I charged a banana
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (52231)
Staten Island, New York
May 19, 2025 2:28pm CST
I was craving a banana Saturday and stopped by Whole Foods Market as it was close to where I was in Manhattan.
After grabbing one banana I went to check out. I ended up going to the self-checkout lane as there didn’t seem to be any actual cashiers at the registers.
I rung up my banana, which came out to 23 cents. I was about to count out 23 cents and insert them but I didn’t find a coin slot anywhere. I thought ok let me just put in a dollar. But I didn’t see a dollar slot either. Ended up using a credit card to pay for it.
Seems weird to use a credit card for such a small amount. I wonder why their self-checkout didn’t have the option to pay with cash.
9 people like this
9 responses
@Ineeddentures (35732)
•
22 May 25
Strange indeed Lena.
Although some self checkouts here are Card Only.
I don't think I have ever used a Card for less than £5.
Now these self checkouts
The Notes slot grabs them quicker than Yvonne does.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
22 May 25
Here some stores have at least a $5 min to use a card.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
22 May 25
@Ineeddentures And many places charge a fee for using a card. Restaurants it’s usually around 4% fee. Not sure about stores. Probably same.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (35732)
•
22 May 25
@lovebuglena
That makes sense.
The Fish and Chips shop here is the same.
So if you buy a pie normally costing £3 and pay with a card
It costs you £5
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (190148)
• Boise, Idaho
19 May 25
It is weird. They are obviously not thinking dollars are they? I remember when there was penny candy and we had to count out our pennies and the grocer must have gone mad.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (190148)
• Boise, Idaho
19 May 25
@lovebuglena .......I never used one. But, you'd think they would give you options.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
19 May 25
I don’t remember ever seeing a self-checkout register that didn’t have the option to pay with cash.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
19 May 25
@celticeagle I use them plenty of times, especially if I don’t have a lot of stuff and cashier lines are long. I hate when it gives me issues though and I have to ask for help.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
20 May 25
I couldn’t find the slots but I also don’t remember if the screen had an option to pay with cash.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209312)
• United States
19 May 25
You realize u less you pay your card off every month you will pay for that banana 3 times what it was worth
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209312)
• United States
19 May 25
@lovebuglena Good for you, I guess it is fine then.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
19 May 25
I never carry a balance on my card. Pay it off in full every statement.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98187)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 May 25
At least you got your banana,
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
20 May 25
Yep. I was really craving for it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (223055)
• United States
20 May 25
It's probably much more efficient just to take charges. It's a shame that you had to charge $.23.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
20 May 25
It’s a good thing I don’t carry a balance on my card or that banana would’ve cost me more in the end.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
22 May 25
@LindaOHio that’s the way to do it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (223055)
• United States
22 May 25
@lovebuglena Yup. I charge as much as I can each month for the points; and then I pay the full balance each month.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
21 May 25
Oh my..that is funny sort of.
But I wonder why there was no way to pay besides that.
But I wonder why there was no way to pay besides that.@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
21 May 25
@lovebuglena Surely you are not that blind.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
21 May 25
@RebeccasFarm haha, I’m not.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
21 May 25
Unless I just didn’t see it but it was there. 
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
19 May 25
Yep. Felt weird too but had no choice. Good thing it let me charge such a small amount.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174849)
• United States
20 May 25
When your credit card bill comes in, look and see if the store charged you a fee for using a credit card. Many of them do and that's the reason they don't accept cash or coins.
@DaddyEvil (174849)
• United States
20 May 25
@lovebuglena Then there shouldn't be a charge for using one. Good luck with that.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52231)
• Staten Island, New York
20 May 25
As far as I know Whole Foods never charges a fee for using a card.
1 person likes this
