Be sure to mention my kindness.

[IndianInlaw]

Usually Macy's is out of my shopping league, but I had a coupon and was looking for a specific item.

I found it (on sale!) and found a sales associate.  She told her coworkers she was going to lunch, just as she spied me and said "right after I help this customer".   I showed her the coupon and she said it didn't include the item.  She produced a coupon and asked if I had been sent this one.  I said I wasn't on their mailing list.  She said if I applied for an account, I could get such and such a discount.  I said I wasn't sure they would give me one. (I'm at the low end of the socioeconomic totem pole).  She whispered conspiratorially, "If they don't give you one, I'll let you have the discount anyway".  An offer too good to refuse.  She asked if I had something with a major credit card logo and a driver's license.  I had a bank card with VISA and a non driving ID.  She couldn't find the expiration date on the ID (it has none), so she said she could make one up.  (fine by me).  Meanwhile, they had one of those key pad things for me to input numbers on and I kept messing it up.  She was patient as all getout.

Lo and behold, I was approved!  (Most likely won't use it again)

Okay, to cut to the chase, she gave me my receipt and circled the web address for Macy's.  She said I could contact them if I felt I had received superior customer service and for my convenience, wrote her name.


You know what?  I did just that and gave her a glowing review. 

What the heck, ya know?

[Clara Bow]

A lot of companies require their employees to do that, I remember when I was working for Chain Drugstore they did that to us. It's embarrassing to have to ask for compliments, but in your case I think she deserved it.
I just hope she wasn't violating company policies!

[Shoo]

I have always found the customer service at Macy's to be very good.  The salesclerk you worked with probably had extra incentive to get you to sign up for a credit card, but it sounds like she "pressured" you in just the right way.  It's nice you gave her a good review!

Now, when that card comes in the mail, cut it up and throw it away immediately!  The interest rate is something like 24%!!  

[housewife2k]

Now, when that card comes in the mail, cut it up and throw it away immediately!  The interest rate is something like 24%!!  

Please, make sure to notify them that you are cancelling the card as well, it sucks to get hit with service charges on a card that not only do you not use, but you cannot, because it is in five little peices.

[ZipTheWonder]

On the opposite end of the spectrum....

I pretty much never go to Walmart, but recently I bought some items there that I'd seen in an ad.  Something came up and I had to return one of them.  I had quite a few Christmas receipts in my wallet, and it took me a few seconds to find the one for my return. There was no line in front (I had expected to thumb through the receipts in line) and no one waiting behind me, but the "Customer Service" rep was huffing and puffing until I pulled out the receipt.

I was using my debit card for the return.  The screen on the terminal said something like "Was my service satisfactory today?"  When I reached up to grab the 'pen' to select my answer, the clerk pressed something at the register that deleted the screen and completed my transaction.

I was a little weirded out by having to answer the question right in front of the clerk and a little ticked off that she didn't let me respond.  I suppose she realized I might not have appreciated the negative vibes and I might just respond "NO!"

[Gileswench]

I worked in a Macy's yonks ago, and if their policy is still much the same as it was in that regard, this woman did what they want her to do.

In the days when I worked there, there were cards in all the departments where customers could send notes to Personnel about good customer service. We were all encouraged to make sure customers saw the cards. People who had a lot of those cards turned in with their names on them were more likely to get good raises and promotions. If a customer bypassed the cards and actually visited the Personnel department, that was an even bigger deal. Someone did that for me once and management paraded down, presented me with a corsage of yellow roses, and took my picture. Every week the people who got customer kudos also got named in the in store newsletter.

It was the company's way of encouraging good customer service.

[CreteGirl]

"Lo and behold, I was approved!  (Most likely won't use it again)"

It was nice that she was so helpful, and nice that you gave her high marks for being so.  However, department stores are not doing you any favors by giving you a discount in order to entice you to open a new credit card account, especially one you may not use again.  Having too many credit cards can negatively affect your credit score, and cost you more money in the long run if you have to pay a higher interest rate on a mortgage or car loan.

[Adah]

Having too many credit cards can negatively affect your credit score, and cost you more money in the long run if you have to pay a higher interest rate on a mortgage or car loan.

Actually, having many credit cards WITH A HIGH BALANCE can negatively affect your credit score. Having high limit cards with no balance and no late payments positively impacts your credit score, since it shows your borrowing power. One of the best things you can do to increase your credit score is get a credit card and keep it open for years, gradually requesting increases in the limit. Closing accounts, on the other hand, negatively affects your credit score because it lowers your borrowing capacity. 

[CreteGirl]

"Having high limit cards with no balance and no late payments positively impacts your credit score, since it shows your borrowing power."

Not necessarily.  Having more than a certain amount of credit cards lowers your FICO score, as does too many inquiries by creditors. 

People need to proceed with caution, and not get caught up with "saving 10% if you open an account today".  It can cost you far more than the 10% you save if your FICO score is negatively impacted by too many credit cards.

[Lisbeth]

The same thing happened to me once at Macy's, but my experience was a little more painful.

After wading through a long line, the salesclerk insisted on upselling me a credit card...and then forgot to apply the discount from the coupon.

I wasn't in the mood to get back in a line that had at least thirty people in it, so I sucked it up.  But I won't go through that again.

[willow08]

I did that when shopping at a grocery store Friday. This guy in the produce department was very helpful and I told the manager about what a cheerful, helpful person he was. The manager was thrilled, but the produce guy saw me talking to her and looked a little upset. I think he thought I was reporting bad behavior or something. But the manager said she would pass along what I said.

[andi]

i worked retail for a while in a local department store chain that really trained for customer service (had to have a reason to shop there instead of the mall)  we were required to put our business card in every bag since they would randomly call customers for reports of service.  i learned a lot working there

[MadMadge43]

"Having high limit cards with no balance and no late payments positively impacts your credit score, since it shows your borrowing power."

Not necessarily.  Having more than a certain amount of credit cards lowers your FICO score, as does too many inquiries by creditors.

People need to proceed with caution, and not get caught up with "saving 10% if you open an account today".  It can cost you far more than the 10% you save if your FICO score is negatively impacted by too many credit cards.

I was actually just reading an article on MSN today which agrees with Adah that having available credit that doesn't have a high balance improves your score. The bank USED to look at how much in credit lines you had available to you, now they just look at what you have and what you've paid off. I never close accounts anymore because they look really good.

But there are still negatives, if you only apply for credit twice a year your score will go higher.  AND if you charge more than 50% of your credit limit on an instant credit application that is serious damage, not only to your credit score but to you insurance score (which is another whole ball of wax).

They do keep changing the rules and it's very difficult to figure out, but no matter what the 20% plus interest rate they charge you is enough to cut it up and never use it again. But do check if there's a yearly finance charge (JC Penny's doesn't have one and I've kept it open but haven't used it in years)