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Top 5 Ways to Say No to Retail Credit Cards

"Would you like to save 10% on your purchase today?" You're going to hear this question a lot this holiday season, so avoid the awkward silence and be prepared with a quick comeback to throw the cashier off guard.  Here are 5 of my top favorites:

  1. No thanks. I'd rather not take a hit to my credit score for an 83¢ discount.
  2. If I wanted to save 10% or more on this purchase, I'd be sitting at home in my undies shopping on Amazon.
  3. I lost my social security number so I'll have to pass.
  4. Will you promise to pay all my holiday credit card bills?  If so, where do I sign?
  5. I'm not interested.  Retail credit cards suck.

It's no secret that retailers make bank off their credit card programs, especially during the holiday season.  That's why cashiers are specifically trained to put on the hard sell when consumers are feeling the pinch the most. It's also no secret that most retail credit cards really do suck. They tend to have horrible terms, the worst interest rates, poor rewards programs, and painfully low credit limits.  So unless you're making a really large purchase that might net you a few hundred dollars by signing up for their credit card, it's usually in your best interest to take a pass and just put the charge on your trusty rewards credit card. Happy holiday shopping! Do you have a favorite line you like to use with cashiers?  If so, share it with us in the comments section below.

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Joshua Heckathorn's picture

Joshua Heckathorn is a credit expert and has been featured on CNNMoney, FOX Business, Yahoo Finance, The Street, and many other national publications during the past twenty years.  He received a Bachelor of Science in Management (Finance) from Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Business and earned his MBA from Seattle University.

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Comments

Mark's picture

Ask the cashier if he/she has one, and how he/she would possibly be able to sell the benefits without experiencing it firsthand. All in the "friendly east coast/mid-Atlantic" flavor!

Joshua Heckathorn's picture

Is there such a thing as a "friendly" east coast flavor? :-)