Kroger Check Writing Policy (Vanity)

Self | May 22, 2004 | SLb

[SLB]

I just made a quick trip to one of the local Kroger stores, chicken was on sale this week and we wanted to get a couple of bags of boneless/skinless. When I got to the checkout isle, I use the self checkout whenever possible, I wrote my check for $25.00 over the purchase price.

The clerk ran the check through the machine and then looked at me and said something like; "I am sorry, but there has already been a check for $25.00 over written on this account within the past week and you are limited to $25.00 a week which is the maximum allowed." (Mrs SLB had written a check at another store earlier in the week) She then showed me the register slip with my bank account number and the limits on my account. I am limited to spending $300.00 a week at Kroger.

I asked her why and she said it was a new Kroger wide policy. I did not berate her, she is on the bottom of the food chain, but asked for a cusotmer comment form which she gladly gave me. I will fill it out and send it to Kroger.

We do not do anywhere near all of our shopping at Kroger as we have the commissary at Ft Knox (average savings is in the 30% range), we also have Save-a-Lot, Aldi's, and of course the infamous Wally World. We usually only go to Kroger for sale items, but this tracking of my purchases and limiting me is going to send me even further from them. My only planned trips there now are for gasoline as they give a $0.03 a gallon discount with their card, but I am certain they track that, too bad the name, address and phone number on the card are all made up.

[SLB]

Has anyone else ran into this situation at Kroger or other stores?

[bannie]

I've never knowningly even MET a Kroger...good luck.

[muawiyah]

Space aliens. That's the answer.

[Dont Mention the War]

I haven't heard of this before, but I can't say it surprises me. Checks remain one of the easiest ways to scam grocery stores out of their money, so it's likely that the more people switch to debit cards, the more the stores are going to put stronger restrictions on check use. After all, they'll be inconveniencing far fewer people now than they would have just five or ten years ago.

I'm not saying it's necessarily right, just giving a possible explanation.

[John W]

"I am limited to spending $300.00 a week at Kroger."

No MBA here,but,does this make good business sense?

[Sunshine55]

I haven't, and I will tell you why. I stopped writing checks to Kroger when they reported me to the Credit Bureau for a bounced check (my direct deposit didn't) that I promptly made right. Now, 6 months later, I am unable to open a new checking account anywhere in this city.

[LADY J]

I never write a check for cash back over the amount of the purchase.

I think the store could have any policy they choose about writing a check for over the amount of purchase. It is a courtesy extended to the customer. They are not a bank.

You got what you wanted on sale. I don't see the problem.

[prisoner6]

I haven't had that problem, but I REALLY dislike those stupid customer cards tehy give you. We have them for Shop N Save and Giant Eagle here in Pittsburgh. They always ask me for them and I usually say something like..."Hey, I'm a guy...I don't use stuff like that! Just ring me up so I can get outta here!"

We have the full size cards as well as the key ring cards. Plus one of the stores has started giving come kind of bonus points so on top of wasting my time with the cards they take more time asking me if I want to use the bonus points. FWIW I have no idea how to use them and probably never will.

I'd rather have the best price possible and none of the hoopla and hype that wimmink seem to treasure so much. Even if it isn't the best price I want to get in and get out. I HATE shopping. I don't mind the Schwan's man stopping by though...

prisoner6

[Hank Rearden]

They're trying to limit their potential loss on bad checks - limiting to a certain amount/week means checks will clear within that time or they won't. If they don't, the loss is limited.

Use a debit card, credit card or cash if this policy poses a problem for you.

[upchuck]

When I lived in Louisville I shopped at Kroger a lot. Then WMT came to town and sold for 10-20% less than Kroger. I kissed Kroger goodbye and never went back.

Now I live in South Carolina and I still shop at WMT. Recently I needed shave cream and WMT didn't have my brand so I got it at Kroger. As long as I was in Kroger, I wandered around looking at prices of stuff I buy all the time. Kroger is still mostly 10-20% more than WMT.

A lady friend of mine insists the folks who go to Kroger and Publix do so for the "shopping experience." That's a new one on me!

[Blue Screen of Death]

So, how was the chicken?

[Dont Mention the War]

They're trying to limit their potential loss on bad checks - limiting to a certain amount/week means checks will clear within that time or they won't. If they don't, the loss is limited.

By the way, it isn't going to be much longer that you're going to be able to use checks at supermarkets at all, at least not in the old-fashioned way. There are already grocery store chains that have started direct-debiting your account at checkout. You write out the check and hand it to them, the cash register scans the magnetic ink on the check and instantly deducts the amount from your account. The cashier then hands you back the check, which has "VOID" stamped all over it.

Say goodbye to the float!

[xzins]

And I don't like the voice at the auto check out.

Did you ever touch one of the bags after you put something in it?

"Do not remove items from the bag" says FemAutoVoice.

"I'm sorry..." I mumbled.

"I said, 'put the damn stuff back in the bag.'"

Looking around to see if everyone was noticing this embarrassing exchange, I reached out to replace the item.

FemAutoVoice screeched, "Are you touching the bag. Hands off the bag. What are you some kind of idiot?!" . Then (I swear) FAV cackled a hideous little laugh as it issued new instructions.

"Go Directly to the customer assistance clerk."

I looked up into the blue-green visage and pale, deadly eyes of the Wicked Witch of Krogers.

"I'll get you my prettie.... Ahhh hah hah hah hah hah!"

[Libloather]

Wally World ROCKS! Where can I find one?

[Libloather]

"Do not remove items from the bag" says FemAutoVoice.

Never do that. Never.

[Skooz]

I go to Kroger when I need something I can't find at Wally World. Like this:

Stubbs Beef Marinade. The best I've ever tasted. Kroger is the only place in town to buy it.

I have and use the Kroger card when I go there. I didn't have to complete a form to get it, and it has no personal info on it, so I couldn't care less. Plus, the savings, especially on steak and roast, is sometimes dramatic: as much as 1/2 off.

[Skooz]

You write out the check and hand it to them, the cash register scans the magnetic ink on the check and instantly deducts the amount from your account. The cashier then hands you back the check, which has "VOID" stamped all over it.

A local bookstore uses that. I bought something there about a year ago and they debited my account immediately and gave me the voided check. That's why I haven't stepped into the store since, and never will again.

[yarddog]

I guess there is something to be said for your friendly neighborhood grocery.

A month or so ago I took my 85 year old Father to the bank to get $200 cash. It turned out the bank was closed Thursday afternoons so he told me to stop at the grocery store instead.

He gave them the check which was already made out to cash and they handed him $200. He didn't even buy anything. Of course he is an old customer. It still surprised me a little.

[xzins]

Our wally world's won't carry local kind of stuff. I'm near Cincy, so you look for Grippo's BBQ chips or Skyline in a can, don't go to WalMart.

They've got their list, and those guys aren't on it.

And Grippo's BBQ chips are the best in this world and the known universe.

[cynwoody]

I'd be perfectly happy if grocery stores stopped accepting checks altogether. They simply take to long to write and process. Cash is king!