Okay, now they're actually running after people....

[sarasquirrel]

Holy CRAP, you guys!!!! Guess what just happened to me?

I walked into a Walgreens a couple hours ago and nobody tried to get me sign up for a loyalty card! No mention of it, even! Nobody tried to sell anything! Nobody even tried to peddle the candy bars that were sitting on the counter with a sale sign on them!

Isn't this one of the signs of the apocalypse?

as far as i know, walgreens does not have a loyalty card. ( i may be wrong)

i know that rite aid has started using them though. but i usually dont shop there.

now, since i know a little more about cvs my experience with the extracare card, i dont think ive ever worked with anyone who ever pushed these cards onto anyone. if anything a customer will ask me about it, and i give them the form, boom, easy cheesy and they have their card. the company expects us to have a certain scan rate. a higher extracard scan rate, with a lower universal scan rate. possible write ups. but i wouldnt push a card on anyone, especially when i see their key chains and see they have about 10 other cards haha. dont give them any ideas about questions on the pinpads though, they cant handle the simple ones there now like "debit, ebt, credit, giftcard"

[Becks]

I only discovered this thread now.

While Kink has tried (and failed, more's the pity) to contact corporate about this, I think that we all should contact corporate every time we get asked to give useless info/harassed about store cards.

Hopefully eventually they'll get the clue.

And now I want to go to K Mart. The one here on the east side closed a while ago, but there's still one on the west side. (I don't like going to Target and the EES is turning more and more into Target every time I go there.)

[lupo pazzesco]

Mama Lupo works at KMart, and she hate hate hates having to push the loyalty card, I believe.

zip code, sure, i'll sometimes give it, depending on my mood or whether I'm in a hurry. When it comes to phone numbers, though, i do something different. Here in Houston, there are 3 area codes, plus various others from little counties around the big honking city. Most all numbers start with a area code, you have to dial the 10 digit, (i.e., even if I were making a 'local' call, I'd have to dial 111-XXX-XXXX, OR 222-XXX-XXXX). So, I'll pick one of the area codes, and give the following number

111-867-5309

[SuperDan]

111-867-5309

Jenny?

I got it, I got it, I got it!
I got your number on the wall!
I got it, I got it, I got it!
For a good time, for a good time call....

[RxBoy]

Yes, that's correct. Visa Card, followed photo ID.

Maybe they figure the sooner that squalid flea market goes the way of the dodo, the sooner they can all start collecting unemployment and playing WoW all day.

You should contact your credit card's customer service department if the store required you to show ID to use your Visa card. Both Visa and MasterCard specifically forbid merchants to do this in their contracts. They are not allowed to ask for ID, require a minimum purchase amount to charge, or add a surcharge to your bill if you pay with credit card.

[LadyAndreca]

You should contact your credit card's customer service department if the store required you to show ID to use your Visa card. Both Visa and MasterCard specifically forbid merchants to do this in their contracts. They are not allowed to ask for ID, require a minimum purchase amount to charge, or add a surcharge to your bill if you pay with credit card.

But some states require you to show ID if you pay with a credit card...

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I'll be perfectly honest with you, I actually do appreciate it when they ask for ID. I'm not going to complain about that.

I don't understand why most places DON'T ask for ID. There's quite a bit at stake with plastic money. Why not ask for it?

[yizuman]

Back in the 80s, Kmart used to sell porn crap at the store, which causes alot of families go up in arms about it and churches all across the country started boycotting Kmart because of it. The stupid CEO refused to budge and as a result of it, they closed tons of stores when the boycott caused them to lose tons and tons of money.

It was then the stockholders had to force by vote to throw out the CEO, then ordered all stores to pull the porn magazines from the stores. It was too late, they lost way too much money to recover from the financial damage that they had suffered.

They hired a new CEO, but over the years they kept firing CEO after CEOs because none of them was up to snuff to try and recoup the losses that they had suffered at the result of the boycott.

Now even with the current economy, they're still closing more stores. Like one of the posters mentioned about filthy stores and crappy quality items at the store. It's just a matter of time that Kmart will become just a footnote in history.

[BrenDAnn]

Reviving this thread to add--I was chased down the other day! Gah! I was just in Mart of K for a couple of items, quick trip, no big deal. Walked down one of the grocery aisles, and an employee approached me saying "Hi." Next thing I knew, I was getting a rewards card pitch thrown at me. My point blank refusal (and the look on my face, I'm sure) must've frustrated her, because she decided to explain rather tersely that it wasn't a credit card, yadda yadda yadda. Needless to say I chose "unlikely" when prompted by the pin pad at the checkout to say how likely I was to recommend the store to others!

[blas]

The last time I was at K-Mart and the pin pad asked me if I'd recommend K-Mart to others, I pressed "No". If only there was a hell no option.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I for one am shocked that K-Mart still exists.

I think that every time my Mom decides she wants to go shopping there, which isn't often as we only have one left and it's clear off on the other side of town.

Not only do you have people pestering you to open a credit account (as RK has experienced) at the one we go to, it's never busy. You'll see some cars in the parking lot, but when you get inside it's not crowded at all.

[protege]

The moment someone grabs my arm is when I threaten to call the cops and demand a manager. That instant.

I'd like to see someone pull that crap with my mother. She has a black belt in hapkido, and she *can* hurt you. I've seen her, while sparring, drop a guy that was probably about half her age, 50 pounds heavier, and about a foot taller...in a heap on the mat. Truly an awesome sight to behold

As for the Mart of K, I don't go to the one near me. The parking lot hasn't been repaved since about 1978, and currently has bigger craters than the moon Sorry, but I don't enjoy the thought of replacing my car's entire suspension system. Plus, you're not allowed to turn left out of the 'simulated moon surface.' I'd have to turn right, make a U-turn in the gas station parking lot, and turn around. With that said, my borough was nearly without its Mart of K. Back in 2000, a crew "working" on the building's A/C system (with a cutting torch, no less) managed to set the building (along with the associated strip mall!) on fire...leveling it

[BrenDAnn]

protege, I pity the person that makes your mother mad for any reason at all. Anyway, I have to say this: each time I visit KMart (out of convenience, because it's 20 minutes closer than Walmart/Target/whatever) I come closer and closer to not going back. It's not a dump, actually it's rather well maintained. The parking lot was recently redone. The "Phar acy" sign needs fixed, but other than that...If they'd stop pestering me about their damn rewards card every time I set foot in the place, I might have a better attitude toward them!

[blas]

I think KMarts looking ghetto and like stepping into a time machine are pretty ubiquitous. The only one place in town that's worse than KMart is the local Walmart (NOT the one I frequent), which has not had any sort of updating done since the late 90s I'd assume. I mean, that place is a DUMP. My neighbor works there and says they have no plans on making it look newer and better, to compete with the other WalMarts. Wow.

[smileyeagle1021]

I can't speak for K-Mart as a whole, but I know why the 9th East K-Mart in Salt Lake is still open... because it's not the 9th East WalMart. The 9th East WalMart is a full Walmart Supercenter by product variety, but only the size of a neighborhood market. Midday on a weekday and you'll still have problems finding decent parking, weekends don't even try. They can have all their registers open and still have long lines (like nearly over 10 minute wait, I've timed it... and this isn't holiday season, this is regular weekend). There is quite a few people like myself who are willing to deal with the drawbacks of K-Mart just to avoid that Walmart.