memo to the McDonalds cashier

[smileyeagle1021]

My mastercard was declined because I am an irresponsible dolt who does not pay my bill on time... not because my card isn't a 'real' credit card.
I wish I was making that up, I had a cashier at McDonalds who when my credit card declined saw the reward zone logo on my mastercard (issued through HSBC) and told me very condescendingly "sir, we don't accept best buy gift cards, you'll have to use a real credit card".

I'm sorry bitch, you see that mastercard logo there on the corner... that means this is a 'real' credit card. Congratulations on your new level of stupid... in the two years I've had that credit card NO ONE else has mistaken it for a gift card (which by the way is NOT shaped in a rectangle like a traditional credit card)... everyone else has seen the mastercard logo and realized the best buy logo is for the card's rewards program.

Oh yes, and calling over a manager isn't going to change the fact that my card is declining because of insufficient funds... you're manager will come up with the same solution I already have... use a different (equally 'real') credit card that I'm up to date on... oh and guess what, he agrees with me.

eta for clarification, at least at the best buy I go to the only gift cards they sell are the ones that are shaped like gift tags... most likely to reduce confusion between the gift cards and the rewards credit cards... so we're talking about mistaking a traditionally shaped credit card with plainly visible mastercard logo and globe emblem, with a gift tag shaped card with no notation on them whatsoever other than best buy.
And yes, if she had said something along the lines of "i'm sorry, the card did not go through, are you sure you are using the correct card" and given the option for me to save face and say "shit, this is the card that I need to make a payment on, sorry, here's my visa" rather than just going off about where's my 'real' card we wouldn't be having the discussion.

[Hobbs]

From what I've seen, however, the gift cards that are handed out do have credit card logos on them. Just fyi.

[HYHYBT]

I'm not exactly trying to make an excuse, though it will sound like it, but there are gift cards with Visa logos on them, and our registers wouldn't take them. At least, they often didn't; of course I only looked at the ones that were declined. Also of course, I knew they were gift cards because they said 'gift card' on them They were otherwise identical physically to a standard credit card. I only remember seeing Visa and Amex, but Mastercard versions probably exist too.

[fireheart]

Ours don't take any other giftcards except for ours (which I think sucks, but that's not the point ). But from time to time, we get credit cards that decline. The most common response?

"I just checked it today!"

[LillFilly]

She shouldn't have been so rude. Accidents happen, you had another card, no big deal. Wonder who shit in her oatmeal that morning?

[smileyeagle1021]

She shouldn't have been so rude. Accidents happen, you had another card, no big deal. Wonder who shit in her oatmeal that morning?

well, accidents... and not paying attention to my card balance
hell, I knew I was nearing my limit on that card, I just hoped I had enough left because that card has the best terms on it.

[Boozy]

From what I've seen, however, the gift cards that are handed out do have credit card logos on them. Just fyi.

However, actual Mastercards have the Mastercard logo on them too.

If it really could have gone either way, the cashier should have said, "Have you handed me the wrong card by accident, sir?" Her smarmy response was not called for, and made her look stupid.

[Dreamstalker]

I had a cashier at McDonalds who when my credit card declined saw the reward zone logo on my mastercard (issued through HSBC) and told me very condescendingly "sir, we don't accept best buy gift cards, you'll have to use a real credit card".

I think I just heard a few more brain cells in their death throes...

All BB gift cards I've seen have been shaped like tags, they're usually some lenticular silliness as well. Very hard to confuse with a real credit card. Most store-specific gift cards (not the Visa/Amex gift cards) I've seen don't have any logo other than the store's.

Once or twice I've given cashiers the wrong card (either the business Amex that is still blocked, or a store gift card) and they've been discreet about it, just a simple "this card doesn't seem to work", hand it back and I realize my mistake

But from time to time, we get credit cards that decline.

I've had that happen too, usually the culprit is a bad card reader. Being the polite wolf that I am, I don't make a scene, just either try another card or cash.