Albertsons (and Pilots) Big Mistake
Last night my wife and I (yes sometimes I go food shopping with her, she likes it when I go along) were at Albertsons picking up a few items.
Now these days "a few items" can add up pretty quickly. Who hasn't gone into the grocery store to get one or two things and instead come out with three full little flimsy plastic bags and $50.00 poorer?
We needed some pocket cash so she tried to write a check for $25.00 over the purchase amount and was DECLINED! We had planty of money in the bank. Albertsons, using some sort of twisted reasoning had implemented a new policy about limiting how many checks could be written at their stores within a certain time period. Our poor little cashier was on her first day so I found one of the managers to have him explain this concept to us. HE even had a hard time figuring out the details and had to have some help.
What it all came down to was that customers need to write at least three checks, of at least 35 dollars each within the last month or you can't get any cash over. Looking over our checkbook register we showed them that our total was well over their minimum. But we had written two checks each around $33.50 in the last two weeks though!
When I asked why were were declined because we missed their arbitrary number by a buck and half, you would have thought I asked them to explain The General Theory of Relativity by the dumbfounded looks on their faces! Needless to say, we aren't going to spend any more hard earned "grocery dollars" at THAT store!
While writing this it reminded me of another recent event in my life. I was stopping by our local Pilot gas franchise to fill up a few days ago. Now I usually just use my credit card at the pump because it's much more convenient than treking inside.
Well, something new had been added to the instuctions on the pump. After inserting my card it now wanted my zip code! I thought, "This is a major irritant, as well as bordering on invasion of my private information." But my fuel light light had gone on ten miles ago so I tried to punch in my zip. Guess what? None of the buttons worked. (It didn't look like they had been working for many other people too because on this, relatively new, pump all the numbers were dented and torn by what I can only guess were car keys of disgruntled customers!)
So I tried to get some help by using the intercom on the pillar, - Nothing. I tried again, - Nothing again. By now I was getting smart. They were trying to drive me crazy!
I made the forty five foot trek through the 105 degree heat into the store so I could pay for some gas. They said it was as new system and it wasn't up and running yet. I mentioned the intercom was broken too and they just shrugged!
Visa now has a $50 limit on credit card purchases because gas is so high and people are using stolen cards to buy gas. AND now I have to enter my zip code everytime I want to fill up so the credit card company knows, I KNOW where the card came from. (Supposedly a credit card thief wouldn't know the cards "Zip Code of Origin"!)
When I tried to use the credit card we designate for gas it came back DECLINED! I tried to argue with the attendants that the system only puts a one dollar hold on credit cards until the full amount is registered but just got another vertical-shoulder-shimmy and one of those "math" looks again.
Ticked off, I used another card, got approved, and went back outside to pump my gas. But before I left I definitely let them know that I wouldn't be stopping by again until they removed the requirement to let them know my Zip Code (and anyone peeking over my shoulder at the pump) every time I get a tank full.
Now these days "a few items" can add up pretty quickly. Who hasn't gone into the grocery store to get one or two things and instead come out with three full little flimsy plastic bags and $50.00 poorer?
We needed some pocket cash so she tried to write a check for $25.00 over the purchase amount and was DECLINED! We had planty of money in the bank. Albertsons, using some sort of twisted reasoning had implemented a new policy about limiting how many checks could be written at their stores within a certain time period. Our poor little cashier was on her first day so I found one of the managers to have him explain this concept to us. HE even had a hard time figuring out the details and had to have some help.
What it all came down to was that customers need to write at least three checks, of at least 35 dollars each within the last month or you can't get any cash over. Looking over our checkbook register we showed them that our total was well over their minimum. But we had written two checks each around $33.50 in the last two weeks though!
When I asked why were were declined because we missed their arbitrary number by a buck and half, you would have thought I asked them to explain The General Theory of Relativity by the dumbfounded looks on their faces! Needless to say, we aren't going to spend any more hard earned "grocery dollars" at THAT store!
While writing this it reminded me of another recent event in my life. I was stopping by our local Pilot gas franchise to fill up a few days ago. Now I usually just use my credit card at the pump because it's much more convenient than treking inside.
Well, something new had been added to the instuctions on the pump. After inserting my card it now wanted my zip code! I thought, "This is a major irritant, as well as bordering on invasion of my private information." But my fuel light light had gone on ten miles ago so I tried to punch in my zip. Guess what? None of the buttons worked. (It didn't look like they had been working for many other people too because on this, relatively new, pump all the numbers were dented and torn by what I can only guess were car keys of disgruntled customers!)
So I tried to get some help by using the intercom on the pillar, - Nothing. I tried again, - Nothing again. By now I was getting smart. They were trying to drive me crazy!
I made the forty five foot trek through the 105 degree heat into the store so I could pay for some gas. They said it was as new system and it wasn't up and running yet. I mentioned the intercom was broken too and they just shrugged!
Visa now has a $50 limit on credit card purchases because gas is so high and people are using stolen cards to buy gas. AND now I have to enter my zip code everytime I want to fill up so the credit card company knows, I KNOW where the card came from. (Supposedly a credit card thief wouldn't know the cards "Zip Code of Origin"!)
When I tried to use the credit card we designate for gas it came back DECLINED! I tried to argue with the attendants that the system only puts a one dollar hold on credit cards until the full amount is registered but just got another vertical-shoulder-shimmy and one of those "math" looks again.
Ticked off, I used another card, got approved, and went back outside to pump my gas. But before I left I definitely let them know that I wouldn't be stopping by again until they removed the requirement to let them know my Zip Code (and anyone peeking over my shoulder at the pump) every time I get a tank full.
posted by Richard Ammons at 9:07 AM
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