RETAIL FRUSTRATION

      The retail world thinks we're all stupid. They don't think we have it all figured out, but we do.
      The first time Randall's grocery store couldn't ring my purchases up without me filling out an application for their "barcoded discount card" that I could carry on my keychain, was a sad day indeed.....And the days have gotten even sadder. My wallet is bulging from discount cards from Petsmart, CVS pharmacy, Ulta, Sallys, Panera, Costco, Sam's, World Market, Target and the list goes on and on. I can't buy anything from them without it!!
      What happened to the days when the cashier scanned the merchandise and you handed them cash or credit card? Nooooo.......now we have to fumble and dig through our billfold and purses for the additional "discount card" that will save us money....the discount card that enables the cashier to say to us as we're leaving, "You have saved $2.53".
       What do you mean I saved $2.53? First of all, if you really cared about the customer saving, you wouldn't confuse them with three different prices beneath an item......the real price, the discounted price (the one you get when you use the discount card) and the rebate price. Secondly, time is money......if you want to rush us through the checkout lines, you're going to have to stop asking us to fumble for the discount card (I've been known to take an extra five minutes trying to locate the card at the bottom of my purse, while customers behind me sigh with exasperation) Thirdly.....Mr. Retail World, you could save the millions of dollars you spent on the "little plastic discount cards" and pass the savings on to the consumer. Men's wallets could again fit into their back pockets and women's purses would be lighter.
      We know we haven't saved any money in your store........It's a psychological fantasy that some marketing person came up with. You think because you tell us how much we saved, we don't remember that just last week, a gallon of milk was fifty cents less? I assure you, we consumers know when a gallon of gas goes up a penny.
      The jig is up......We already know all the prices and we know how the retail world works, so give us a little credit and keep your little discount cards. WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE ROOM FOR THEM!!! If you want to hurry us through the checkout line and god forbid, we can't find the discount card......just give us the discounted price and avoid the confusion and embarrasment. You already have our business.