I got offered a credit card at Target today....

My wife and I were in Target (for the first time in about 8 years...) today at the cash register, before we even had our money out the checker said:

"You wanna Target card? You can save $XX dollars on your purchase today.."

My wife said "What? a card?"

THe checker said "All you need is a driver's license... You'll save $XX on these purchases today..."

We use no credit cards, having been driven to bankruptcy 8 years ago, and frankly I like NOT having them....

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I asked her to repeat it....

"Are you talking about a credit card??"

SHe looked at me like I was stupid. "Yes. A credit card."

She offered the card in the same monotone that sounded like she'd been offering them all day to anyone not having a card....We were not special.....

I understand it's a LOT harder to go banko now compared when we did - thank whatever diety there is for that - I was too sick to fight any credit card companies for the last scraps of our belongings or dignity.....

But the casual, predatory offer of a line of credit in a checkout line, no approval needed, just a drivers' license really chilled me.

Don't know why. Maybe it's the current state of debtors prison that is the middle class, and the impunity with which they mine for prisoners in the Target, or the Office Depot, or in Penny's.

Getting credit card business away from banks makes them money coming and going.

I always say: "No thanks. Not today."

But I can't tell you how many are offered. If they offer money off on the spot I'm more apt to take it and then cut it up later.

We've never had a problem... we're the same as cash types. We've not paid interest on our entire TV/AV system twice over... Same goes for furniture.

You're tweaked because a store offered you an application for a store credit card???

:wtf:

Just in awe at the ease with which folks like you get sucked in to 33% per annum.

There are "folks" who accept the offer, but they're just as culpable as the lender, in many cases.


There are ways to game the system from both directions...

My daughter used to work at Best Buy and Penney's and both of them insisted that their clerks push the charge cards. One of her supervisors was fired when the store's percentage of applications dropped too low. :eyes:

Kohl's is another one. They always offer me a credit card when I check out.

required to meet a certain quota of credit 'sales' per month. Cashiers have a higher level to meet than floor staff, but even people who never work the registers are still supposed to talk up the Kohl's card.

and even if you KNOW you have offered this customer the card a gazillion times and they always refuse, you have to ask again anyway. You are required to ask every single time, and if they find out you don't, you can be reprimanded. If you don't open enough credit cards, you don't get hours and you get no raise.

We hate asking you as much as you hate hearing it, but our jobs depend on it.

These cards are GREAT for scraping algae off the inside glass of you aquarium.

And mixing up epoxy.

But don't worry, I can mail you a couple hundred hotel card keys, I never seem to remember to turn em back at the desk.

:P

:rofl:

...one of the places from last month is down in Shell Beach.

It's called "the Cliffs Resort".

Two cards.

All yours.

:rofl:

I leave on the bicycle right after Labor day for San Fran....Down 101 from Washington state....


I'll keep you apprised of my progress......You can bring them to me in Sausalito......

ride safely and enjoy!

I can hardly wait....

But please leave the goat alone!

:rofl:

:rofl:

kept bugging me about signing up for one. I told her I didn't want to get into any more debt when I only had a seasonal job. We both thought the other one odd, me for how she was pushing the damn card on a temp, and she because I turned it down.

the end of it. We have a home depot card and a lowe's card and that is it besides our cards attached to our bank. I have no interest in going down that road.... getting trapped in credit card debt... it's a vicious cycle. I can't imagine they aren't going to do a credit check before they give you a card though.

I saw a display in a store recently where you could apply for a Skittles Visa. I guess Snickers Mastercard won't be far behind.

You simply say no thanks and leave it at that. Store credit cards really are a dying breed. I'm surprise when I find out folks still have them.

I took TWO cards in the past 2 weeks,
while back to school shopping for my
girls.

I got $25.00 off in one store, with a
card that builds "points" on future
purchases, and $15.00 off on another
card at a store (Marshall's) where I
shop a LOT that pays back 1% on everything
I buy.

I pay my cards off monthly.

The only problem I foresee is if I
get messed up and pay one of them late.....

Then again, I don't have to use them
ever again, and saved myself $40.00.

Chopped it up and threw it away.

They're just as much in the credit card business as they are merchants.

No biggie. I just say no.

for small purchases and pay it off right away. You can build up your credit that way.

Been there, done that.

They only offered you a credit card. If you don't want to open one, you can simply say no.

What's the problem?

:shrug:

Hug

:pals:

Because I wouldn't have a credit card under any circumstances; because I haven't been in a big box store in 8 years or so - except costco to get some restaurant supplies with my brother in law,

Because as a metaphor for the usury that is american business at this late stage in our history I find it pretty telling that the credit card companies will give credit to ANYONE, and later, when they have to get bailed out at the expense of the taxpayers......they can blame the people that shopped in the stores........

And because if making your employees shill credit cards isn't predatory, I don't know what is.

Other than that, no problemo. I hope it's 8 years before I go to another big box store.

Maybe then they'll all be out of business.

I'm just saying that these stores are just trying to make a buck and stay in business, particularly in these tough times. People have a choice, they can either accept or decline to open an account. They don't offend me by asking. I just politely say "no, thank you" and pay with my debit card.

:-)

And I accepted since each time I was purchasing quite a lot of stuff. With the Macy's card, I saved 40% off the purchase which was all sale items that already have 30-40% marked off. Since we were buying all new bed linens and towels for the new house, that gave me a huge savings!

Sears was where I bought my appliances at their 20% off sale. Then I got 10% additional off with the new card, $500 rebate from one of the manufacturers and another several hundred off with their price matching + 10% off when I got a cheaper quote from another store. With the Target card, I think I saved 20% off the purchase which was more stuff for the new house.

Once the "real" cards arrived, they got filed and have never been activated or used. That's the way to take advantage of those offers - take their discount, then put the card away and don't touch it again. :shrug:

that I use to get better deals--sometimes it's as much as 20% off to use it. Of course, I pay it off in full before the end of the month.

try not to hold it against her. Some stores go so far as to threaten cashiers jobs if they don't offer them to EVERYONE and get a certain number a day. And we in managment got the SAME threats from the next level of management above us.

FYI - Target National Bank (the issuer of the cards) is in deep shit. VERY high default rates right now because they handed them out like candy to as many people as possible at the stores.

And I never meant to sound like I was blaming the cashier - but I do find it disgusting that they MAKE her shill for the CC company.

I just say, no thanks, I already have one. I did have one and it was one of many that I had that finally forced me into a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. It was discharged in April and I have vowed to never have another credit card. If I can't afford to pay cash for something, I just won't buy it. Unless it is a car, of course, which I am probably going to have to buy within the next couple of years.

If your credit is bad the min credit line $100.

They figure the "guaranteed acceptance" outweights the risk from giving a $100 credit line to uncreditworthy individuals.

so that is why she probably sounded monotonous.

--it's possible to be turned down, or to get some very minimal line of credit, as noted just above.

I'll betcha.

Eventually, those 'loyalty cards' that result in you paying the regular price for things instead of jacked up prices will come with teh hitch that you use their credit cards. In effect, the credit card becomes the 'loyalty card'.

I was behind someone in line last week at target and they applied for a card. The application was not approved.

sign up for cc. The winner would get monetary rewards from the company.