You miss it most when you realize it's gone...
 

For the first time in the 10 years I've had one, I lost my ATM card last week.

I was getting on the bus last Wednesday morning, pulling my wallet out to swipe my Transpass. And as I opened my wallet, there was something noticeably missing...the ATM card.

I didn't panic too hard. The last time I had seen it was when I used the ATM the day before...maybe I forgot to take the card when I left the ATM. A short time later, I called the bank, had them cancel the card, and waited for my new card. A look at my bank account showed no extra transactions.

It takes 5 days to get a new card. I probably could have gotten a temporary card from the bank in the interim, but truth be told, I really didn't think about it at the time. I figured I'd be alright w/o it until it came.

And I was for the most part...but in not having the card for over a week (it just came in the mail yesterday), I realized how much it has become a part of my life.

--Last Thursday, I ran up to the grocery store to get the ingredients for my sweet potato pie. When the cashier asked how I was paying, I instinctively replied "MAC" (Philadelphia is the only city I've been in where the key word for an ATM purchase is "MAC"--Money Access Card, and not "debit."). Well, I opened up my wallet and, oops! No ATM card...had to use the credit card. Not a huge deal b/c I can xfer money from checking back to the credit card. But still...

--Sunday, I needed to get money for a money order. Went to the ATM and...forgot I had no ATM card. Tried using my credit card...turns out that I don't know the PIN for it! Had to go back home and get Rho's ATM card.

--Yesterday, I wanted to get $20, but remembered that I didn't have the ATM card. So, I had to write a check for cash and go inside the bank to cash it. Haven't done that in ages.

Well, as I mentioned, the new card came in yesterday's mail, so we're back in bliss again. But it's amazing how all this newfangled technology changes our lives...and how easy it is to get hooked on it.

I dont have anything constructive to post, I just noticed this thread didnt have any responses.


Yes, the atm card is now indispensable.

Prior to your post, this thread had the most views w/o any replies, out of the 100+ Manifestos. I thought that was cool, b/c apparently more people are reading the Manifestos (look at the numbers on some of the older threads).

oops. You want I should delete it?

Nah...more people will look at the thread now, since it will come up in the New Messages area. :)

No we won't.

Call me a "marketing specialist."

Damn, you Madison Ave types know your stuff.

I know...and I've only been on Madison Ave. once.

Ok, so I assume everyone has some form of electronic money. Does anyone besides me actually use cash anymore? Maybe for purchases of 2 to 4k?

There is a certain "real money" feel to a stack of hundred dollar bills, I will admit it is becoming more suspicious and unwelcome buying this way though.

I bought a computer and accessories in Reading last year at a Circuit City, the total was 1400 and change. When I handed the "sales associate" the stack of hundreds he first looked at me as if I had just handed him wampum or something. Slang thought to SA..."this is what cash looks like dumbass". So then he had to get the manager and have 2 or 3 people hold the bills up to the light and write a mark on the bills with those special pens. After all the "gee whizzery" I recieved my comp and the change.

Seems like people are less and less likely to make anonymous purchases nowdays. Eventually, I wont be able to buy gumballs from the machine without Poindexter getting a report.

Maybe the register jockey was thinking, "Why is this guy actually shopping here?" :)

I dont know. I have developed the habit of going to the management before I pick something out though (of purchases over 1k, rare as they have become)."Is this money good for purchases at your store" (glaring sarcastic look)." No problem if isnt I'll take it somewhere else instead of leaving it here with you"

And , when I do make these purchases, I make it a point not to wear the shoulder rig/big bore handgun that announces to the world "I have a great big fuking gun under my arm and its right here!"

The fuss about cash purchases from a dude that looks like me (on the road anyway) is just plain REGIONAL PROFILING! ;)

We used to raise replacement heifers when I was a kid. The buyer would show up negotiate with Mom and pay Dad cash on the barrelhead. "So that's six heifers at 8 hundred a piece..." Followed by 48 hundred dollar bills in hand, sure looked like real money to a ten year old boy. Sometime around 1980 they started paying by check, somehow it was cooler before, when the buyer made a big show about going out to the truck to dig up a couple hundred more.

Slang rule of money: Cash never bounces or is electronically declined for any reason. :)

When the time comes to round up suspects because of their purchases for which there are electronic records, it will be the ones without any records who are rounded up first.