Retail Madness
Over the course of the last week, I've spent more time in the mall than I care to think about. Sure, it's really only been the same 40hrs i put in every week, give or take a few more (working off the clock) -- But it seems like so much longer.
Some people like the madness. Some people think that the busier we are, the faster things go. But for me, it's like overload! I have a tendency to multitask as it is, so when things get really busy, I should be focusing on just what I'm doing, but I always need to know what everyone else is doing, all the while scanning the crowds to make sure no one is suspicious or no one is famous. LOL. We get a little bit of both!
But today, the thing I think that struck me the most is the fact that people are put off by us asking for an ID when you use a credit or debit card. Generally we only ask when the card isn't signed, or if it says Robert and clearly it looks like a Roberta. But, as we get into this time when people are shopping a whole lot, it's also the time that people get scammed the most, both us as retailers, and everyone else as consumers.. stolen cards and what not.
So, we're asking every single person. most people are more than willing to show an ID, and most go, "Thank you! You're the only person today who has asked" Sometimes they grumble a bit... but the ones that floor me are the ones who think it's some huge deal and get angry about it.
Then, the best are the ones who we do ask, and they have no problem showing me their ID, but the names aren't the same. Now I'm not talking about like where one card says Catherine the other says Cathy... or it's Mary Elizabeth on one, just Elizabeth on the other.. No, this is where the credit card says Catherine, the ID says Mary! Sure, they've got the same last name, but clearly, they're not the same person. What the hell do you think I was asking for your ID for, if I wasn't going to check the names? Do you think I just wanted to see a bad picture of you?
Sure, you may have authorization from that person to use their card, but how on earth are we to know that? You may even have permission from the bank. But that brings me to another point. In this day and age of credit scams and identity theft why would a bank still do that? Why would they issue two cards in Joe's name, and let Joe carry one and let Mary carry the other? Yes, Mary is authorized, by the bank and by Joe to use it, but how are we supposed to know? Why not just issue the card in Mary's name? I have a credit card in my name, but the account is really my dad's. It's not that hard.
We've been screwed before. Let's say the guest's name was um, Jane Doe. And Jane came in and had a card that only said John Doe... we checked her ID and everything, and yes, she had the same last name, so we let her use it. We get a call several days later from John's lawyer... turns out the Doe's are in the middle of a bitter divorce and Jane stole John's card and ran up the charges. We're liable... that's just the way it is... I don't care who's name is on the card, if your face and your name aren't there, you can't use it. PERIOD!
just my little rant for the night.
Some people like the madness. Some people think that the busier we are, the faster things go. But for me, it's like overload! I have a tendency to multitask as it is, so when things get really busy, I should be focusing on just what I'm doing, but I always need to know what everyone else is doing, all the while scanning the crowds to make sure no one is suspicious or no one is famous. LOL. We get a little bit of both!
But today, the thing I think that struck me the most is the fact that people are put off by us asking for an ID when you use a credit or debit card. Generally we only ask when the card isn't signed, or if it says Robert and clearly it looks like a Roberta. But, as we get into this time when people are shopping a whole lot, it's also the time that people get scammed the most, both us as retailers, and everyone else as consumers.. stolen cards and what not.
So, we're asking every single person. most people are more than willing to show an ID, and most go, "Thank you! You're the only person today who has asked" Sometimes they grumble a bit... but the ones that floor me are the ones who think it's some huge deal and get angry about it.
Then, the best are the ones who we do ask, and they have no problem showing me their ID, but the names aren't the same. Now I'm not talking about like where one card says Catherine the other says Cathy... or it's Mary Elizabeth on one, just Elizabeth on the other.. No, this is where the credit card says Catherine, the ID says Mary! Sure, they've got the same last name, but clearly, they're not the same person. What the hell do you think I was asking for your ID for, if I wasn't going to check the names? Do you think I just wanted to see a bad picture of you?
Sure, you may have authorization from that person to use their card, but how on earth are we to know that? You may even have permission from the bank. But that brings me to another point. In this day and age of credit scams and identity theft why would a bank still do that? Why would they issue two cards in Joe's name, and let Joe carry one and let Mary carry the other? Yes, Mary is authorized, by the bank and by Joe to use it, but how are we supposed to know? Why not just issue the card in Mary's name? I have a credit card in my name, but the account is really my dad's. It's not that hard.
We've been screwed before. Let's say the guest's name was um, Jane Doe. And Jane came in and had a card that only said John Doe... we checked her ID and everything, and yes, she had the same last name, so we let her use it. We get a call several days later from John's lawyer... turns out the Doe's are in the middle of a bitter divorce and Jane stole John's card and ran up the charges. We're liable... that's just the way it is... I don't care who's name is on the card, if your face and your name aren't there, you can't use it. PERIOD!
just my little rant for the night.
posted by Queenie at
12:51 AM
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