Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Tales of a Cashier - What's Your Number?

This post is part of a series, Tales of a Cashier.

As I mentioned before, I work part-time as a cashier in a large chain home decorating store. At my store, if you can't find the item you're looking for, we call a nearby store and order it for you. Last week I did this for one of our customers. Once the other store had located the comforter she was looking for, I handed the customer the phone to relay her information to complete the transaction.

Usually when I do this, I try to turn away so as not to seem sketchy and as if I am secretly memorizing the customer's home address, phone number and credit card information. I try to keep an eye on them so when they are finished, I can hang up the phone. This particular time, I handed the customer the phone and started to straighten the items on a nearby shelf. When I heard her stating her credit card number, I turned, knowing that the transaction was almost complete. To my shock, I saw that she was reciting the number from memory. She knew her credit card number & expiration date by heart. I'd bet mone she even knew the security code on the back of the card.

I was aghast, trying to think of a reason to memorize the number. I suppose if you had a card for years and years, you might have it ingrained in your mind. But how often do you have to use the card to commit it to memory? I have no idea what my card's numbers are. I think there's an 8 in there somewhere. I like it that way. I use my debit card pretty frequently, for gas and groceries and the like, and I don't even know that number.

It's pretty prejudiced to assume that because a person memorizes their credit card number, they're automatically a shopaholic. But that's just where my brain goes. If you have yours memorized, please explain to me why so I can stop judging people. Unnecessarily, that is. :)

15 comments:

Erin said...

Hahaha! This is so funny because it is hitting close to home! I've never had a credit card until this year when we opened our fitness clubs. I have been doing all the purchasing for the clubs, flooring, equiptment, paint, tanning beds, etc. I have my AmEx number memorized all the numbers front back all of them....I have been using it a lot! But it is a business card and the business pays the bill and not me. Crazy Eh!

paidtwice said...

My brain is just good at recalling numbers ;).

I don;t have my credit card number memorized because I never use it. But I do have my debit card memorized. It is from all the online bill pay I do, I think.

JvW said...

So I guess all examples aren't necessarily shopaholics. I will make exceptions in my judgments for business cards and debit cards. :)

Anonymous said...

I check my credit card balances on line every day, and for some of them, that requires entering the number. It's hard not to memorize t hem after a while.

JvW said...

anon - really? I've never heard of that. It makes sense to have them memorized in that case. All my online credit card logins are just a user name, not the account number.

Anonymous said...

I memorized my card number due to repetitive input. Internet shopping will do that.

Sean said...

I have had my cc number memorized for years. I only use one card, and I try to use it for everything. Also, when I first got the card, I could phone in and check my balance by typing in the number, that help to memorize it. My wife is constantly asking my for my number b/c she's too lazy to get up out of the chair!

Using the card number has a login sounds like a HUGE security risk.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I'm guilty...my old favorite credit card- big limit, big balance, rewards program I liked...I've had it memorized for years. The number, the expiration, the CCV, all of it.

These days, as I struggle to get out of debt, I've chopped that thing up and no longer use the account. I do not plan to memorize any more numbers any time soon. :)

Anonymous said...

I have my credit card number memorized too. :) It's from years of purchasing items online and typing the number in the forms.

Anonymous said...

I have had one credit card for the past 8 years. When you pay bills online and refuse to let the company store it you have to reenter it each time. Therefore I have the number memorized.

Anonymous said...

Haha - I have mine memorized. I memorize everything without meaning to, so it just sort of happened. I never would have thought about the number without internet shopping, but there you have it. I remember every time (exactly) that I woke up this week, and every time I was asked the time, and that sort of thing, so maybe I'm just weird... :)

Anonymous said...

I buy almost all my necessities online-- from my cell phone payment to my rent to my groceries-- and I don't like my computer to save it. Eventually, you remember.

thisisbeth said...

I'm horrible at remembering numbers (I joke if I ever lose my cell phone with the pre-programmed numbers, I'll never talk to my brothers again). But I do have a certain card number memorized--it's the card I use for online transactions, so I have the expiration date memorized, too (but not the security code). I'll admit that the reason I have it memorized is that it's an account I access online through the number, and I'm pretty anal about checking my account balances. If I didn't need it to check the account, I'd probably be able to tell you "Um, I think there's a zero in it."

Alison said...

i have my credit card # and the security code memorized....because I do, unfortunately, shop a lot online. I'm pretty good about getting stuff on sale though...so i don't feel too o guilty... :)

Anonymous said...

I have my bank card # and amex # memorized, because both of them require the full #'s when you call over the phone to do anything on the accounts.