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I went with a girlfriend to her small-town-CA home, about 15 years ago. Went to get groceries and she just gave their name and a 3-digit number and the groceries went on the family account. I'm 40, but I had never before seen that in my life.

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I saw this happening in Woodside CA (very much in the SF Bay Area) less than a year ago.

Yep, Robert’s Market does this. Great for kids who walk home from the elementary school down the street, and can pick up a snack on the way home.

Given the demographics of Woodside, it’s also frequently used by nannies and other family helpers who shop for the uber-wealthy residents who call Woodside home…

This was (and still is) the norm in Mumbai where I grew up. We had an account at the local grocery store; the store owner knew us by name and would let us buy snacks on the way back home from school or after a cricket match. The term “khaata” (translation: account) is well known in Mumbai, and should evoke feelings of nostalgia about a simpler time for others who grew up in Mumbai like I did.

Accounts were typically settled at the end of the month. The system is predicated on trust and customer service.

Eureka CA?

Nope, other side of the state.

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