Rewards Program
On New Years Eve I went to Block Buster. Knowing that we have a little tot, and that we are not exactly spring chickens any more, I planned on a quiet New Years at home with my guy and some movies. I was checking out when the perky pubescent sales clerk said “Do you want me to scan your rewards card?” I said “No, I don’t have one, thank you.” He smirked and said (with that indignation that implies that the customer must be a total idiot) “Would you like to sign up for one right now?” I took a deep breath, knowing what was coming, and politely said “No, thank you.” So, he took a deep breath and sighed his little sigh of total disgust that I was even allowed to vote in this Country since I was obviously a raging idiot for not having one of their reward cards.
After he rang me up he sighed again, and half under his breath said “Wow. You could have saved half of that bill on the program! Too bad. Toooooo bad.” I am smiling on the outside, but in my head I’m thinking “give me my darned movies and call your mother and let her know you are working late so she won’t worry… you little pinhead!” Ah, but on the outside I remained adult-like and maintained my maturity. “Thank you” is all that escaped my lips.
In my purse is a key ring. On that key ring there are no keys. On that key ring there are only key ring sized value program, reward program, incentive program and preferred shopper cards. I have so many of these ridiculous cards that it takes an entire key ring to keep them all, and the sad part is I have been suckered into playing this stupid game. No longer! I quit. I do not normally make New Years Resolutions, but this year I have. I resolve to not sign up for another stupid card at another store, and when some snot nosed clerk gives me the passive aggressive treatment for my decision I may just have to cold-cock him one! Well, OK, I won’t go Chuck Norris on him or anything like that, but really I am fed up.
My all time favorite cards are the “preferred” shopper cards. These are nice little cards that the store gives you to be scanned if you shop in their store and buy certain products that the advertise as card worthy. OK, so if I shop at your store every day and spend thousands of dollars a year, but I do not have a little card for you to scan then I am of no consequence, but if some person walks in and shops one time in your store and spends twenty-five cents and has a card to scan then he is a preferred customer and I am not. Brilliant. Here’s the deal that stores really need to figure out — your average shopper really does NOT want another freaking piece of plastic to be responsible for, nor does she/he want to spend an exorbitant amount of money at your store because he/she has lost or misplaced said piece of plastic. If you, the store owners, would simply give us, the customers, the best price you can and a clean store to shop in, I promise that we will come.
I love Target for many reasons, and one is because they do not require a little card to get things at a special price. I do not like Wal Mart (because our local one is just plain scary to be truthful), but they do not require one either. I honestly think that these are the only two stores that I know who still offer sale prices to those who hold plastic cards and those who do not. Every other store will advertise great sales, and then charge you murderous prices if you come to their store without “the card.”
I urge you all to stand your ground! Don’t let that scoffing, passive aggressive, pimply faced store clerk shame you into another card! Demand good prices! Here’s to a plastic-free year!
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