# Can you still get a tab anywhere? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-get-a-tab-anywhere/498423 "2009-06-01T23:05:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-get-a-tab-anywhere/498423/41 "2016-03-13T02:30:21Z")
Well there could be govenment regulations. A number of years ago, we had all new windows installed in our house. It was advertised as payable in a year, no interest. So I said, “Okay, if I pay you now, can I get a discount?” The answer was no, for if they gave me a discount for paying immediately, they would be admitting that they really were charging interest and that would violate the consumer protection laws. I’m sure they just took the note I signed to a bank and just discounted it. But they felt they just couldn’t discount it to me. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-get-a-tab-anywhere/498423/42 "2016-03-13T14:04:23Z")
My grandfather had one at the local grocery store forever. While it was no longer a general service they offered, they saw no reason to close out the accounts of long-term customers. So I doubt there are any such regulations. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-get-a-tab-anywhere/498423/43 "2016-03-14T18:43:09Z")
I ran a tab at the local bar this weekend but I went in the next day and paid it because I told them I would. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-get-a-tab-anywhere/498423/44 "2016-03-14T18:48:24Z")
The small town store where I often buy lunch would float me until my next visit but I’ve never taken advantage of it. I only know because I mentioned once that I wasn’t there the previous day due to a forgotten wallet and she told me I could have just come in. There’s also been a couple times when they had trouble with their credit card machine and I said I’d just pay it the next day rather than hold up the line. I wouldn’t think to ask to run a real tab where I had a week’s worth of purchases built up, though. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-get-a-tab-anywhere/498423/45 "2016-03-14T19:52:20Z")
I was asked if I wanted to run a tab at a local music venue/bar recently. Not sure why I would want one so I declined. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-get-a-tab-anywhere/498423.md?page=2)