I'm floored by people who insist on writing checks for everything and anything. They're the least secure method of payment next to "I'll come back with cash if you let me leave with this product now".
I know plenty of people who still use the pocket registers to keep track of their purchases, and still balance the "check book", but use the card to make the transaction. I've not heard of a bank or credit union, no matter how small, that doesn't have a "check card" that associates to your checking account so you can use it electronically rather than writing a check.
There's no reason to use a check anymore- they waste a ton of time, and paper, and resources, and only create problems because of the risk of fraud and bounced checks.
That, and most retailers now have the technology that verifies a check for authenticity and that the account is in good standing (not that the money is even there, just that the account is open and isn't suspended due to negative balance already) which is much more expensive than debit/credit transaction fees to the retailer, and does the same job as using the "check card" attached to the same bank account.
The economic impact is huge. You've got the resources at the banks to go through all these unnecessary paper checks, likewise at retailers (especially the bigger ones who can end up with a few hundered checks in a day) where a person has to go through every point of sale and hand-verify each check is there, and the amount is correct, etc. Then, they still have to track these useless pieces of paper like they're cash, hoping they actually work out to be worth money (they don't bounce).
Checks should only be used for private transfers (as in, not "business") of monies from one person to another, or when sending a check someplace that will clear the check before you receive the product/service, and for making payments (which is the same thing... you're sending it off and they clear the check before anything concrete happens).
So how many of you still use checks for those day-to-day purchases... (option 1) the grocery store, pharmacy, walmart and their ilk, etc., and how many just use the check whenever you absolutely have to... (option 2) like sending a check off to pay a bill that doesn't take billing online, or giving someone you know some money by writing them a check, or giving a check to the girlscout down the street to stake claim on an oder of Thin Mints?
And perhaps even more importantly, if you do still use them for everything.... WHY????
