Why is it so hard to pay?

My wife and kids are out of town this weekend visiting her family, so I decided to get real crazy...you know, like clean up my home office, pay some bills, do some work at my office and get some some errands run. Yep, I live a wild lifestyle!

I went to more stores today than I usually do in a month and I couldn't believe how difficult it was to pay for things. I hit a wide spectrum of stores; Target, Ulta, Exxon, Urban Outfitters, Lucky Jeans and Neiman Marcus.

There were 2 main issues worth mentioning:
1) Upselling takes time; too much time
2) Not enough people working cash registers

The upselling wasn't too big of an issue, but if you are waiting in line (and I was today...); the time really adds up. Everyone wants you to save "10% on this purchase with our credit card" or offer you a complementary product (Dadblastit! I don't want the matching trucker hat with this shirt! No, please don't go get it to show me...AARRGGHH!!!)

The biggest problem is that there aren't enough people working cash registers. How can this be? No matter what store, I was at least 8 people back in line. Urban Outfitters was the worst and Exxon was the best (except I was lucky enough to get behind Mr. 'I Have 40 Lotto Tickets to Check and See If I Won'. Shoot me now...)

I guess every VP of Operations learned a trick from their latest Las Vegas junket...don't let anyone out of the store and they will spend more money.

Today proved to me again, why I love to shop on the Internet.

Sure didn't feel like an economic downturn today...

Has this happened to you or were the Gods of Shopping mocking me?

Comments

[Jon Strande]

Todd,

I'm with you - big time... and oddly enough, as I was in some department store last night buying a new coat, the clerk tried to get me to sign up for a store credit card (30% off). Well, my bill was $250, and 30% off would have been nice, but there was a line of people behind me, it was late (8:45) and I just wanted to get out of there...

Jon

[Dave]

My mind screams when I go to a checkout...in any kind of store! It seems you and I share similar beliefs when it comes to drive-thrus and retail.

The Gods of Shopping have placed a big L upon my forehead. If I approach a register with one person in line, while the other lines are 10 deep, my cashier tells me she's closing. Or...

Or I'll choose a line with one person. Only to find that person has a credit card from Siberia and the store needs to check it out...by Pony Express! Or...

The register breaks down. Or...

The UPC label is crinkled and they can't read it. The list goes on but the pain of recall here is too great.

[K. Todd Storch]

Don't go postal on me Dave! Yep, it can be a beating and you've got some Murphy's law working with you for sure.

Maybe I could start a business on how to train the hourly employees to understand that we are trying to pay...and that is a good thing for their employers!

Todd

[Dennis]

I always try to bring my iPod with me when I go shopping. I blocks out all the noise and crap that the store is playing over their PA system, and I can change my mood by listening to different types of music or for that matter a audio book or podcast.

It really helps in Costco. The lines are generally long and I can just sit back and watch the people etc. I like watching people.

It back fired on me a couple of months ago, or maybe it didn't. I was doing my jury duty thing and was rocking away in this big room full of jurist, I had my eyes closed and my mind open to the sounds, and next thing I know this 6'6" county sheriff along with the little old lady in charge of the room was tapping me on the shoulder.

Everyone had moved out into the hall, and I guess I was being a problem child (adult) by spacing out with my MP3 player. I was asked to leave a little after that for the lack of paying attention. I wasn't really sorry, though that wasn't my intent, but the energy there was really very uptight. Everyone was just waiting for someone to pull out a gun and start shooting everyone else it seemed.

It turned out the case involved some child molestation, and when I was asked to leave, I was not sorry. Didn't want to even hear all the issues around such a case.

DD

[K. Todd Storch]

Dennis,

An iPod for jury duty? Wow, that's funny.

Thanks for the comment and look forward to more from you!

Todd