Hobby Lobby accepts several different payment options, including cash, credit and debit cards, and PayPal.
However, if you would prefer to pay with a check while shopping at the retailer, you may wonder if Hobby Lobby accepts checks as valid payment. If so, keep reading to see what I discovered on this topic!
Does Hobby Lobby Accept Checks In 2024?
Hobby Lobby accepts checks in some circumstances in 2024. You can use a check if you buy something in a store and if you use a personal check. You will also need to provide a valid form of ID to verify your account to the check. However, you can’t use a check to buy from Hobby Lobby’s online store.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about using checks at Hobby Lobby, including the system they use, using checks online, and more!
Can I Use a Check at Hobby Lobby?
You can use a personal check when shopping at one of Hobby Lobby’s physical locations like you would at similar stores.
If you use a check and you need to return the item you bought, you can still do that for a refund or store credit, but you will need to wait 10 days for it to be processed.
Can I Use a Check Online at Hobby Lobby?
You cannot use a check when shopping on Hobby Lobby’s online platform, even if you say that you’re going to pick up your item from the store.
Rather, you can only use checks at physical Hobby Lobby locations.
What Kind of Check Can I Use at Hobby Lobby?
Hobby Lobby lets you use personal checks when shopping at its physical stores, though you can’t use them when shopping online.
However, any other type of check is currently not valid for Hobby Lobby.
What Check System Does Hobby Lobby Use?
According to a comment by Ann Lawton, Assistant Vice President of Treasury and Internal Audit at Hobby Lobby, the company uses Mastercheck in at least some of its operations.
This comment states that Mastercheck makes the experience at Hobby Lobby easier on the company as well as the customers.
Mastercheck allows for electronic transactions in business types that work with automatic clearing house (ACH), back office conversions (BOC), accounts receivable conversion (ARC), Check21 and representation check entry (RCK) models.
This service also has a point of sale verification service, which is what might be used at Hobby Lobby to make sure that the checks you pay with will clear.
The company has a nationwide network of outlets and merchants, and it contributes negative information to the biggest verification database in the country.
Hobby Lobby combines its authorization network with NetChex, a benefits, human resources (HR) and payroll company.
With this partnership, items that have not been paid for are reported on the second business day after the day when the deposit was made.
If the electronic recovery system doesn’t work, the case is passed on to a team of agents who will look into the unpaid item by contacting the necessary people via mail and phone.
The agents relay information to all the major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) and work with several local district attorneys (DAs).
This means that if you use a bad check at Hobby Lobby, its system will report it and negatively impact your credit score, and the company could also come after you legally.
Everything is automated before it gets to the agents, so the only way you could get away with using a check that you know is going to bounce is if you link it to accounts that aren’t tied to you.
In fact, someone from Maryland was recently arrested for using bad checks, totaling over $200,000 at different stores, including Hobby Lobby, by using this method.
To learn more, you can also see our posts on whether or not Hobby Lobby accepts Apple Pay, if Hobby Lobby prices matches, and if Hobby Lobby has coupons.
Conclusion
You can use personal checks when shopping at Hobby Lobby, provided you’re using it to pay at one of the stores and not online. If you use a check to buy an item, but you want to return it, you can still get a refund, but you’re going to have to wait about 10 days.
Mastercheck is Hobby Lobby’s preferred check system. This system has an automated phase that forwards issues to a team of agents who follow up about payments and report to credit agencies.
