Just found out that New Zealand does not allow checks anymore

[Scott_Conger]

makes things mighty difficult to transact small purchases...as if the natural barrier that distance and postage presents was not enough of a problem...

It's been a couple of years since my last shipment there, and now it's one more place that I won't be shipping items to...

[TXGOAT2]

That stinks like roadkill in August.

[Craig Leach]

Just think how much fun it will be when you can't use cash anymore.
Craig.

[A Whiteman]

You can joke about it, but losing cheques (NZ spelling) was a big deal for locals, especially older folk used to this method of paying. Younger folk were not so affected as they didn't tend to use them. Due to fraud, retailers are not that sad to see them go overall.

On the other hand we do have a fairly extensive system for electronic payments- even on your smart phone now. BUT as was found out in the recent wide spread flooding in the north of NZ, NO POWER MEANS NO COMMERCE. Yep, if you relied on electronics you went hungry as stores only accepted cash....

And to make things worse, cash is in the target for elimination next.....

I am not sure why this is actually a problem for sellers in the US. Paypal/ Western Union or good old bank transfer is guaranteed payment that is fast and direct. Getting a 'check' from NZ to be cashed in the US would have been a very long winded and not a straight forward process?

Likewise, buying something from NZ, I think Paypal or Visa have some sort of protection in case you get scammed? Locals would have been very reluctant to accept a US 'check' as getting it cashed from NZ was always a difficult and time-consuming process.

'Gift cards' are probably better than getting a cheque too - but sending these in the mail is illegal in NZ and probably the US as well?


EDIT!
It seems New Zealanders CAN RECEIVE cheques (checks) from overseas, however it takes several weeks to clear them, and most retail banks do not make the process easy, but it is still possible. The deletion of cheques is domestic based.

[Norman Kling]

I hope that doesn't happen here during the remainder of my life. All my records are in cancelled checks and I don't use debit cards except to withdraw cash from ATM. I use credit cards for some purchases but pay for the bill with checks. I don't even carry a smart phone. Use land line and carry a flip top phone which is off except when I either want to make a call or am expecting one. I carry it along on trips just in case I need to call for help. The world is spinning and changing faster than my old brain is capable of keeping up with. I can completely disassemble a Model T and put it back together and start it up, but only thing I do on the modern cars is check the fluids.
Anyway doing everything on line will eventually lead to a disaster when all the internet goes down.
Norm

[TXGOAT2]

Never used an ATM ... no credit cards, and don't want any. I do have a Wal Mart gift card, which I keep refunding. It's mostly useful for buying fuel. I get paper billing for utilities and an auto parts accounts, and pay by check. Banks won't pay me any interest, so I'll be damned if I'll pay them any.

[Oldav8tor]

I very seldom write checks anymore....maybe six a year from my personal account. The only checks I receive are dues for our Model T Club (I'm treasurer) which require an occasional trip to the bank to deposit (30 mile round trip.) We have a debit card linked to our checking account which we use for almost all purchases. I have a credit card that pays me interest that I use for online purchases and of course there is always paypal. Credit cards and PayPal offer purchase protection which I have had to use..... you send a check and you're pretty much out of luck if the deal goes south. One important thing....I always pay credit cards in full each month. I'm considered a "deadbeat" because I don't have any credit card debt.

If one thing is certain in this life it is change. My grandfather was born in 1860 and was 57 before he owned his first (and only) car, a 1917 Model T. He never learned to drive it, leaving that to his sons. He lived to see not only cars but radio, television, telephones, airplanes, rockets and early space travel. That seems like a lot to experience in one life but those of us alive today have experienced even more change. Do I think all these changes have made life better? Not all... unfortunately, change happens whether we like it or not so we need to learn to co-exist with it. Personally, I love the wealth of information available after a few keystrokes on my phone or laptop and the ability to communicate with folks like yourselves has made Model T ownership so much easier than if I was trying to do everything on my own. In the early 80's I restored an airplane from 1946. Finding parts and information was so much more difficult when there were just books, magazine articles and the occasional old codger to give advice. I used to run up some nasty phone bills back when everything was still "long distance."

My response to change is to find a way to make it work for me....

[TXGOAT2]

Change can be constructive or destructive.

Change can benefit The Many, or only The Few.

Change imposed by The Few upon The Many often benefits only The Few.