# Wal-Mart sinks to a new low **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301 "2009-03-04T18:30:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@The\_Batman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Batman)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/21 "2009-03-04T19:54:21Z")
> [@](#): > > But I believe such a person could still open a savings account and deposit your check that way. You may have to wait a day or so to withdraw it and I understand the concept of living paycheck to paycheck. But I doubt waiting 1 day is gonna lead to starvation. The thing is that there is usually no point in putting it in any account to begin with because they don’t have any money to put in. What most people do when they get a paycheck is spend almost all of it in groceries and keep the rest on hand for gas or commute. The second check (you get one every two weeks) goes towards rent and bills, with no money left over. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/22 "2009-03-04T19:57:02Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > I think Wal-Mart should cash it for free. I don’t. WalMart is providing a service, unrelated to their primary business. Their flat rate fee is very reasonable for this service. Last time someone gave me a check drawn on Bank X, I took it to Bank X to cash it. As I had no account with them, they wanted to charge me a fee (I believe it was $8 or so) to cash it. WalMart’s fee is quite reasonable, and appreciated by many, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/23 "2009-03-04T19:58:02Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > So they kindly allowed him to make payments at some godawful interest rate. Known in that trade as the “vig.” ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/24 "2009-03-04T20:02:01Z")
Yes, kiddies - not everyone is miiddle-class, or even lower-middle. Conventional banking does not exist for thes folks. The Wal-Mart debit card is as convenient as, and as close to, a credit card those folks will ever have - and, for your further edification, google “secured credit card” - if you really want a credit card, there are folks who will **sell** you one - you send them the cash (plus fee), and they issue a card with a credit line of what you sent. Plus monthly, plus, plus. Now, go dirty your feen and go into one of those check cashing joints and read their fees. For folks stuck in that rut, Wal-Mart is a godsend ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/25 "2009-03-04T20:11:58Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > I suppose you are right, but I’m sure they could find a way to cut $300 out over a month or so. They are gonna pay that to WalMart anyway after a year. When you say “cut $300 out over a month or so”, you basically mean “save $300 a month”. Why on earth would you assume people living paycheck to paycheck with no bank account could possibly save $300 a month just by trying. It’s totally out of touch. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/26 "2009-03-04T20:41:42Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > Reasons a person cant open a _savings_ account? I’ve never heard of a bank unwilling to accept a deposit. I agree there may be reasons a person can’t get a _checking_ account. In California you need all sorts of ids and stuff to open up a bank account. I don’t know if you need less for savings only, but my impression was this is about money laundering, not credit. I despise WalMart in general, but I agree that this is a good thing. They are not creating a problem, they are addressing an existing problem. Sure they benefit by getting people into their stores, but it is still a social good. If they have to put anyone out of business, why not the people ripping off the poor? ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/27 "2009-03-04T20:46:48Z")
I do hate with a holy passion brighter than a thousand suns giftcards that have monthly charges, service charges, didn’t use the service charges, and f-u charges (Wait, I gave you my money interest free for months, plus the pretty good chance nobody will ever ask for it back, and you want to charge me for the privilege? No thanks!) But charging $2 to cash a check is somewhere between ripping off the poor and a good reminder of just how many advantages middle class people take for granted. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/28 "2009-03-04T20:50:16Z")
I was just having a conversation about this the other day, whereby I was remembering when I coudln’t afford to keep a checking account open. I still live paycheck to paycheck, but none of the banks around here (Bay Area Florida) charge those kinds of fees and in fact haven’t had them for probably fifteen years. How much does the grocery store charge? It’s been a long time, but I don’t recall them charging (ya know, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth). ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/29 "2009-03-04T20:52:10Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > I think Wal-Mart should cash it for free. They are probably gonna spend it in Wal-Mart anyway. Not true. The cousin I spoke of upthread spent his money all over the place when he was obliged to use WalMart. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/30 "2009-03-04T20:59:02Z")
For those who think this is a bad thing…no-one is being forced to do it. I’ve been in several Wal-Marts in the last few weeks and I’m not even aware that this service is available. So, they either don’t do it at the ones I frequent or they aren’t advertising to the masses. The people that need this service will hear of it word-of-mouth from their peers. And if enough people use it then there must be a niche for it. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/31 "2009-03-04T21:09:56Z")
The Walmart finance services are a bargain when you look at the fees from other places here. They don’t hit you with sneaky service fees like the local banks either. I left one bank when the checking fees hit $15 a month plus per check fees for having the account. I was told it would be free if I had a mortgage with them, after I complained and then closed the account. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/32 "2009-03-04T21:10:26Z")
Once again, anti-WalMartism shows ignorance of the lives of actual poor people. This is a quite reasonable price, and a valuable service for the very poor. If you have limited transportation options, you’re always better off doing more under one roof. The ones who will lose out are the payday-loan places, which is where many of these people are going to cash checks now. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/33 "2009-03-04T21:42:29Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I despise WalMart in general, but I agree that this is a good thing. They are not creating a problem, they are addressing an existing problem. Sure they benefit by getting people into their stores, but it is still a social good. If they have to put anyone out of business, why not the people ripping off the poor? Here here! ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/34 "2009-03-04T21:54:23Z")
So, if a persons employer uses say Bank of America, the employee gets charged by Bank of America for cashing the check if they dont have an account? That’s shitty. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/35 "2009-03-04T22:59:35Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > So, if a persons employer uses say Bank of America, the employee gets charged by Bank of America for cashing the check if they dont have an account? That’s shitty. Generally, but there are exceptions. FedEx’s deal with Bank of America required that they cash employee payroll checks for free. Or at least it used to, in Memphis, where FedEx has a mite more pull than it might have in other locales. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/36 "2009-03-04T23:08:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Don’t even get me started on those bastards. Those and the ‘car title’ loan places are always in the poor neighborhoods, usually near the liquor store. There’s a spot around here where there’s a payday loans place, a storefront casino, and a rent-to-own all next to each other. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/37 "2009-03-04T23:12:03Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > There’s a spot around here where there’s a payday loans place, a storefront casino, and a rent-to-own all next to each other. Add a liquor store and a pawn shop and it’s a full house! ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/38 "2009-03-04T23:29:40Z")
Because the “poor” don’t deserve to live convenient, legal, responsible lives, dammit. Aren’t they supposed to be out selling drugs or turning tricks or something? Why else wouldn’t they have direct deposit? ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/39 "2009-03-04T23:30:06Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > Wal-Mart sinks to a new low Really? [Wal-Mart: One retail stock you can feel good about owning](http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/18/wal-mart-one-retail-stock-you-can-feel-good-about-owning/) ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301/40 "2009-03-04T23:40:28Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > So, if a persons employer uses say Bank of America, the employee gets charged by Bank of America for cashing the check if they dont have an account? That’s shitty. Most of 'em, yeah. The bank that my paycheck is drawn on has a policy of charging 1% of the value of the check. (Many of the tellers don’t actually _do_ that, but it’s their policy.) If you’re dealing with a pretty small check, it’s a better deal than Walmart, but most paychecks are big enough that it’s actually much less expensive to stop at Wally World. Also, Walmart sells money orders for half of what the post office does, at least if the signs over the counters are accurate. I don’t know how much a money order costs at the average corner store, but if you need to send a payment and don’t have a checking account, the big box store where you’ve got other stuff to pick up is probably your best bet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wal-mart-sinks-to-a-new-low/488301.md?page=3)