Crusty Orange

Why shopping has become too much effort.

In today’s world, when you want to shop, you better have more then your car key’s and wallet or purse. Big corporate chains now want you to make sure you are carrying their “cards” when you walk out the door to your local supermarket or department store.

I am officially convinced it is impossible to buy anything without being asked “do you have your “so-and-so” rewards card today? What is this garbage? First, I have to give them another card that does absolutely nothing, except mark down prices that should already be marked down, and then take out another card to actually pay for it? Is it just me, or does this sounding a little silly yet?

Today, Sunday, I went to go run some errands and pick up some common food items for the game as well as a new razor blade (not for the game). I thought to myself, two quick stops and I should be home before kickoff (which was in 30 minutes) and the stores were no more then a mile away from my house. Apparently, I had absolutely no idea how incredibly wrong I would be.




I went into my grocery store, found my items within a matter of seconds and proceeded to the checkout lines. Besides being behind the woman who sprayed too much perfume to mask up the lack of her shower, and being in front of the pushy business man who thinks that rolling his eyes every 4 seconds will make the line move faster, I was in a pretty content mood until I got up to the register. The 12-year old looking cashier rung up my items (double charged me for one, and then spent 5 minutes figuring out how to void it and re-charge it), and then dropped the seven words of doom. “Do you have your rewards card today?”

It was like a slow-motion turn to him, and at that moment, I knew I was about to deal with hell for the next 15 minutes. He proceeded to explain to me how I needed a rewards card to get the offered prices as shown, otherwise he would have to charge the full price of another 8 dollars for my two items. Honestly, what the hell is this all about.

A manager over heard the little cashier stutter over explaining me how I should open an account and came over herself. She too chimed in and proceeded to push brochures and pens for me to sign in 10 spots, with a side of charts and graphs. I felt like I was buying a new heating system, rather then a razor blade.

I was under the impression that we are moving towards a paper free environment where we had nothing to do with carrying more stuff around, but I was mistaken. I realized they were right, and I should have to carry ANOTHER 20 cards for everywhere I shop just to show the world that I’ve been to that store before. I learned a rewards card also does not give me any “rewards,” nor does it earn me golf points to relax after my stressful shopping experience.

What bothers me, is they can just press a stupid button on the register that will give me all those sale prices and not make a huge fuss about it. I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like if I walked in the store acting like a mute, and just held up pictures of the items I wanted. Would anyone give me this trouble or would they just press that damn button instead of ask me for a card.

This is why Wal-mart is the store of America. I understand that they have sweat shops in China, pay low wages and provide healthcare that is shittier to none, but at least they don’t make me carry around a stupid card, and for this reason alone I will continue to shop there with pride.