I think it's even worse for people like me, who DON'T like talking to strangers. Ring up my purchase and let me go home, please!

The only place I shop on a regular basis that doesn't hit me up is HEB, the grocery store. Oh- I guess Whole Foods doesn't, either.

But... no, I don't want a Target credit card, and it irritates me that the guy who's ringing up my tampons is asking. (Yeah, it happened last week, and it really pissed me off. And it further pisses me off when I politely decline and they keep pushing it. Like I don't understand what I'm declining.) It also pisses me off that I'm expected to let stores track my purchases with "club" cards (CVS, Randall's/Safeway) in order to bring prices down to what they are at HEB, anyway. Recently, when I made a mortgage payment at a Bank Of America branch, they tried to convince me to open a checking account there... Hahahaha no f*cking way, I'll stick with my credit union, thanks!

Radio Shack used to ask for your phone number to complete a transaction, even if you were buying a 2-pack of batteries and paying cash. (Which I was.)

Home Depot still does ask for a phone number sometimes. I smile sweetly and say "Oh, I don't have a phone," and the lady rolls her eyes and types in 123-4567 or whatever.

Pilot truck stops force cashiers to engage in infuriating up- and sug gestive selling. My solution was to take my business elsewhere. Thanks

I HATE when establishments hit you up for donations. (I'm sure a lot of cashiers dislike it just as much.)

In college I night cashiered at a grocery store, so I have lots of empathy for them. We had a gay couple that used to come in every week like clockwork and buy a six pack of Michelob and a couple Fleet enemas. It was torture to not crack a smile or start laughing.

My second job is part time at retail office supply store. Our stated goal is to "delight" the customer. That happens frequently when we suggest a companion product that they may need to go along with what they came in to buy, such as paper with their ink. My favorite suggestion is glass cleaner for their new glass top desk or a toilet brush with their toilet paper (people actually buy these at an office supply store). When I sense a customer's impatience, I'll usually end my obvious script with "fries and a coke?" and the tension is eased.

From my understanding many retail establishments now make their cashiers do this, and have quotas to enforce it. Don't make your quota? They'll stop giving you enough hours to make it worth your time to come in. That way they never have to pay unemployment, or worry about a wrongful termination suit from a disgruntled employee who goes to legal aid (a charity to provide poor people with free lawyers).

Of course I live in a town with two large universities. So we have a surplus of college kids that are fighting for even these jobs. That allows stores to engage in ridiculous behavior that wouldn't even be tolerated by low skill employees elsewhere. The amazing thing is that they've managed to make the experience crappier both for the average customer, and the people working there. I assume that on average they make money using this tactic otherwise they wouldn't do it.

Giant corporations don't mind annoying 50 people in order to make 1 extra sale; as long as they gain more money by doing so then they'd otherwise lose. Why should they care? They're not the ones that have to pay the cost in time, and sanity by being repeatedly hassled. Ahh the joys of living in a "right to work" state with 8.9% unemployment.

Last night I bought my final tank of fuel from the corner gas station. I liked supporting a family run full service station but they went to a split cash/credit price. I understand where they are coming from and I don't like the merchant fee system either but I resent it enough to go two more blocks to chevron. I'm not 80, I'm not going back to writing checks.

Correction my states unemployment rate is 9.4% not 8.9%.

The people ultimately to blame are the altruistic assholes who cave and put their name on those damn balloons.

Also, I will probably be back at my gas station in a month. We deserve what we put up with.

Just to give credit where it's due. I was at Target the other day looking for an internet to tv streaming device and the stockboy there gave me good advice that stopped me from buying the wrong thing, and suggested where I could comparison shop. Personally, I find the upselling annoying, but I don't mind the charity pitches since I don't give enough to charity generally and I appreciate the reminder.

I hate this too. I like to be friendly and polite, but I don't like to spend more time than is necessary doing the grocery shopping, gas pumping etc. I hate that machines are always asking me if I want a car wash, or to donate money to the MS Foundation, etc. And it really pisses me off when stores require their cashiers to upsell their customers, in person or on the phone, with the threat of being written-up if they don't. Wal-greens does this and it drives me nuts. Once a Safe-way cashier asked me if I wanted to donate AFTER I had indicated no on the keypad, and I told her I wouldn't return if asked again. It pisses me off that badly. What right do they have to eat up my time like that?

Back when stores first started asking for donations, I donated everytime because I thought I would be an asshole if I didn't, but then I realized I do a lot of shopping, and more and more venues are asking for money on behalf of NPOs EVERYTIME I SHOP, and if I don't stop it, I have no one to blame but myself.

I wonder what the stores get from the NPOs? A cut of the donations, perhaps? Just a good feeling?

"...And if they do make money, do they ultimately lose? I hate being hassled, and it makes me want to remember buy stuff online to avoid being up-sold."

You're not the only one. I wonder if some of these places lose cutomers over this kind of crap? If it really IS worth it for them to push their credit lines or "dicount club cards" or Charity-Of-the-Day? It leaves a bad taste in my mouth when I politely decline an offer to apply for a J Crew (or fill-in-the-blank) credit card and the person ringing me up tries not to take "no" for an answer. I'll avoid those stores for years sometimes... and my husband won't shop at Randall's at all, because he won't get a "Randall's Card," even though it's the closest grocery store.

Best Buy's busy going out of business.

That sort of thing is both cause and effect of that doom.

When I go to the supermarket they allow different charities to solicit customers walking in and out of the store. A few times a year I don't mind the Girl Scout cookies or children's cancer charity or something like that. Lately though they have a different group at both entrances and then at the register they ask for a dollar or more for some charity. Personally I can't walk past a Veteran asking for a donation for a Poppy and always give a dollar. But times are tough and I can't give a dollar at one door, a dollar at the register, and then a dollar coming out. That's $3 a trip and considering I go to the market 3 or 4 times a week, that adds up. So much for the sales. I asked the manager one day why they allow it and told him ultimately it may cost him business because nobody wants to look like the meanie walking past the veteran or little kid, and his response was that nobody wants to be the meanie store that says no to these agencies and end up in a press release.

So would it be out of line or inaccurate to call this professional panhandling?

I've observed many scenarios where businesses' mission seems to be fucking their customers (not the good way). BOA comes to mind. I wonder why American consumers (I'm one) tolerate it. A former Best Buy store manager told me the store managers and staff get hounded hourly by Corporate over product movement.

Critics may compare Apple fans to lemmings, but Apple almost always gives the consumer (/sarcasm) an exceptional experience. Another awesome company is (was?) Tweeter, etc. In 1990 I went there to buy a CD changer and was so delighted with their no-pressure, accomodating and knowledgeable staff that I spent twice what I had planned to.

During the month of April in northern VA, Whole Foods forces their cashiers to pull the "charity" marketing $hit as well. I just firmly say "no". Only once was I pushed further on the issue until I raised my voice with a substantially louder "NOOOO!!". The cashier immediately shut up and quickly completed the transaction. I really wasn't pissed or anything, I just wanted them to stop intentionally trying to waste my time.

I hate to come across as mean spirited, however, I have noticed that extremely loud no's (which get louder at each repeat) trumps politeness every time with the pushy types.

Maybe they get embarrassed by this? I'm not sure myself, I only know what works.

Also, I am an extreme advocate of free markets and free speech (Libertarian and all), but I just don't understand why the idiots that run these businesses (Best Buy, Rite - Aid, Whole Foods, etc.) think it is acceptable to subtly antagonize their clientele.

Especially Whole Foods. Although the quality of their products is superb, their prices match this. With that high end pricing, it is really a bad idea to annoy the customers. Of course, the best option is to put up a sign somewhere where it can be ignored.

Annoying/Pissing Off customers was never taught (not even in the Marketing courses) at my business school. I do now wonder which schools teach that stupid crap.

As someone who works in customer service, I know that there's a right way and a wrong way to do promotion. It's ham-handed to just promote the product that management decides to push. It's a shotgun approach. Thankfully, my employer's preferred strategy is to promote what's appropriate for the customer. The reasoning is that if the customer sees benefit and value, that they'll a)stay and b)bring us more business. It seems to work. But it takes years to develop high-level customer service skills from scratch.

Also, it doesn't hurt that 40% of my incentive pay is tied to customer surveys of service received.

How's this one?

The last time I went to a 7-Eleven/Citgo station (and it really was the last time....permanently), after pumping the gas I began the wait for my receipt. It only takes 10 seconds to print a receipt, not 90 seconds. During the 90 second wait, the readout starts flashing advertising images for 7-Eleven hot dogs, nachos, soft drinks, slurpees, etc. Well, this one time, after the long wait the readout says, "Please see the cashier for your receipt". The thing was out of paper, this after making me wait for the receipt while displaying their worthless bull$hit.

Since there are so many gas stations fighting over customers, and especially since most gas stations in the area have comparable or better prices than 7-Eleven/Citgo, I don't see the point in wasting my time with them for a gas purchase.

I just say no to the charity shake-down. It used to be a once-a-year thing at my local big grocery, but now it's a constant thing.

I do know that the cashiers are required to ask or they will be reprimanded/written up. I have a friend who works for that chain and it seems that management just grinds the employees down.

Like Amy, I'm don't mind talking to strangers and try to be pleasant and polite to the working people I interact with. However I did end up yelling at a guy who was selling window treatments at my local gas station. He was standing where I needed to pull into to get to the gas pump, and then he started telling me I need to pull forward. Uh dude, if you'd get out of the way I would be able to pull forward. He then tried to sell me this thing and I just lost it with him. I felt ashamed for having my outburst, and then I felt even more angry at the guy.

I consider guys like him and the people with clipboards collecting for Greenpeace, PP, ACLU, etc. as human popups. I now look at them directly in the eye and tell them no, I have no money or time that I can give you. I try to keep moving when doing so to underline the point.

My last pet peeve are all the customer surveys that any retail chain tries to get you to complete. If this was a one time thing I'd feel differently, but it's every fricking time. Pox on all marketing departments that require this.

"I told him about having to go to Best Buy on the weekend without my boyfriend."

First World Problem.

At least it wasn't to buy batteries!

{wink}

Vons makes its clerks thank you by last name; obtained from a database linked to your club card. This faux-friendliness creeps me out. I finally got a club card with no name attached to it.

I'm also doing a lot more shopping online at Amazon. Service is superb, prices are very good, the advertising of other products isn't intrusive, and there's no running the gauntlet of mandated upsell from human beings forced to act like robots.

A $350 water heater at Sears ended up costing $1,500. I sent an e-mail to customer feedback as per the receipt, asking for a call back. I was called, by an auto-dialer, and the message was in Spanish.

I like how the Kroger chains do it. They do have the various charities out front, but in SW Ohio, the charities know not to be obnoxious about it.

The donate slips are just that, slips, in an obvious place that you can just add to your order.

I generally use the self-checkout lanes. I can move through them faster and less hassle.

Being a geek, I generally won't do Best Buy, or other big box stores. You want to know how to annoy me -- tell me what I already know by doing three mouse or remote control clicks.

"Vons makes its clerks thank you by last name; obtained from a database linked to your club card. This faux-friendliness creeps me out. I finally got a club card with no name attached to it."

Safeway is like that. My mother told me to use her card (linked to her phone number) if I wanted to. I once used mom's number and the clerk was not paying attention and said, "Thank you Mrs..." and handed me my change. Perhaps something changed that I missed but I'm pretty sure I was born a male and still am.

Safeway also likes to ask you to donate to a new charity almost every month by rounding up your bill. The best answers for phone numbers and zip codes are 867-5309 and 90210.

I HATE it when they ask for my phone number.

The things that people actually want are mostly commoditized at this point.

Consequently today's economy is mostly about making people excited enough to buy things that they don't really want.

The same principle often applies when seeking employment.

I can handle the gauntlet at the stores. No, thank you. I'm not interested, sorry.

I don't have to shop anywhere. (Wegmans doesn't allow any solicitation whatsoever. Excellent policy, consistently enforced. Why wouldn't I shop there?)

The thing I loathe with a burning passion is being called at home. Telemarketers, burn in hell. I am on the do not call list for a reason, honest. I will never buy or donate or answer your survey.

To me, the single worst thing about Best Buy is how hard they push those "extended warranties". Those things are a racket, basically free cash for the store and the "warranty" company (which you'll find is probably no longer doing business under that name if/when you actually go to make a claim).

Amazon has outstanding customer service and excellent marketing. Not surprisingly, Amazon continues to grow and prosper. Best Buy has neither and is in decline. I give them two more years at most. By the way, I have three levels of response to unwanted solicitations. 1. "no thankyou" 2. A firm "No". 3. What part of the word NO do you not understand?

Vons makes its clerks thank you by last name; obtained from a database linked to your club card. This faux-friendliness creeps me out. I finally got a club card with no name attached to it.

My Safeway card lists me as Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen. Not to many clerks can get their tongues around that.

Dietrich von Choltitz is still available. You'd like him.

You all are missing the obvious question, which atypical retail decisions involving heels and zippers is Gregg in charge of?

"My old TV was probably a 21 or 25-incher, and the picture wasn't so great, but I sure wouldn't go into debt to buy a new one."

I have to admit that I'm spoiled... how did I ever watch a 13" TV? I can remember when 25" was the largest TV you could buy, and it cost as much as a small car. And you had to get it serviced once a year or so.

Our house mortagage is the only debt we are carrying. The last two cars we bought we paid cash for. The last time we carried a debt was when we took out an equity loan to buy our lot, and we paid that off in 2000. Now we're saving to pay off the mortgage, which I'm figuring will take about six years. Once we do that, we are totally debt free.

> Dietrich von Choltitz is still available.
> You'd like him.

I got that! I got that!

A friend of mine used to use "Hugh Jardon" - he once gave it at restaurant. When it was our turn to be seated there is this tiny 16year old host calling out at the top of her lungs ... she had an accent too. It sounded like, "Huga Hardon? I ama lookin' for Huga Hardon? Is ter Huga Hardon here? " All the guys in waiting area were busting up.

This guy

Well I just hit a Wal-Mart and had to check out twice.

The first was in the sporting goods area. I was buying 150 rounds of .45 ammo. I saw the Q pop-up, on the buyer side, about contributing to the Children's Miracle Network. The clerk didn't even look up to answer no.

Then on the main checkout it popped up again. I think the bottle of vodka and O.J. clued the clerk in as well.

Sam's Club does the same thing, and their members pay a yearly fee to shop there and apparently be inundated by sales pitches, too. Every time I go there, there is a salesperson from another company, be it DirecTv, AT&T, Sprint, some unheard of makeup company, or some guy in a Chef Boyardee hat selling knives. I just tell the TV guy I have a contract with Dish and if that doesn't work, I just say "No, thank you," and turn and walk away without so much as a smile. I don't like the assumption that I can be talked into something. I am a grown woman and I know who I want my services and makeup and knives from, and for these salespeople to think otherwise is a little insulting. I have been there and done that as a former telemarketer. That job is what made me realize just what a disgusting and decepetive "career" it is.

I've worked retail (3 different chains) and it is true that the cashiers are required to ask you if you want to donate/upsell you and to press at least once if you refuse. I usually say no and throw in I used to work retail, so I know they have to ask.

At one store I worked at you were required to ask if customers wanted a credit card and if you didn't meet your quota number then suddenly you had fewer hours on your schedule the next week. Of course, when asked, you'd be told that wasn't policy - it "just happened".

Believe me, I didn't care about credit cards, upselling, or donation campaigns. I just wanted to get my customers rung up and out the door, quickly and pleasantly. Having to go through a three minute script for one purchase made customer interactions such a pain - for both sides. :( I wish companies would realize that most customers value speed over "offers"

Oh the irony. An entire article about annoying sales pitches and all I can see on the website are ANNOYING SALES PITCHES TO THE LEFT, ON THE TOP, AND TO THE RIGHT!!!