So normal stuff here - LTL, FTP, etc.

This happened a couple months back but has stuck with me. My mom and I went to big box department store that has generic credit card offering. You know the type - the employees are expected to upsell the credit card at each purchase. So here's what went down.

We made a purchase at one register with no problems. We wound up browsing a bit more and found something else my mom wanted, so we go to a different register to check out. Clearly I have a bag from the store in my hands, so lady should have recognized that we'd already been given the credit card spiel once today.

She asks my mom if she has a CC. Mom says no. Lady then starts talking up the CC like it's the most wonderful thing ever. Oh, did you know you can turn around and pay it off as soon as you've made your purchase? Gee, no, who would think to do something like that, lady? And you get X percent off on purchases, plus coupons, plus special events for our very special CC customers. My mom kept saying no, and she argued with her about this stupid credit card.

Finally I think we made her mad, and she said, "Well, it will save you money in the long run. You do the math." Then she gave us an example with some kind of crazy voodoo math that doesn't add up in any math class I've been in.

But wait! She didn't stop there. She went on to tell us about a great event coming up for their very special CC customers (TM) this weekend. They were doing a sales event with proceeds going to a certain charity, and isn't that nice? Mom wasn't impressed. She's done her research on said charity and has never been pleased with their lack of transparency and actual help to people in need. She said as much to sales lady, who actually argued that my mom was wrong.

Now what mom researched is well documented about this charity, and it really made me angry that this woman was so patronizing and rude to my mother. I tried to convince my mom to let us flag down a manager to complain, but she wouldn't. So we left, but I did speak to a store manager later that week.

The manager knew what woman I was talking about when I described her and the department she was in. He said she's usually one of their best at getting CC customers, but he also admitted to getting complaints about her before, too. Go figure.

I understand retail employees sometimes have to try to get numbers on stupid things like credit cards, but when your customer says no, leave it alone. Certainly don't try to make the customer feel belittled and patronized about not taking it. And don't argue with someone when they tell you they've done their research! I mean, really?