# Out of checks. They cost HOW much? Need answer fast. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 14, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697 "2012-10-14T16:08:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/1 "2012-10-14T16:08:51Z")
Well, like most of the rest of the world, I don’t use as many checks as I used to. I pay most bill online. I just discovered that I’m down to my last ones. So, I call the national company that printed my last order. They’ll send me two boxes(minimum) for only $65.00 WTF? Are they really that expensive? So, where can I go this week locally(Akron OH) to get 100-300 checks printed in a reasonable timeframe at a reasonable cost? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/2 "2012-10-14T16:12:11Z")
I get mailers all the time for checks and they are way cheaper than that. I think Checks Uimited is the name of the company and you can probably pay more for a rush order. In the short term, your actual bank may be able to give you a few temporary checks for free to hold you over. ---
**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/3 "2012-10-14T16:12:15Z")
I don’t know about locally, but Wal-Mart has a cheap and decently fast [check printing service](http://www.walmartchecks.com/). ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/4 "2012-10-14T16:17:24Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I get mailers all the time for checks and they are way cheaper than that. I think Checks Uimited is the name of the company and you can probably pay more for a rush order. In the short term, your actual bank may be able to give you a few temporary checks for free to hold you over. Funny, but that’s the company I’ve just aluded to. First time customers can get a deal. I can get those two boxes for only $65. Thx, CU. But, no thx. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/5 "2012-10-14T16:18:29Z")
> [@goldmund](#): > > I don’t know about locally, but Wal-Mart has a cheap and decently fast [check printing service](http://www.walmartchecks.com/). Thanks. Off to Walmart. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/6 "2012-10-14T16:27:29Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Well, like most of the rest of the world, I don’t use as many checks as I used to. I pay most bill online. > > I just discovered that I’m down to my last ones. So, I call the national company that printed my last order. They’ll send me two boxes(minimum) for only $65.00 WTF? Are they really that expensive? > > So, where can I go this week locally(Akron OH) to get 100-300 checks printed in a reasonable timeframe at a reasonable cost? Artistic Checks was pretty reasonable last time I dealt with them. Have you checked with your bank about their rates? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/7 "2012-10-14T16:33:54Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Funny, but that’s the company I’ve just aluded to. First time customers can get a deal. I can get those two boxes for only $65. Thx, CU. But, no thx. It sounds like you have found your solution but I just looked and there is an ad on my next to last book of checks offering two boxes for $21 and a statement that says to check the web site to see if there is a better deal. ---
**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/8 "2012-10-14T16:45:38Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Thanks. Off to Walmart. I’m pretty sure it’s online only. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/9 "2012-10-14T16:47:51Z")
Pretty much all the check printing places you can google have astounding deals for first time order. Most of them have rush printing/shipping that’s not terrible. But yes, they (all?) jack up the price for your second order. So just find another introductory offer. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/10 "2012-10-14T16:49:16Z")
Why not your bank? I go in, tell them i need checks and get a box in the mail a few days later. It costs like $10, which they automatically deduct. ---
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/11 "2012-10-14T17:08:37Z")
Holy cow. $65? Really? One more reason to love my credit union. Free checks. Sure, they’re the plain old boring blue checks (no cute widdle kitties or puppies for me), but they’re FREE! And fast. When I order them, they’re in my mailbox within a couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![shellofmyformerself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@shellofmyformerself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shellofmyformerself)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/12 "2012-10-14T17:22:00Z")
I just ordered checks (I mean literally before I logged on to SD). I have Snoopy checks I ordered from Harland checks and it was $22 for a box (including tax and shipping). USAA has a link to the check re-order page. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/13 "2012-10-14T17:23:28Z")
Like you I don’t write many check any more and a while back realized I was finally running low. [carouselchecks.com](http://carouselchecks.com) was cheap and pretty quick. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/14 "2012-10-14T18:59:58Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > Why not your bank? I go in, tell them i need checks and get a box in the mail a few days later. It costs like $10, which they automatically deduct. Not anymore. It used to be cheap as dirt (and still is for my old fashioned free checking account) but for some reason when we started a joint account it would have cost us a fortune and a half for checks. So I use my account and just transfer the funds. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/15 "2012-10-14T19:09:00Z")
Huh. I’ve never had a checking account that didn’t just give me free checks. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/16 "2012-10-14T19:12:29Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Huh. I’ve never had a checking account that didn’t just give me free checks. I’ve never had one which DID. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/17 "2012-10-14T19:20:54Z")
Thanks to all who responded. I went to local Walmart and, indeed, they do it online only. So, went online. Done in about 10 minutes. Basic one box was about $6. Paid for 2nd day shipping as I needed them by a week from now. Total price= $18.58 It was worth it. I’m moving this to MPSIMS, as it isn’t really a GQ anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/18 "2012-10-14T19:20:57Z")
Last time I ordered checks I did it through my bank, around $18. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/19 "2012-10-14T19:35:17Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Huh. I’ve never had a checking account that didn’t just give me free checks. > [@samclem](#): > > I’ve never had one which DID. Most banks/credit unions WILL give you free checks, same as they’ll pay interest on your checking account balance…as long as that balance doesn’t dip below a certain level. I think it’s about 5K at minimum. And, of course, they’d love for you to keep a higher balance in the old checking account. The free checks that you get are generally non-duplicate, and you have a choice of blue safety paper, and blue safety paper. My credit union has a good deal on checks, but since I wanted owls on mine, I went to one of those companies that print whimsical designs on the checks. They’re $17 for one box of non-duplicates, and higher for duplicates. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697/20 "2012-10-14T20:19:25Z")
Our credit unions (we belong to 2) give us free checks since we’re over 55. One box lasts a loooooooong time these days. Back when I had to pay for them, I wrote checks for everything. Once I discovered debit cards, then on-line payments, my check usage fell waaaaaaay down. I bet I haven’t written a dozen check this year. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-checks-they-cost-how-much-need-answer-fast/637697.md?page=2)