Young people have no idea …

About checks. This came up a few years ago. I was at dinner with my father and aunt. They mentioned some concern about doing business online because of fraud. I reminded them that they used to give strangers checks with their names, addresses, bank account number, and often their SS number, phone number or license number.

 

Those, and the annual Holiday Inn catalogue of properties were mandatory for road trips.

 

Also the Mobil travel guides.

"Oooh, this Days Inn has TWO stars! And free dinner for kids 12 and younger!"

 

I had a Rand McNally Road Atlas and a Motel 6 Directory tucked in the sidewall of my car door.

 

Mail order (send check and order form); Sears catalog, Columbia Music, etc.

 

My dad never trusted online banking, all the way to the end. He didn't have any money tied to an online system, no credit cards, no banks, nothing. It was part of his routine to write checks for bills, balance the checkbook, and go to the mailbox.

Every now and then you get behind someone paying at a store with a check and it is amazing how freaking slow it is. Even better when they decide to balance their checkbook right there. I bet it has been almost 20 years since I balanced a checkbook (so another thing youngins know nothing of?).

I do write checks on occasion still. Usually to avoid fees (or school district has stupid fees for online payment), or if a business or whatever still doesn't have an online payment system, which still happens. I haven't been to a bank in who knows how long with a check when I get them because of mobile deposits. That probably would make my dad's head explode.

 

GET 12 LPs (cassettes, CDs) for just ONE PENNY!

That gimmick wouldn't work these days, because a simple swipe on your phone would turn down this month's featured album at full price.

 

I’m sure if a 20something saw no COD they would assume it banned a video game

 

Not sure why but the mail order reminded me of the tag line at the end of Nightline and all talk shows: For a transcript of the show, send $XX to (address here). Who the fuck ever did that?

 

It was comical trying to explain blowing on Nintendo cartridges to my 9-year-old son.

 

This sounds like a Bluey episode.

 

My mom (mid-80s) stopped doing any kind of online banking after seeing/hearing one too many online scam/hacking stories. I swear she keeps the post office in business, because she’s constantly going there to make stuff. She also talks about how nice they are to her at the bank, where she has to go to get cash (she has never used an ATM) or transfer money. I said it’s because she’s probably the only one who goes there regularly.