Swipe, Tap....and "Would you Like to Donate ?"
There was a time when pulling out a credit card felt simple. You bought what you needed, signed your name, and went on your way. At the end of the month, you paid off the balance. Now days it's as if we are put through a wringer if we don't use a card at every store.
I was at a store last week and I had to wait 20 extra minutes in line because there were two people checking and two people at the registers signing up to get a new credit card. When it finally came time for me to check out, the guy waiting on me wanted to know if I would be using my credit card for that particular store. Of course, I said NO...that I do not have one and I do Not want one.
His response was: You could save 35.00 dollars TODAY. I politely said no thank you!
He then went on to explain to me that since what I was purchasing was only $xx.xx including tax, I would actually get it free plus have a credit on my NEW Card. I again said No.
And then...as my transaction was nearing the end, the sales guy asked if I would like round up to the next dollar. 88 cents is what I would be giving to "communities in school" for which I have never heard of. I again said NO.
Don't get me wrong...Giving matters. Helping others matters, and I do believe in this deeply. But somewhere along the way, generosity has started showing up in every single store.
Cash is the only way to go....but even when paying cash, you are asked to round up to the next dollar. There was one day that I decided to keep up with the amount that stores were asking for just from "rounding up" (all in one day).....It would have equaled $6.31 cents. No thank you....I think I will add this to my own piggy bank.
No wonder so many people are now shopping online...You get to avoid the hassles at the checkout line.
Only one more thing on this kind Rant ...Since penny's are no longer being made, I've been amazed at some of the comments the stores come up with....
"We don't have pennies so it will cost you an extra 3 cents". Really?
"We don't have pennies so we will not be giving you back the two pennies from your Nickel". Really?
Oh my...how the world is changing. Back in my day....a penny would have bought a nice piece of bubble gum.. Thank you, I'll keep my pennies.
Shug.....💛
Oh I totally agree with you. I use my debit card from our federal credit union and they don't do the swipe because they don't believe its secure. So my mantra is whenever they ask me to swipe is, I DON'T SWIPE. I always get the feeling their thinking, " whatever Boomer!"
ReplyDeleteYou're right about all the rounding up... And so far I haven't noticed the signs about the pennies. Of course now that you mentioned it, I'll see it all over the place.
Have a wonderful day!
You hit the nail on the head regarding the "checkout fatigue" we all seem to be feeling lately! It’s exhausting to navigate a simple purchase when it feels like you're being auditioned for a credit card and a charity drive all at once. If you could design the perfect, "no-nonsense" checkout experience, what would be the one thing you'd banish forever?
ReplyDeleteI think the store employees get a bonus for every person they sign up. I just say no and no and no:)
ReplyDeleteYes, many companies incent their employees to push the store credit cards.
DeleteThank You my dear friend for sharing this out loud. This has been on my heart, my husbands heart and families heart. How rude the cashier's are getting about this penny thing. We had a rude teenage boy last Saturday.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, made me feel good someone else feels the same as me.
xo
Yup! Kind of crazy right? I'm like you, generous, but thoughtful about it. I donate where I want to, not to some large, unknown charity while I'm buying milk. How much of that money actually goes to the people who need it and not the software company who made that feature, or the 3rd party company that collects it and separates it from the money the store gets, or the auditing firm that now has to account for it...not to mention the astronomical salaries of some of these non-profit CEOs. Oops. I think I just went off a tangent! 🫢 Maybe I should've just said, yes, I agree with you!! 🥰
ReplyDeleteA reasonable rant here. You go girl for saying "no" to all of those issues. I'm right there with you!
ReplyDeleteThat's how I actually got 2 of my store cards by them telling me I get a discount if I apply for one. I'm such a sucker. Lately I have been trying to use cash more. I think the whole penny thing is crazy.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! I am constantly asked about both of those things. The other thing is the surveys on everything!
ReplyDeleteI have my own set of charities, and prefer not to donate to someone else's
ReplyDeleteIs that sign really right? Round up to the next full dollar?!!
ReplyDeleteWe have charities we donate to and do not participate with these "on the spot" donations. Shopping has become too much! I prefer to do a lot online.
ReplyDeleteOh Shug, what bothers me is the outrageous tips we have to leave at a restaurant. It used to be optional, but now it seems expected. I don't mind leaving some extra change for a good and serious cause, but it's nice to leave it on my own, with cash. One time they asked for a donation, and I accidentally pressed the wrong button, so it was added on my debit card. I love to give, but I like to give in my own way, with cash, as you mentioned. Have a sweet May week, Shug.
ReplyDeleteI read and I wish I had kept - what all it is going to mean when we go cashless in this society. That is what 'they' want. Oh, how life is going to change. I agree with everything you said. I hope you have a nice evening.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, YESSSSS! Thank you for saying what we're all thinking.
ReplyDeleteI give to charities, but TheHub and I plan how much and when to give to each. I resent being asked to round up for charity. if a store was rounding up cash sales to the nearest dollar, I would not be doing any business with them.
ReplyDeleteI think it's so wrong how credit cards are pushed onto people and the donation thing annoys me too. It's usually charities that I have never heard of. I do my bit and donate to other charities.
ReplyDeleteShug, did you read my post on pennies? It's ridiculous! I have told them that the shortage is on their end, not mine. Also, this post makes me crazy because there are multiple times that I've been owed change from a transaction and these silly girls ask if I want my change back! So I said "of course! Who wouldn't?" One girl recently asked if I wanted the money back because she owed me a quarter, but only had nickels and dimes. OMGoodness! I hope the schools are doing better than this. Bottom line - if a store I went into had a sign saying I would pay more to their advantage, I would walk out. But tell them why first.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder shopping online is so popular, Shug. Goodness! I'm afraid I'd have a meltdown if I had to deal with what you did. No wonder, too, that people don't want to tip for some services. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteWhy don't they round DOWN?
ReplyDelete