# I pit the people at drive-up ATMs who... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 7, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714 "2014-02-07T01:43:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/61 "2014-02-11T04:10:58Z")
Pick N’ Save in Milwaukee suburb accepts your card anytime during the process; P n S in Madison makes you wait until all purchases are entered. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/62 "2014-02-11T05:49:51Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Are you completely unable to put yourself in another person’s position, without deciding that they are stupid and slow? I’m probably at the extreme end of the bell curve: I value efficiency, and one big part of that for me is that _I’m aware of the other people around me and I refuse to unnecessarily waste their time if I can possibly avoid it_. In turn, I appreciate it when other people extend me the same courtesy. Admittedly, my efficiency-driven need to consider other people’s needs sometimes works to my own disadvantage. At my last job, which was seasonal in nature, I eventually gave up trying to collect unemployment benefits during the slow seasons, even though I was technically entitled to it. Why? Despite the fact that I specifically indicated “Temporary Reduction of Hours”, meaning that I was simply working _much less_, not that I had been “laid off” (so I was entitled to partial benefits), and provided a date when I expected to return to full-time work, the state Employment Security Department seemed completely unable to grasp the meaning behind the very option it provided on its forms. And thus they would require me to apply for three new jobs every week for which I claimed benefits, which should _not_ have been required under their own rules. Never mind that my then-current job was a good union job, with better pay than the local non-union jobs in my field, plus health insurance and a 401k plan that I would not get from non-union employers, and so there was no way (at the time) that I was going to accept a job elsewhere. So I stopped trying to get benefits because I _refused_ to waste other employers’ time by applying and interviewing for jobs that I simply wasn’t going to accept. Instead, I just saved up the extra money I earned during the busy seasons and then watched my spending during the slow seasons. When I was a full-time pedestrian (during a stretch of years in which I went without a driver’s license), I frequently gave up my right-of-way as a pedestrian to let drivers go past before I crossed the street, my reasoning being that my stopping for the cars would slow me down much less than the cars stopping for me would slow _them_ down. But so many people just seem to be completely oblivious to the fact that _there are other people around them_. A good example is some of my coworkers at my current job. I’ve lost count of how many times certain of these coworkers have exclaimed, “Oh! You scared me!” because I happened to walk behind them and they turned around and were startled to find me there. This is in a commercial kitchen, where there are people walking around with hot pans and sharp knives, yet these certain individuals seem to be completely unaware of what’s going on around them. It’s disheartening when I’m carrying a hot pan to the dish sink, and I give the standard warning, “Behind you!”, only to have the warnee shriek and spin around with arms flailing, risking running themselves right into the very thing I was warning them about. For Og’s sake, be aware of your surroundings! ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/63 "2014-02-11T14:21:37Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Yeah, they should just throw their money and receipt on the floor and peel rubber to get the hell out of your way. > > I get that you are just venting, but fuck that shit. Take a breath and slow down. If you are in that much of a hurry, you need to plan better. > > On a similar note, I hate it when the cashier at Walgreen’s hands me a wad of bills, some coins and a receipt, along with my stuff, and I’m supposed to waddle away and find someplace else to put my money away. If there’s free counter space next to where that cashier is, then I go there. Otherwise, whoever is behind me can just wait their fucking turn, just like I did, without going all postal on my ass. > Roddy IN the thread about the USPS machine I said pretty much the same thing, and in general I agree we need to slow down, but in this case I have some sympathy for the OP. If someone is DONE, with their transaction they can easily pull forward a couple of car lengths and put things away before they drive off. I do it all the time and have never seen an ATM that doesn’t allow for it. I agree that we are in far too much of a hurry and need to slow down a bit, but another problem I see is that people seem oblivious of the other folks they share the world with and lack basic consideration. If someone is waiting in line behind you, pull forward to adjust your stuff and put things away. In a related issue, I’ve heard people rant that people in the drive through don’t have everything completely prepared before they drive up. On this I say, slow down. If I need 30 secounds to fill out my deposit slip or do some basic math to get a total, you’ll survive. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/64 "2014-02-11T14:25:20Z")
> [@Desert\_Dumpster](#): > > Yeah, common decency is _such_ a bitch. And if you’re more important than everyone else in the universe, why _shouldn’t_ they wait for you? > > (By the way, if you’ve never been in a hurry, and waiting in line behind someone who seems to be taking an inordinate amount of time to complete their business, I guess you “plan better” than the rest of us mortals, but I’m willing to bet that that’s not the case.) Well, you being in a hurry is not their fault or problem. I totally agree that out of basic consideration they should pull forward to put things away but when I catch myself being impatient with others because I’m in a hurry that’s my bad nnot theirs. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/65 "2014-02-11T14:28:56Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > Just want to point out that rolling 10 feet, then stopping is not going to have the effect you are wanting; it is just going to piss you off more. Ten feet isn’t enough for you to be able to access the ATM (unless they are on a bicycle, and let’s not go there). So, you still have to wait for them to finish before you can use it. > > The better strategy is to learn to not care. As stated, if those precious seconds are that important, plan better. If you just don’t like the fact that you have to wait, then it really is your problem, so only you can fix it. It has taken me a long time, but I let that stuff go. Okay then , 20 feet. Did you completely miss the point to focus on the number 10. If I see someone waiting behind me I pull forward to allow them access and then I stop and put my card and cash, and recipts away before I enter traffic. It’s not complicated. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/66 "2014-02-11T14:44:23Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Dude, when you’ve got **curlcoat** on your side, in the Pit, even, you have lost any argument about what constitutes common decency. > > People need to put their money, card, and receipt away, which can take a few seconds, and can necessitate stuff like getting your wallet out, and it can be a bit tricky when you are in the driver’s seat of a car trying to handle multiple different valuable objects with no convenient flat surface to put things on. Trying to hurry too much can make you fumble and drop things, too. If you care about “common decency” you need to cool you jets and wait. > > I am not sure what you mean by “rearranging” their makeup and “checking” their phone, but if these are time-consuming activities unrelated to stowing their money, card, etc. safely away, then yeah, I guess you have cause to be mildly irritated. > > Or, I suppose, if you only had seconds to get that cash before the mob hit-man rubbed you out for not paying off your gambling debts, or something … then your annoyance is understandable, though not justified. How complicated is it to pull your car forward before you put your money and recipts away, get out your wallet, whatever. I do it all the time. Look say you’re waiting in line at the theater to buy a ticket, the guy in front of you buys his ticket. He stays in line on front of you at the window while he takes out his wallet counts his chage and then puts it away. Then he checks the time and looks at his ticket to make sure everythings okay. Is he being considerete of those waiting in line behind him? Could he do all those things after he steps out of line? I agree that we need to slow down, but I think we also need to be aware of others and show a little basic consideration. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/67 "2014-02-11T14:57:46Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Man, am I ever on board for this rant. Also, if I were a checkout person at a supermarket, I would make sure everyone knows that they can swipe their card any any time. People, if you’re not going to help bag the groceries, can you at least pull your card out and swipe it while you’re waiting? Gah, that gets on my nerves. > > ETA: Heh, I posted this before I saw VT’s similar grocery store rant. I didn’t realize I could swipe ahead of time, but I always have my card out and ready when the clerk gives me the total, If waiting the 2 seconds it takes for me to swipe my card gets on your nerves you have a real problem. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/68 "2014-02-11T15:33:07Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > I didn’t realize I could swipe ahead of time, but I always have my card out and ready when the clerk gives me the total, If waiting the 2 seconds it takes for me to swipe my card gets on your nerves you have a real problem. Thank you for your concern! Swiping while waiting will allow the machine to get the approval from the credit card company, saving even more time. Plus, you can swipe, press a few buttons, and put your card away and help with the bagging. Anyway, you know what really gets on my nerves? People who don’t multi-quote, and reply multiple times in a row to the same thread. So, what’s the theory about the OP? Sock? ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/69 "2014-02-11T15:45:54Z")
A couple of weeks ago, I saw someone pull up to the ATM _driving the wrong way_ so their passenger could use it! Thankfully I was using a teller. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/70 "2014-02-11T18:05:06Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > In a related issue, I’ve heard people rant that people in the drive through don’t have everything completely prepared before they drive up. On this I say, slow down. If I need 30 secounds to fill out my deposit slip or do some basic math to get a total, you’ll survive. Even up here in the sticks, we have ATMs that don’t require a deposit slip. > [@cosmodan](#): > > Look say you’re waiting in line at the theater to buy a ticket, the guy in front of you buys his ticket. He stays in line on front of you at the window while he takes out his wallet counts his chage and then puts it away. Then he checks the time and looks at his ticket to make sure everythings okay. Heh. My father buys me gift certificates to the movies for my birthday and Christmas – I was very disturbed when he bought them while on line for tickets to a movie we were seeing right then, as was a line of people!! We’re not talking an automated purchase; they have to get out a special cash box and record everything by hand. :o :o But I had to pretend I didn’t notice since it was a gift (I was over by concessions). Talk about cringeworthy. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/71 "2014-02-11T18:09:06Z")
I’m wondering where the ATMs _do_ still require a deposit slip. I haven’t seen one in years. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/72 "2014-02-11T18:28:34Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > How complicated is it to pull your car forward before you put your money and recipts away, get out your wallet, whatever. I do it all the time. Actually, at my bank it’s not complicated, it’s just not possible. Once you pull forward far enough for someone else to pull up, you’re blocking the street. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/73 "2014-02-11T18:58:22Z")
So, I’ve been wondering. As mentioned previously, there’s no pre-swiping going on where I live; you need to know the total before you get approved. How on earth can you get approved without knowing the total? What if I had $100 in my account and groceries came to $110, but at the time of swiping, only $20 had been processed? How does that work? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/74 "2014-02-11T19:00:09Z")
The transaction doesn’t go through until the cashier hits the total button and you press the “approve” button on the card reader. The reader just holds the card information until then. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/75 "2014-02-11T19:02:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’m wondering where the ATMs _do_ still require a deposit slip. I haven’t seen one in years. When I deposit something in my ATM I have to fill out one of [these envelopes.](http://completedatasource.com/products/1902500X00-ATM-Deposit-Envelopes,-4%252d1%7B47%7D8W-x-9%252d1%7B47%7D2L-Inch.html) Every once in awhile I run out of them (I keep a stash in the car but hey - shit happens) so if it takes me fifteen extra seconds to fill it out, them’s the breaks. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/76 "2014-02-11T19:03:00Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > The transaction doesn’t go through until the cashier hits the total button and you press the “approve” button on the card reader. The reader just holds the card information until then. Ah. Thank you. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/77 "2014-02-11T19:17:18Z")
From what I remember (since I haven’t done it in so long), to deposit a check at the ATM at my bank, you just put it in without a deposit slip or even an endorsement and it takes a picture of it and prints it on the receipt. They are called envelope-free ATM’s. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/78 "2014-02-11T19:33:49Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > From what I remember (since I haven’t done it in so long), to deposit a check at the ATM at my bank, you just put it in without a deposit slip or even an endorsement and it takes a picture of it and prints it on the receipt. They are called envelope-free ATM’s. You’re lucky. They’re few and far between around me. And I’m not asking the bank down the street that does accept deposits for my credit union to change their system anytime soon. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/79 "2014-02-12T01:43:03Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Forcing the customer to wait until the clerk or checker is done is a waste of time. But the old ladies who wait for the total to even start fumbling with their purse… _grrrrrrr…_ and they are legion. Some may actually _be_ Legion. Now this is different than standing there card in hand waiting for the total. It only takes a couple of seconds to swipe card , cash back, accept total. I try extra hard to be patient with the elderly since I’m headed there soon. Still when an old lady waited until her large order was totaled to start reaching in her purse, and then pulled out a checkbook, I bit my lip. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714/80 "2014-02-12T01:44:14Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Actually, at my bank it’s not complicated, it’s just not possible. Once you pull forward far enough for someone else to pull up, you’re blocking the street. and if that’s the case nobody behind you is going to expect you to. I’m pretty sure we’re talking about the many drive thrus where it is very possible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-people-at-drive-up-atms-who/680714.md?page=5)