My experience at the checkout counter at Borders today...

[LuvCuteBoys]

Oh, OK. That definitely make sense, I'm always in the "No, thank you" boat. I'm not even sure my brain would know how to be impolite like that in saying "no, don't bother finishing."

My thoughts exactly!!

 

[Mimi1965]

FYI-Meals on Wheels here does NOT give either coffee in a bag or a cup of coffee!?

Mom gets a milk and sometimes a juice daily-never heard of the coffee.

To The OP=this is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves-and i cringe at certain stores ready for the barage of questions.

 

[worm761]

Personally, aside from grocery stores having food bank receptacles, I hate it when stores try to make themselves look good by bombarding their paying customers with donation requests. Oh yay! Look at how much money we guilted out of our customers. Or... woohoo!!! We sold $X and "donated" it to a charity.

I used to work at Arby's. Every year they have a big fundraiser for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. I can tell you that our owner is a huge fan of this organization and is a sponsor. Both him and his wife have Littles, so does the Vice President and his wife, and many others in the company. If a Big brings a Little into one of his restaurants, their meal is free. He won't charge them. He owns quite a few stores down here so it is a lot of money he shells out of his own pocket. He also matches dollar for dollar of every penny his customers donate through the fundraiser to the program. So it isn't always a bad thing that stores ask you to donate.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I used to work at Arby's. Every year they have a big fundraiser for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. I can tell you that our owner is a huge fan of this organization and is a sponsor. Both him and his wife have Littles, so does the Vice President and his wife, and many others in the company. If a Big brings a Little into one of his restaurants, their meal is free. He won't charge them. He owns quite a few stores down here so it is a lot of money he shells out of his own pocket. He also matches dollar for dollar of every penny his customers donate through the fundraiser to the program. So it isn't always a bad thing that stores ask you to donate.

If there is one organization that a company supports and has one or two fundraisers where they ask the paying consumer for a donation, that's one thing. Or like McDonald's does the fry coupons or whatever it is... I have no problem with that. And like I said, I love when stores have the food bank barrels. Grabbing an extra can of veggies when I go to the grocery store is easy.

When a company asks a paying consumer to buy one of their products so they can donate it to a charity, that's annoying. Especially when said product is overpriced in the first place. I wouldn't mind donating a buck or two to Meals on Wheels. But buying an overpriced item that I wouldn't buy for myself when I know $2 would probably get a lot more food is ridiculous to me.

Or when a company constantly supports different things and every single time you go through the checkout counter you're asked to donate. I can't remember what store it was, but they didn't even have a barcode for a $1 donation. They wanted more than that. That's also annoying.

 

[Poohbear123]

This is my answer: 'BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, BOUGHT THE T-SHIRT!'

 

[shortbun]

I tell the guy at Wendy's drive to listen to me first and if I have not answered any of his questions, he should THEN feel free to ask me. I hate, hate, hate all those questions like I'm some kind of idiot and they interrupt me to boot!!! Borders is one of the worst.

 

[simba20]

As a former Barnes and Noble employee, please understand that questions are just part of our jobs, that we HAVE to do....are required to do. Yes, I understand that you have to PAY for the B&N member card, but don't yell at me, put it down, say I am ludacris, whatever because I AM REQUIRED TO ASK and try to sell it. At B&N cashiers have a weekly goal of memberships to obtain. Most of the time if you sell a few you are okay. However, managers do notice if weeks have gone by and you (you presonally not the store) haven't gotten a sale. Membership sales are an individual thing.....if your sales are down, you get a performance review and put on a plan for inprovment. The questions do matter, espically to that employee who wants to keep his/her job.

Since I have worked in customer service, I listen to the questions, because I understand it is part of their job, and often enough a manager or supervisor is nearby or will observe when x person does not. Yes, sometimes in the holiday rush, I'd ask if the customer had a membership card and then simply ask "Would you be interested in purchasing one today?" without going through the whole speech of benefits to the card, just so I could keep the line moving, and afterwards, when there was a break, a manager would be on my case.....understanding about keeping the line moving (another B&N requirement -- no more than 3 mins in line waiting for the customer), but yet barking at me as to MISSING THE DARN MEMBERSHIP SALE, but not only does the individual employee have a sales goal, but the overall store does as well. Sigh.

I seriously never want to work another retail job that involves having to upsell anything, sell memberships, promote credit cards, has the word "planogram" again. While on paper, it makes running a store and customer service look easy, it puts too much on "the job" and hurts the employees in the end.

Now as far as GORMET coffee being given to whatever charity organization.....ummm that's all bookstores sell is GORMET coffee...so think of the question as "Would you like to donate a BAG of coffee to ......."

 

[Planogirl]

We have to offer something for sale at my job too and I hate it because often the only reason the customers are talking to me is because the company messed something up. However if we don't offer the item we can be fired.

Let me just apologize to everyone ahead of time.

 

[Disfan1]

Ugh! I had the WORST experience at the Taco Bell drive through the other night! I got off work at 9:15PM and was STARVING, so I wanted to swing through the Taco Bell drive-though on my way home Here's what happened...

Me: "I'd like a Griiled Stuffed Burrito..."
Taco Bell Employee: *interrupting* Do you want a STEAK burrito?
Me: "No, just regular ground beef in it."
Taco Bell Employee: "You can get steak of only $X.XX more!"
Me: "No, thanks you."
Taco Bell Employee: "OK, so that's a STEAK Grilled Stuffed Burrito..."
Me: "GRRRRR! Never mind!" and I literally peeled out of the drive-through lane and went elsewhere for dinner.

I mean REALLY? Why can't I just have what I want?

 

[goofyernmost]

I had a similar situation the other day when I called a company to activate my new credit card.

The fellow on the phone gave me the spiel about the protection plan in the event my card gets lost or stolen. I politely listened and when he ended I quietly said, no thank you, I don't need that.

Then he said...oh, I understand but perhaps you don't know that this service covers, etc., etc. He was giving me the exact same spiel that he had just told me moments before. He got about 2/3rds of the way through when I finally interrupted him and said...you just told me all that...I didn't want it then and I don't want it now.

He sounded a little dejected so I got my manners together and said, look I know it's your job to try and sell me extra but please respect that when I say I'm not interested it means I'm not interested. He just said, "I understand, have a nice day sir.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I hate to break it to you, but she would have probably gotten a Good Job from her boss. I don't work at Toys R Us, but at another retailor. We have a whole list of questions we have to ask as we are ringing up a sale. And management watches us to make sure that we are. And we are encouraged to push certain things, even after being told No.

I hate doing it, but it is now part of my job, so I have to do it. Please don't take your wrath out on the one checking you out. If you don't like it, write the company headquarters, because they are the ones that make the rules. Maybe if people start complaining about it they will stop forcing the cashiers to play 20 questions with the customers. However, don't write your local store, they have no choice in the matter.

As a former Barnes and Noble employee, please understand that questions are just part of our jobs, that we HAVE to do....are required to do. Yes, I understand that you have to PAY for the B&N member card, but don't yell at me, put it down, say I am ludacris, whatever because I AM REQUIRED TO ASK and try to sell it. At B&N cashiers have a weekly goal of memberships to obtain. Most of the time if you sell a few you are okay. However, managers do notice if weeks have gone by and you (you presonally not the store) haven't gotten a sale. Membership sales are an individual thing.....if your sales are down, you get a performance review and put on a plan for inprovment. The questions do matter, espically to that employee who wants to keep his/her job.

Since I have worked in customer service, I listen to the questions, because I understand it is part of their job, and often enough a manager or supervisor is nearby or will observe when x person does not. Yes, sometimes in the holiday rush, I'd ask if the customer had a membership card and then simply ask "Would you be interested in purchasing one today?" without going through the whole speech of benefits to the card, just so I could keep the line moving, and afterwards, when there was a break, a manager would be on my case.....understanding about keeping the line moving (another B&N requirement -- no more than 3 mins in line waiting for the customer), but yet barking at me as to MISSING THE DARN MEMBERSHIP SALE, but not only does the individual employee have a sales goal, but the overall store does as well. Sigh.

I seriously never want to work another retail job that involves having to upsell anything, sell memberships, promote credit cards, has the word "planogram" again. While on paper, it makes running a store and customer service look easy, it puts too much on "the job" and hurts the employees in the end.

Now as far as GORMET coffee being given to whatever charity organization.....ummm that's all bookstores sell is GORMET coffee...so think of the question as "Would you like to donate a BAG of coffee to ......."

THIS, so much!

The workers hate having to say it more than the customers hate having to hear it. After all, when I'm shopping someplace, I only have to listen to the speil once. The clerk have to say it over and over and over and over again! I don't feel sorry for ME when I have to go through something like the 20 question, are you sure no means no game; I feel sorry for the poor clerk checking me out!

 

[txSleepingBeauty]

I hate to break it to you, but she would have probably gotten a Good Job from her boss. I don't work at Toys R Us, but at another retailor. We have a whole list of questions we have to ask as we are ringing up a sale. And management watches us to make sure that we are. And we are encouraged to push certain things, even after being told No.

I hate doing it, but it is now part of my job, so I have to do it. Please don't take your wrath out on the one checking you out. If you don't like it, write the company headquarters, because they are the ones that make the rules. Maybe if people start complaining about it they will stop forcing the cashiers to play 20 questions with the customers. However, don't write your local store, they have no choice in the matter.

Exactly, I work at B&N and I HATE all the stuff we have to ask, but if I don't ask it I get fussed at by my managers until my ears bleed. If you don't like playing 20 questions, don't take it out on the poor cashier, send a letter to the company itself.

 

[JessicaR]

Do you have a Borders reward card?
Do you want to upgrade to a Plus card?
Do you need any gift cards?
Do you want to donate a children's book to Ronald McDonald House?
Do you need a gift receipt? (I was buying a magazine!!!)
Do you want to donate a bag of gourmet coffee to Meals on Wheels?
Do you need a bag?


Holy Hannah! I've had job interviews with less questions!!!

UGH! That would have annoyed the crud out of me. I would have told a manager that it did also.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Sorry, one more note, Debit also gets charged differently to the retailer, if you run it as credit, the retailer gets charged a fee, but with debit, they don't.

Whereas if you run it as a debit card, YOU get charged a fee!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I, personally, don't feel that they SHOULDN'T have gourmet coffee. I'm just saying if I am buying a product at a store and they've keystoned it, as most retail places I've worked do - at a minimum, then I would want any donation I make to go to something purposeful. You want $5 to pay for a complete meal or to buy proteing/dairy/grain for the MOW program? I'd consider giving it. But what amounts to a dessert item? Unlikely. Plus I've always thought of MOW as being for shut-ins...typically older folks. Most of the elderly that I know don't like gourmet coffee. They like Folgers, some of them are even of that generation that drinks instant! I just found that a very odd request as coffee has no nutritional value and is to be avoided by some people with certain health issues.

Really? You consider gourmet coffee a dessert item? Starbucks would be interested to hear that I mean, heck, it's coffee. A lot of people drink it with breakfast - no dessert with breakfast; just ask Walt Disney World.

It's not as if this donation is expected to provide nutrition to the people who get Meals on Wheels meals. That's what the MEALS do. This is a bonus for those recipients. If you think it's a waste of money, if you don't care to donate, fine - but to claim that [all] shut-ins prefer Folgers, even instant coffee, simply because the "older folks" you know do? Really?

 

[kaytieeldr]

The hardest sell I ever get these days is at the post office. Do you need stamps? packaging materials? insurance? confirm receipt? overnight service?

Nope, just send it regular, like mail.

Not saying I agree with the USPS tactics, but heck, they're just trying to maybe someday turn a profit, ya know?

 

[Noah]

Yes I agree that it is usually the management that encourages such rules. It's either that or the employees must have an incentive to perform.

I remember my fitness center coaches always pressuring us to bring in new friends. One person secretly told me that he would get fired if he doesn't reach the quota by the month.

 

[bumbershoot]

Plus I've always thought of MOW as being for shut-ins...typically older folks. Most of the elderly that I know don't like gourmet coffee. They like Folgers, some of them are even of that generation that drinks instant! I just found that a very odd request as coffee has no nutritional value and is to be avoided by some people with certain health issues.

FWIW, Starbucks started in '71. Peets Coffee started in '66. People that were adults when those places opened could have easily become fans of it, and those people are now getting up in age and could be part of the MOW program. My mom would have been 66 by now, and she started drinking Peets as soon as she could afford it, in her 30s. If she were alive and part of the MOW program, I'm sure she would really appreciate a bag of gourmet coffee.

As for nutrition...it's actually quite an interesting medicine. Just one example, if I can get a cup of strong black coffee at the very beginning of an asthma attack, it almost always staves it off. It's very powerful as a medicine, but without the homicidal, shaking side effects that albuterol causes in me.

 

[mrodgers]

Whereas if you run it as a debit card, YOU get charged a fee!

Since when? Last time I used debit was at 6:30 pm. It's now 12:30 am. It's changed in the last 6 hours?

 

[kaytieeldr]

My credit union charges $.50 per POS transaction.