Tales of a Cashier - Store Credit Cards

The Tales of a Cashier series relates my experiences at my part time job in a retail store.

At our store last weekend, our manager announced a new initiative: to push the store credit card. We are now supposed to ask every customer who comes through our line if they would like to put their purchase on their store card. If they showed any interest we should then spout off the benefits:

• 20% off today's purchase
• Gift certificate rewards
• Special coupons & events
• Special gifts.

Of course, nowhere in there do we mention any of the pitfalls of opening store cards, the biggest of which is the horrible interest rate: 21.99%! This is fairly common for retail stores. The fees and billing are pretty awful, too - you can't even pay your bill in store or online, and the expedited phone payments to avoid a late fee cost $15.

When I heard we were to start promoting this, I balked. I told the boss that I wasn't going to ask every one of our customers if they would like to go into debt, regardless of the "benefits" of the program. The only way I will even mention it to anybody is if they have a huge overflowing carriage and saving 20% on everything will make a BIG difference ($50+). Other than that, no way. I know that every person should be responsible for their own way, but I don't need to show them the door to debt. If they want it that badly, they can open the door.

SB at Be Thrifty Like Us discussed the many disadvantages of store credit cards recently as well. What do you think about store cards and "helpful" clerks who ask you if you want to open one? Leave a comment and let me know!

Tales of a Cashier - Ask and Ye Shall Receive

Tales of a Cashier relates my experiences at my part time job in a retail store.

In my store, as I'm sure holds true for many stores, we have an official policy and then we have the policy we actually follow. A lot of this revolves around trying to get the customers to return to our store. There's a lot of competition out there and we do everything we can to keep the customers happy and telling their friends how happy they are.

Our store sells household products and frequently sends out coupons to use for a discount on most items in the store. Officially, if a customer forgets their coupon, we offer to them the chance to bring back the coupon with the receipt and we will adjust the price. Unofficially, any customer who asks for, forgets, or "forgets" their coupon will get the discount anyway, on the spot, no returning required. All they have to do is ask.

Now will we give them a discount on 5 items for each of the 5 coupons they forgot on the kitchen counter? No, we do our best to keep it reasonable. But the main thing to remember is that the stores want you to leave happy and want you to return. Customer loyalty over the course of years is much more important than one sale. Similar to the coupon issue, we will also discount items is they are visibly damaged or have been used as a display. Usually all you have to do is ask.

So how can you benefit and save using this theory? Don't be afraid to speak up. The worst that could happen is that you're in the same position you started off in. Be polite, slightly apologetic, and be sure to thank them. That's all we really want. When people start getting rude or witchy, we're actually less likely to help them out than if they are polite. There's a lot of money you could keep in your wallet just by asking the simple question. I used to be shy about it until I was on the other side of the cash register. Now I don't care. Anybody have a good story of asking for a discount and saving some money?

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. :)

Tales of a Cashier - Sign Language

I do something that increasingly rare for a cashier: I check the signature on credit cards against the signature on the receipt. Too many times I have purchased something, usually with a self-swipe kiosk, and held out my card, face down, only to be ignored by the cashier. How do they know I am me? I always use my bank card as credit because my bank charges me to use it as debit, so I run into this signature scenario at almost every store.

When I'm on the other side of the counter, I often go to check the signature and find that the card is blank. Thieves dream about wallets filled with unsigned credit cards just waiting for your name in their handwriting. I cringe when I go to compare the signature and find a big empty space. I always mention it to the customer and suggest they sign the back. At the very least, write SEE ID. Nine times out of ten, the cashier still won't ask to check your license. But at least it's not a free-for-all in the signature line. Not to mention that credit cards state "Not valid unless signed."

Personally, my cards all bear my John Hancock. My husband prefers to write SEE ID. In these times, when many purchases are online, the signature line almost seems superfluous. But there's no way I'd leave mine blank.

Tales of a Cashier - A Mother's Lesson

I work part-time in retail and come across a lot of people buying a lot of things. The store I work in is a home store, so almost all of the items are not necessary to survival. I try not to judge the customers coming through my line, but sometimes it's difficult. I am in a self-imposed frugal lifestyle to work on getting out of debt and people just spend so much money. Just about every day I see an interesting purchase, or in this case, a return.

It was the end of the evening, right before we were closing up for the night. I had a couple of people left in my line and then the doors would close. I came upon a girl, probably about 11 or 12 years old, and her mother. They each paid for their items separately. The girl purchased a day calendar and a photo frame. She put her items down and pulled out a $20 to pay. When I told her the total of $26, her mom stopped her from getting more money out and chipped in a $10. I rang her out and continued to the next customer in line.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the mother and girl having a discussion. A minute later, when my line was empty, the girl came back up to me. "I would like to return this, please," she said, holding out the day calendar. "I didn't realize it cost $11.99."

Once I gave her the money back and they had left, I got to thinking. What a great lesson the mother had just given! In five minutes, she managed to convey mindful shopping, budgeting, and smart spending. The girl was able to quickly remedy her error, renege on her original decision, and keep her $11.99. I was so excited to see an example of good money habits.