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

[lacrosse_lady72]

Personally I hate the cashiers at dept stores who ask if you have their credit card. I say no. They say do you want to open one, you can save $$ today and 87 times in the year. Again I say no. And then I get, Are you sure? You don't want to save money?

NO I do not want your credit card. NO means NO.

I just say yes (even though it's not true) and when they ask if I want to use it I say no, thanks (even though I'm thinking that I just handed you cash, obviously I don't want to use it).

 

[MinnieMe87]

Personally I hate the cashiers at dept stores who ask if you have their credit card. I say no. They say do you want to open one, you can save $$ today and 87 times in the year. Again I say no. And then I get, Are you sure? You don't want to save money?

NO I do not want your credit card. NO means NO.

This irks me to no end. The Maurices in my town is famous for asking customers this. I have had one of their cashiers keep prodding me so much, that I left their merchandise in the store without purchasing it. I don't mind them asking once because I know that is part of their job, but if I tell you "No, Thank you" twice, then trust me..I'm not going to change my mind!

 

[stefsko]

I feel your pain.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Well, thank you for letting me know I'm not completely losing it! Yes, the credit union where I've done my primary banking for the last twenty years or so DOES charge a fee for POS usage of my Visa-logo debit card. I'm aware of this and shop accordingly.

Thanks again, LuvCuteBoys!!!!!

My pleasure... I'm a banker

I'd also like to add that if the bank is not charging you a specific fee for using your debit card as a debit, they are still recouping that money somehow, because the bank is being charged every single time your debit card is used as a debit.

So don't automatically rule out a bank that charges this fee. You still might save more in the long run depending on your entire relationship with the bank.


And just so we're clear, because it's been mentioned more than once.. I don't fault the employee for doing his job. I've been there and I know you don't have a choice as long as you're doing that particular job. My fault lies entirely with the corporations who feel the need to irritate those who shop at their stores.

 

[goofyernmost]

I don't think that's the norm. Most people I know do not get charged a fee to use their debit card unless they are using an ATM not owned by their bank. I've never heard of being charged to use it for a purchase.

Same here...

Well, thank you for letting me know I'm not completely losing it! Yes, the credit union where I've done my primary banking for the last twenty years or so DOES charge a fee for POS usage of my Visa-logo debit card. I'm aware of this and shop accordingly.

Thanks again, LuvCuteBoys!!!!!

The concept of a debit card was originally set up as a labor saving device for the banks. The theory was if you go to an ATM or use it at a store, then you are not requiring them to have a teller there to help you gain access to your own money. Tellers were a no charge perk. The bank I was using at the time handed out Debit cards with the promotion of no charge for access. Then about 6 months into it they sent out a notice that we would be charged $1.00 for every transaction on our Debit card.

Personally, I took my card into the bank handed it to the manager and said, be sure you have enough tellers on hand because that's what I'm using from now on. It was just a lone protest but apparently many had the same idea because within a couple of months they dropped the charges on DC's and that was that.

I presently use a credit union. I do have charges for using remote unaffiliated atm's but other than that...no charges whether used as a debit or credit. The do offer a small rebate if you use it as a credit card however.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

The concept of a debit card was originally set up as a labor saving device for the banks. The theory was if you go to an ATM or use it at a store, then you are not requiring them to have a teller there to help you gain access to your own money. Tellers were a no charge perk. The bank I was using at the time handed out Debit cards with the promotion of no charge for access. Then about 6 months into it they sent out a notice that we would be charged $1.00 for every transaction on our Debit card.

Personally, I took my card into the bank handed it to the manager and said, be sure you have enough tellers on hand because that's what I'm using from now on. It was just a lone protest but apparently many had the same idea because within a couple of months they dropped the charges on DC's and that was that.

I presently use a credit union. I do have charges for using remote unaffiliated atm's but other than that...no charges whether used as a debit or credit. The do offer a small rebate if you use it as a credit card however.

That's not entirely true. Debit cards, as opposed to pure ATM cards, are a profit-generating tool for banks that (if used as a credit card) are a free (or reasonably cheap) convenience for customers. From a bank standpoint, it's a win-win situation.

The reason your credit union is giving you a rebate is because they are making money every single time you swipe that debit card and choose 'credit'. The problem is that retailers want you to do the exact opposite. They are charged when the customer uses it as a credit.

Visa/Mastercard wants the consumer to have the choice, and aside from WM's ill-fated "you can only use it as a debit" idea, the Visa/MC Agreeement almost always requires the merchant to allow the consumer to make the choice.

Most banks still want you to step inside the building once in a while. The teller might be the only avenue they have to sell you a product.

And now we've made a circle
Cuz yep, banks do it too. The questions are usually a little more well-thought-out than those I reference in my OP, because bank tellers tend to have a different relationship with customers than a cashier in a store.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I did complain to Toys R Us about this a few months ago, not that it stopped or anything. The kicker is that I bought batteries and the cashier asked me if I needed batteries. I hate this stuff, it's so annoying and honestly has made me shop more online than ever before.

I have done this to a customer at the register completely by accident though. We are required to ask certain questions where I work and sometimes I'm concentrating so hard on the transaction that I forget that the customer already purchased that product. It's almost like a habit when I'm at work to ask if the person is interested in the product regardless if I had already rung it up or not.

I know I don't really like things being offered to me at a register, however I'm also in that person's position when I'm at work. I'll listen to the offers and then politely decline. I always hope that the customer will do the same for me.

 

[MoniqueU]

My mom lived with us at one point and I must have every rewards card under the sun. I use the ones at the grocery store based on my old phone number because it does instantly discount my food. Other then that I don't get what rewards I even get from these people?

And the debit machines are asking more and more questions lately as well. I think I have answered no to cash back, put in my pin and hit enter but nope I am not done yet thee are 3 more steps to do just to get out of there.

And by far the worst store to me is Best Buy pushing theit rewards cards and even moreso their extended warranties. I got one on a laptop once and they came up with every reason under the sun why they couldn't cover me. Virus, excessive use, that part is not covered etc. I was FUMING. i had run several virus scans and the other issue was with a a power cord. Thank god my DH can now repair laptops but I really avoid best buy like the plague because of their high pressure and lies. I miss circuit city. We do most of our shopping we would of done at BB or Circuit City online now. I am tired of crappy customer service.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I have done this to a customer at the register completely by accident though. We are required to ask certain questions where I work

<snip>

I know I don't really like things being offered to me at a register, however I'm also in that person's position when I'm at work. I'll listen to the offers and then politely decline. I always hope that the customer will do the same for me.

At my local grocery store, the cashiers were recently required to start greeting you every time you walked in the door. No matter how busy they are, they always have to be aware when someone walks through one of the two doors and shout a welcome. I like saying hello to someone, but when I forget my shopping list, say hello, turn around, go back to the car and get my list, come in and say hello again... I feel bad that they have to keep turning around during their work with another customer to greet me, lol. Plus, when five people all shout a welcome, I never know who to say hello to back...

 

[MoniqueU]

Well some of these reqards cards I would like. For instance if you have a VS card you tet mailers for 10 bucks off a bra, free panites etc. My friend gets all these coupons as her husband had a card at one time.I had one as well but cant find it and don't get the mailers anymore so it is not all bad. Also when be had a May Co. they would put 20 percent off coupons in the paper, now it's is a macys and unless you have a card no discounts. I don't need a charge car to everty dept in town. The best buy extended warranty pitch pisses me off the most since I know they find every single way to weasle out of stuff.

 

[littleteapot]

Me too! At Sam's the other day there was a youth softball team in front of the store, and kids with buckets were walking up to people and Literally shoving them in people's faces to ask them to donate for a trip of some sort. I'm sorry that I don't want to donate to your children's extra-curricular activities . They could have at least done a car wash or something to actually earn the money, you know?

I don't mind youth organizations selling at store entrances, in fact I think it is a great way to teach young people how to be polite when talking to adults. The girl and boys scout generally do a great job at this. What I cannot abide are the multitude of sports times (generally baseball and softball) teaching our youth to panhandle. Offer to wash my car and I'll be happy to pay you too much to do a bad job! Politely sell me an over priced trinket, you bet. BUT DO NOT have your child beg for money in front of stores or on street corners please.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And the debit machines are asking more and more questions lately as well. I think I have answered no to cash back, put in my pin and hit enter but nope I am not done yet thee are 3 more steps to do just to get out of there.

It should be noted, though, that at least one of those steps is to answer the question, "Would you like another transaction?"... and that if you neglect this step - as the woman ahead of me did last week - you leave with your card still in the machine!!!!!

===

I don't mind youth organizations selling at store entrances, in fact I think it is a great way to teach young people how to be polite when talking to adults.

There are other ways - everyday life, for example - to teach young people manners. What standing in front of a store collecting teaches them is that it's okay to 'do' nothing except, effectively, stick your hand out to get money. I'm with bgirldeb on this one. Plenty of youth organizations perform services or sell items to earn money. I'll support those, but not the ones just standing in front of stores with cans or buckets.

 

[LipglossAndLetdown]

I haven't read through all the replies, but if these things annoy you, PLEASE let the companies know!

Trust me, the companies tell us that it's all about providing you with better service! That you as a customers are better off when you purchase the additional item. You're better off with the in-house credit card. As a Beauty Advisor, they tell us sitting clients in the chair and using additional products on them is a good thing for the customer, but it's really just to increase sales. But all this is said to be "better customer service."

Right now we:
1.) Have to speak to every customer about a certain product
2.) Offer to sit them in a chair for a quick touch up of their choice
3.) Offer them a free foundation sample.
4.) Offer to add them to our client list so we can let them know about upcoming gifts and events.
5.) Offer to open them a credit card.
6.) Try to sell them a charity coupon they can use in October.
7.) And I'm pretty sure our X-mas savings program you buy into starts soon as well so we'll be offering that as well.

So when you get annoyed, pretty please let the management know. Because I think it's crazy and it happens at more and more places now.

 

[xSakura]

When me and my family gets asked a zillion questions at checkout like "Would you like a Rewards Card, would you like this, *insert charlie brown teacher voice here*" we usually just say "No, I have some place I need to be and I'm in a hurry." After we say that they start ringing up the items, plus it's not a lie because usually we are in a hurry. Like others have said though, if it really annoys you then send the company an e-mail/letter.

 

[princessbride6205]

Like a PP, I also interrupt (as nicely as I can) the cashier giving me the spiel. I try to wait for the end of a sentence or a quick pause, rather than cut him/her off after 2 words, but if there are a lot of questions, my patience gets shorter.
I worked retail in a clothing store and remember that you have to do your job. Our goal was a minimum of 4 items per transaction, so we would have to push an item (usually socks) to add to their order. We were supposed to ask if they wanted a credit card THREE TIMES (apparently their market research showed that was most effective - ha! I would have yelled at a cashier by time #3, not changed my mind). And we had to ask for their phone number.

Panera was the pushiest I've received in awhile - we were there on Friday. I got the rewards spiel, the dessert pushing, asked to complete the survey on the receipt, and 2 reminders about the rewards program during my ordering as well. This might have seemed less awkward if the line at lunch hadn't been out the door! The cashier talked so fast to hit everything on her list of things she had to ask.
So I actually did the Panera survey wanting to comment on this experience - and there was no place to write anything! It mostly just asked about the food and the friendliness of employees. So I guess I'll have to submit a separate comment to Corporate.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Ah Borders. It could be worse, OP.

Unfortunately at the Borders closest to me, I got a cashier who has the same middle name as my married last name. She is into geneology and told me we are probably cousins and wanted to chat. I told her probably not because I married into that last name. Now every time she's working, she goes "Hi Cousin, we should get together and compare geneologies".
Very strange. I talked to the manager about it and how uncomfortable it makes me feel but she's still there and saying it.
Now when I walk in, I look at the registers. If she's working at that time, I leave and go to Barnes and Noble down the street. Luckily I don't need to buy books often since I've got a Kindle but the kids need books sometimes for school.

Oh and Best Buy is another one bad about all the questions. I usually just stand there saying No thank you for about 7 minutes after each item. When they try to push, I just give them the "stare" as my DS calls it with my eyebrow raise and they quickly check me out. Between that and the people in the parking lot begging for money, I try to avoid in store shopping there now and just get stuff on-line from them.