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

[LuvCuteBoys]

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!!!

 

[southern_redhead]

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!!!

Beyond the litany of questions......WHY would you donate gourmet coffee to Meals on Wheels? What about, I don't know, FOOD?! You're trying to nourish people not provide a society brunch. I can see the book to RMH. They are a bookstore so it is donating their goods and is something a place like RMH could utilize. The gift receipt made me laugh. I might have said yes just to see if the clerk had a reaction

 

[AKL_Megs]

Don't you just want to walk up ANYWHERE and say, "No to everything, thank you!"

And that is EXACTLY what Meals on Wheels needs... Gourmet Coffee. Give me a break. And why don't THEY donate it!

I hate when they press the issue... "Do you want to open a rewards card?". "You'd save $1 today!". "You'd save 10% on Holidays!". "Are you sure?"

 

[tvguy]

Yeah, went to Boston Market yesterday, got 20 questions.

1) Would you like a drink?
2) Would you like to try one of our new sauces?
3) Would you like to donate a dollar to fight hunger? There's no sales tax on the donation.
4) If you go to this website and complete our survey you could win $100 meal card.

Earlier in the day at PetsMart
1) Would you like to donate to a pet rescue?
2) Debit or credit? (the darn computer should be able to deterimine that)
3) Cash back? (sorry, old foggie here, I get cash from the bank)
4) Push the green buttom to approve the debit amount. (I looked at the total before I swiped my card)

 

[npmommie]

oh yes I hate that!
I was in toys rus a few weeks ago and the cashier asked if i wanted their rewards card, I politely said no. she continued " are you sure?" on and on.
I said no again, she still persisted.
it got to the point within a minute I was going to complain, I pushed my item even closer so she would ring me up and FINALLY she got the idea my NO MEANT NO!
sheeesh, I hate that.
it still irks me when I think of it, I should have complained about her.

 

[maxiesmom]

oh yes I hate that!
I was in toys rus a few weeks ago and the cashier asked if i wanted their rewards card, I politely said no. she continued " are you sure?" on and on.
I said no again, she still persisted.
it got to the point within a minute I was going to complain, I pushed my item even closer so she would ring me up and FINALLY she got the idea my NO MEANT NO!
sheeesh, I hate that.
it still irks me when I think of it, I should have complained about her.

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.

 

[ChrisFL]

Reminds me of the Jeff Dunham sketch where his puppet (The old guy) says "Welcome to Wal-Mart, Get your (stuff) and get out!"

Sometimes I think I'd prefer that.

I remember when shopping was easy, no rewards cards, no loyalty cards, no gift cards, no donations...

I also remember contests on some things where you could just tell right away if you've won, you didn't have to fill out a survey, or go online to "join" so they can send you spam emails...

 

[ChrisFL]

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.

Oh, I was at Target once, the cashier was pushing me so hard to sign up for a Target credit card, I came VERY close to just leaving the stuff I was planning to buy and walking out.

 

[erincon23]

I know at Borders, the employees get little perks for signing people up for the Borders Rewards -- free dessert at the coffee shop for having the most or having over 10 in a week, etc. And why shouldn't people who get Meals on Wheels have gourmet coffee? At some stores, if they are caught NOT asking these kinds of questions, they can get points that can lead to dismissal.

The debit/credit thing -- yes, you can say the computer should know, but you do have a choice with a debit card - and it affects the way it goes through the bank. If you choose debit, you'll have to enter your PIN and it's immediately deducted from your account. If you choose credit, no PIN, and you have a day or two float before the amount gets deducted. It would seem to me to be safer to have to enter your PIN (and I wonder if you can have your bank put a restriction on your card that you can't do transactions as credit, so nobody can use your debit card without the PIN).

There are reasons for all of these questions -- how do they know you're buying that magazine for yourself? Maybe you're getting it for a friend or neighbor, and what if it's the wrong issue? Maybe these all seem picky to you, but there's a reason for all of it. It's all petty in the general scheme of things.

 

[ChrisFL]

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.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

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 don't want to give the spiel any more than the customer wants to hear it, but I have to. I've had people interrupt me mid-sentence. Heck, even mid-word. Talk about rude - I would never do that to someone. I must add, however, that I never say "Are you sure?" after my offer has been refused. One rejection per customer is enough for me!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I often run into this at Office Depot. Now I go slightly out of my way to go to Office Max because it's become unbearable.

Do you want to use your (whatever the rewards card is called)?
-No thank you.
Are you sure?
-No, it's ok. I don't have one.
Oh, would you like one?
-No thanks.
It's easy, it only takes a few seconds to sign up.
-(thinking: I know it'll take longer than that) No, I'm fine. I don't want one.
(Opening pamphlet) You can save a lot and accumulate all these rewards, and we send coupons home, blah, blah, blah.
-No, thanks.
Are you sure, it's really a fast process?
-Yes, I'm sure.
Would you like to take this (the pamphlet) home with you and look it over. Then you can sign up using this (the receipt number) and you'll already have points started.
-No, thanks.
OK, well I'm just going to throw this in your bag. Just in case you decide to sign up.
-Uh... ok...

Ugh!!! Every time! And the worst part is, they do it before they hand you your card or change back so you have to stay. Lesson learned, to go to Office Depot anymore.

 

[southern_redhead]

And why shouldn't people who get Meals on Wheels have gourmet coffee?

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.

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.

True. My history as a clerk can verify this. I remember one local store owner getting ALL torn up about it and wanting to tack on a fee to use a credit card but her husband talked her out of it. I imagine it does bite to pay it though.

 

[okeydokey]

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.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Exactly. I don't want to give the spiel any more than the customer wants to hear it, but I have to. I've had people interrupt me mid-sentence. Heck, even mid-word. Talk about rude - I would never do that to someone. I must add, however, that I never say "Are you sure?" after my offer has been refused. One rejection per customer is enough for me!

I've interrupted. I've been that person having to ask these things and I appreciated it when I was interrupted because I didn't have to finish my spiel. So I reciprocate. I guess I didn't realize other people didn't like that, I thought I was sparing them... whoops.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

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.

I wasn't complaining about this specific person. I was complaining about the policy in general.

I know at Borders, the employees get little perks for signing people up for the Borders Rewards -- free dessert at the coffee shop for having the most or having over 10 in a week, etc. And why shouldn't people who get Meals on Wheels have gourmet coffee? At some stores, if they are caught NOT asking these kinds of questions, they can get points that can lead to dismissal.

The debit/credit thing -- yes, you can say the computer should know, but you do have a choice with a debit card - and it affects the way it goes through the bank. If you choose debit, you'll have to enter your PIN and it's immediately deducted from your account. If you choose credit, no PIN, and you have a day or two float before the amount gets deducted. It would seem to me to be safer to have to enter your PIN (and I wonder if you can have your bank put a restriction on your card that you can't do transactions as credit, so nobody can use your debit card without the PIN).

There are reasons for all of these questions -- how do they know you're buying that magazine for yourself? Maybe you're getting it for a friend or neighbor, and what if it's the wrong issue? Maybe these all seem picky to you, but there's a reason for all of it. It's all petty in the general scheme of things.

Yes, in the grand scheme of things, it's not a big deal. That's why I'm complaining HERE instead of to the store. As for there being a reason for all of it, I disagree. Meals on Wheels OR Ronald McDonald House. Why both??

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.

It would never occur to me to return a magazine, even if it WAS the wrong issue. And even if it was being returned, I would think they could just exchange the stupid thing. OR I could ask for the gift receipt myself.

And again, I'm not blaming the employee. I'm blaming the corporation. It's ANNOYING. And it's a huge reason why I use a self-checkout whenever possible.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

I've interrupted. I've been that person having to ask these things and I appreciated it when I was interrupted because I didn't have to finish my spiel. So I reciprocate. I guess I didn't realize other people didn't like that, I thought I was sparing them... whoops.

I suppose it isn't just the interrupting but the manner in which it is done. Cutting me off mid-sentence to bark, "NO, don't bother finishing" is especially annoying. A simple, "No, thank you" makes all the difference.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Would you like a drink?

At a place I used to work, I ALWAYS asked this one because you wouldn't believe how many people would just shout out "and a drink!" when the transaction is either done or the credit cards are on their way to being submitted. Then, if they wanted it on one card transaction, it would take twice as long to add it (I've have to void the first submission, swipe the card again, submit it again). So, I decided to always ask before finalizing the sale, to avoid annoyance (to me, who has to re-ring everything up and to the customers who have to wait). The same is true for coupons too, only it usually took longer the change.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

And again, I'm not blaming the employee. I'm blaming the corporation. It's ANNOYING. And it's a huge reason why I use a self-checkout whenever possible.

I agree 100%. Part of me wishes more people would complain to the corporation.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I suppose it isn't just the interrupting but the manner in which it is done. Cutting me off mid-sentence to bark, "NO, don't bother finishing" is especially annoying. A simple, "No, thank you" makes all the difference.

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."