Enough, is enough!!! (beware, vent enclosed)

[KidAtHeart1]

I realize that the employee's are just doing their job by offering you a card and sympathize with them. It is pretty frustrating though that evertime I purchase something fromTarget/Best Buy/ Circut City/Barnes and Noble/JC Penny's/Kohls/Mervyns/Foleys/Old Navy etc. etc. you always have to decline a credit card offer.

Also, anybody else tired of having to give your zip code or phone number at the cash register?

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

My old job used to make me sign up customers for their frequent buyers card. They would also tell me to sell the items they put at the registers (like small lotions and toe rings). I am not a pushy person, so I hated having to do this. I was told that I would have to sign up so many people a month. No incentives other than "you'll get written up if you don't." I told them to go scratch. I also told them I hated being a cashier. And what luck! I was switched over to inventory shortly after! Which required me to be in the store before it opened. So much better. I was so happy when I left that place. But now when I go in to shop I get asked to sign up for the card. Uh no thanx, I really don't need it.

 

[mking624]

Now I have spent many many (over 15 years) in retail and this kind of thread burns me up. I'm not saying that you are not allowed to be upset but you are taking out your frustration on someone who can't change what they are doing anyway - for fear of no raise, or no hours. If the employees of a store/company are asking too much get the Client Relations number and complain to them. Being rude to the cashier does not stop the fact that they are required to do that. Better response would be to be nice to that person then complain to the corporate office.

Just my two cents.

Jenny

I've been in retail for nearly 10 years. I only had one job where I was put in a position where we were required to push the credit card on people for fear of being fired. You know what I did? I quit 2 weeks later because I didn't want to treat my customers that way. I'm not an advocate of treating people rudely, but no one here has said anything about treating anyone rudely...but rahter defending themselves from a harrassing cashier...and yes I said harrassing. It is harrassment to continue to pester a customer about something when they have repeatedly said no. So the cashiers are required? If they don't like it, then it's time for them to swallow their pride and find a new job. That's what I did. Let's see...harrass my customers to the point where they'd hate me and berate me...or find a job that was willing to treat their customers right. Not a tough choice for me.

 

[DancingBear]

Please complain--to store management, or to corporate customer service. You don't have to make it about the cashier (unless they've been truly rude), but complain about the policy. Tell 'em you go elsewhere because of it.

 

[Free4Life11]

i have to say i hate going through this too-very annoying. but i can see the other side as well-i have a good friend who worked in retail and she had to give a set speil to every customer who came to her counter, and the store ensured it happened by having secret shoppers who reported back on weather they were offered and reoffered credit. she got 'tagged' one time when not even thinking one of the secret shoppers asked 'is it a good card, do you have one?' and she replied 'no-i like my such and such visa cause they charge lower interest and have consumer purchase protection'-oops

I HATE MYSTERY SHOPPERS! I worked at Staples and there is no way I would have had the time (or patience!) to go through the checklist with each and every customer.

I find it interesting that the biggest retailer (Wal-Mart) doesn't hound you for credit cards.

To be honest...10%? Whoopy-de-friggin-do. Maybe if I got 25% off or something like that I would be more inclined to do it.


Oh yeah I did the Eddie Bauer one once...but the kicker was...my first purchase wasn't even on the card! It showed up on my regular mastercard...I got the 10% off but that one left me

 

[barkley]

might be interesting to see their reaction if we responded with a big smile, a 'yahoo' and 'yes, yes, yes!-i thought you guys would never offer after you had to write off the last 10 grand i ran up here and claimed in my bankruptcy-oh by the way, do you want my legal name or the one i have my credit cards under?'

 

[MushyMushy]

Oh, I hate this!

I don't mind it when they ask once and I say "no thanks," and they go on their merry way. But when they have to push and push and push, then it really ticks me off.

I actually got into an argument with one cashier over it. It was at a Kaufmann's, I believe, and she was relentless with me, going on and on about saving the 10%, and she actually said something to the effect of how I wasn't smart for not wanting to save money. I got mad enough to tell her that she could comment on my finances when she paid my bills.

The phone number thing gets my goat too. Don't tell me you won't call me, because I HAVE gotten calls. Nine times out of ten the cashiers are perfectly fine with not getting my number, but there's always one who has to make a big issue of it. The manager at our local Fashion Bug always pretends that she doesn't know what to do if you don't give her your number. Hello, moron! We just went through this last week!

 

[crazelion]

If ask me about a credit card when I check out. The only ask is what's the total of purchases. If they is push push then I will tell that I am practicing witch they leave me alone for good while store. lol

It really depends on what mood I am if decide be nice to that day. I work Best Buy and Curcuit City as a cashier I know there policy pretty good. I go up to the cashier is just ell me the total that's it.

 

[mking624]

The phone number thing gets my goat too. Don't tell me you won't call me, because I HAVE gotten calls. Nine times out of ten the cashiers are perfectly fine with not getting my number, but there's always one who has to make a big issue of it. The manager at our local Fashion Bug always pretends that she doesn't know what to do if you don't give her your number. Hello, moron! We just went through this last week!

My store is one that captures phone numbers. I generally don't ask...I can just hit the escape button...I just don't want to deal with it. But I can tell you that our capturing of a phone number doesn't mean you will be called. In fact, you won't be. The ONLY time you will be is if we're following up on your sale...to make sure everything worked out ok and if we can help in any futher way. But we don't do it out of the blue...we ask our customers if it would be ok to following up with them regarding their purchase. We do this more specifically with brand new customers (we work with a lot of corporate clients so it's important they're treated right otherwise we can risk losing their account).

One reason we do require a phone number though...returns. This is part of our audit requirements and we do get fined if we are missing any required information for a return...because they need to know we're not just randomly handing out money. Our phone number entry for that, though, never gets entered into any mailing list system or anything...the number is strictly for the return transaction itself.

 

[almacdonald]

I worked as a cashier in a bed and bath store with their own credit card to put myself through university. As previous posters have stated, we ask about the credit card because we have to. We were expected to sign up X amount of people per day and have 50% of all purchases paid for with the credit card. If we fell short of the goals then we'd hear it from the manager. Do I think this is rediculous? Yes. Do I even have that credit card myself? No. Why? 28.8% interest rate. Did I still ask every customer that came throguh and made sure they were certain of the benefits having such a card could offer them? Yes. Why? Because I had to pay tuition.

Now you all may be sick and tired of having cashiers ask you if you're sure you wouldn't like to save 10% but think of how sick and tired the cashier is of being cut off before even finishing asking if you will be using your credit card and how sick and tired they are of being yelled at by the manager for not doing well enough. You don't have to make up some stupid excuse, just say, that you're aware that they're just doing their job but you're simply not interested. Empathy will get you further than being snarky (not that everyone is snarky)

 

[Snowysmom]

I wish the store management would stop telling the cashiers they have a quota of credit card apps to make every day. I don't blame the cashier although I know it can be bad when the cashier is pushy. You can ask me once but drop it after I say no. DS works in retail and he has to try to sell customers on credit cards and extended warranties. He hates that part of his job.

 

[sunny_]

I was thinking it was Kohl's too! They are very pushy! Sorry that lady was such a pain in the backside!

 

[Missy1961]

Well, I guess since I use my Kohl's card all the time (they give you the best coupons if you have their card), I don't get bugged.

But I had a recent experience when I was calling to verify that I recieved my Discover card that drove me crazy. Most of the time when you call to verify the card's arrival, you get an automated system, but not with Discover. They transfer to a real person who then hassles you into transfering balances, using their credit reporting service, etc. etc. I was about ready to hang up!

 

[LadyyRedd]

Oh -- be careful w/the "I already have a card"! It backfired on me at Kohl's. I said I had a card and she said "If you give me your license, I'll look it up for you!" I had to think fast and tell her that I didn't have my license on me!!!!! So, be prepared w/that back-up story!!!!

"No thanks, my XYZ Visa gives me cash back rewards, so I think I'll use that today".

Kimya

 

[slo]

Thanks to everyone for keeping this thread a nice clean discussion w/o any flames towards anyone. I'm glad we were all able to agree to disagree a couple of times.

 

[sameyeyam]

I tell them "No Thank You" politely, once. If they keep asking or pursuing it then I say in a real loud, slow voice: "Oh, I'm Sorry, I didn't realize that you were hard of hearing, pardon me" Then I repeat "NO THANK YOU" in a very loud, slow voice. Usually causes enough embarassment that they don't ask again.

Or... sometimes after saying "No thank you" once, I just stand there with a stupid grin on my face like I can't hear them. I will let them just keep asking again and again, until they finally get tired of asking and me just staring at them smiling. It makes them extremely uncomfortable and shuts them up!

 

[spazzyjazzy]

I don't mind that they ask because I know that many stores now require that they do. It's usually not management at the store that does but the corporate offices. My hubby works at Petco and they do the "round-Up" thing where they round up to the nearest dollar they have had to write up some people because they aren't meeting their quota for the day. Also secret shoppers go to the stores and they are given a list of things to look and listen for and most of the time being asked to get a store credit card is something they listen for. I don't blame the cashier I blame corporate america.

 

[sk8ingmom]

My response: "No thanks. We're going to Disney World"
As I whip out the ol' Disney Visa!

 

[mking624]

I worked as a cashier in a bed and bath store with their own credit card to put myself through university. As previous posters have stated, we ask about the credit card because we have to. We were expected to sign up X amount of people per day and have 50% of all purchases paid for with the credit card. If we fell short of the goals then we'd hear it from the manager. Do I think this is rediculous? Yes. Do I even have that credit card myself? No. Why? 28.8% interest rate. Did I still ask every customer that came throguh and made sure they were certain of the benefits having such a card could offer them? Yes. Why? Because I had to pay tuition.

Now you all may be sick and tired of having cashiers ask you if you're sure you wouldn't like to save 10% but think of how sick and tired the cashier is of being cut off before even finishing asking if you will be using your credit card and how sick and tired they are of being yelled at by the manager for not doing well enough. You don't have to make up some stupid excuse, just say, that you're aware that they're just doing their job but you're simply not interested. Empathy will get you further than being snarky (not that everyone is snarky)

But see, you're describing a situation in which you simply ask the customer and then move on. People here are not complaining about that. What they are complaining about are harrassing cashiers who won't take no for an answer. I don't care what the cashier's reasoning is...that behavior is wrong.

 

[liamsaunt]

I know that the company policy is to try and get things on credit--around here, I hear things like "I'll I put this on your Macy's card, correct?" If I say no, then the sales pitch starts. I say no once, with a smile and laugh. If the pitch continues, here is what I do: Remember Toy Story, when Mrs. Potato Head packs the "angry eyes" into Mr. Potato Head, "just in case?" That's all I need. I put on my "angry eyes," while telling the clerk in a polite and calm voice that I am not getting their card. No need to be rude, they are just doing their job.

I used to work retail for a bookstore, and we received a monetary amount for each person we signed up for the preferred program, plus an overall bonus for total people signed. That could be the motivation for clerks hounding you. Trust me, angry eyes plus a smile will tell the clerk exactly where you stand.