaries only to be treated like garbage till I leave. But as I said this is a personal pet peeve of mine.

Trust me...I do not treat my customers like garbage at all. Even this if you read carefully is not an angry complaint but just a suggestion for customers as I am (as I stated) very sure that they are not aware of our procedures. I would never ever be rude to my customers and this was not a complaint. Just raising awareness.....that's a bad thing??

Hi there,

It's not a huge deal really but it is really cool when the customer knows what they want. We say "debit or credit?" so so many times per shift. I know that most people don't have a clue that to us it is only a matter of which button to press. So many will say, "whatever is easier." There is no "easier" they are both the same. Don't appologize. It's not that big of a deal. It actually makes the transaction quicker when the customer hands me the card and says "debit" or "credit" and I don't have to pause and ask which and then they tell me it doesn't matter or whatever is easier and then I have to choose for them. The transaction goes so much quicker without so much conversation back and forth. The person above you feels that I should change careers if I don't like it. I really am only trying to raise a little awareness because I very much KNOW that the customers just don't realize.

Nope...wouldn't hate the gift card....I don't even ask as I know gift cards have to be run as credit...at least on our system. I don't even push customers to decide when they say whatever or are undecided, I choose for them. What would be ideal if we could eliminate the entire conversation...it'd make the line move quicker if they just handed me the card and stated what they wanted.

It really doesn't matter to me what option the customer chooses. The transaction just runs smoother if they know what they want. I actually try to memorize what regular customers prefer and in many cases I do know.

Hi there,

Thanx for that drknlvly. That is a good tip for the customers as some of them really don't know what the difference is. I am the cashier and I really don't want to make that choice for them. If they know what they want, things just move along much smoother and quicker. So often they say...whatever is easier....I'll choose debit for them only to find that they don't know their pin or they start talking to the guy behind them and I have to interrupt them to put in their pin. If they are the ones that decide debit then they are standing there ready to enter the pin#.