Would you like to save $2.83?

I feel sorry for the employees who are instructed to ask every customer if they’d like to save money on their purchase by applying for a credit card. If you’ve shopped at Target, Eddie Bauer, or Mervyns you’ll inevitably be asked if you’d like to apply for one of their store branded cards.

I find such policies annoying in most cases especially when I’ve already taken out my American Express and run it through the card reader. But such a policy borders on the comical when the employee is forced to shill the card regardless how much a customer spends.

I recently purchased a few pair of socks and was tempted to open an Eddie Bauer credit card to save $2.83. I just shook my head as the cashier smiled, sensing the humor in the offer.