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A few weeks ago we had another strong winter storm. We lost a large, mature tree and being the frugal person I am, I saw the opportunity to convert it into a few years of logs for our wood burning stoves. Unfortunately my cheap electric chainsaw gave up the ghost during operations.
Yesterday I purchased myself a gas powered chainsaw from the online website of a large DIY business. While navigating through the purchase and hitting the click and collect button, two times I was offered an option to spread the cost over three months and then a final offer of 15% discount if I opened a charge card with easy payment options.
I found this deeply irritating. Three times during a simple purchase I was interrupted with offers to turn buying a chainsaw into a credit arrangement. This wasn’t helpful customer service, it was obstruction dressed as convenience, designed to wear down my resistance.
What bothered me most was the timing. I’d already decided to buy. I was at the checkout. Yet the retailer treated this committed moment as a prime opportunity to push financial products I neither wanted nor needed. The underlying assumption felt patronizing: that I might struggle to afford a few hundred dollars outright, or that I’d be impulsive enough to accept deferred payment simply because it was offered.
This experience revealed an uncomfortable truth about modern retail. Companies now profit from customer debt rather than from selling products. They’ve calculated that enough vulnerable customers will accept these offers to outweigh the frustration of those who refuse. Short-term payment plans have become so normalized that paying in full is presented as the alternative rather than the default.
Using a chainsaw can be a dangerous endeavour, my wife Suzie panics anytime I unpack the beast. It’s easy to imagine what could go wrong. It’s visceral, front and center in your mind, you have to respect the tool. I feel the temptation for the tools of easy credit are nearly as dangerous as the chainsaw I wield but the instinctive caution doesn’t trigger with a lot of people. It’s an insidious trap that can destroy lives.
The question is why we’ve accepted this behavior. Why is there no regulatory pushback against multiple credit solicitations within a single transaction? I bought a chainsaw yesterday. But the retailer was more interested in selling me something far more dangerous, easy credit. No wonder debt levels are high. It’s just too easy.
Easy answer.
Our politicians have been bought by companies dealing with money, think insurance, banks, Wall St….and the healthcare companies, think pharma, PBM.
Rather cynical and overall I think inaccurate.
Those entities are not thinking individuals, they are made up of a lot of individuals, employ thousands more and generally contribute to society and the economy. Their profits are shared with investors and used to create useful things.
If you refer to health insurance companies when mentioning healthcare companies, there is nothing except misinformation out there people like to believe.
They are not the enemy as much as it’s easy to believe so.
Well when I see those solicitations if I have it to pay it and the offer is to stretch it out for 6 months same as cash I’ll usually take that offer and invest that money in a high yielding savings account and whatever it generates it’ll be a discount so don’t hate it profit from it if it even is just a little.
It’s certainly a possibility. Although, for me, it definitely falls into the realm of too much hassle. I guess it would be a form of stoozing.
Stoozing. I had to look that up. I know what it is – but never knew that activity had a specific name. 🙂
Jeff. It’s always a good day when we learn something new lol
Retail solicitation is a strictly business practice aimed at leveraging your personal data and consumption patterns for profit. While transaction tracking is nearly unavoidable with electronic payments, managing the sales pressure is simple with a few clicks, or a polite “no” to the cashier. Many cashiers are rated by the frequency of their solicitations and number of credit card opening per month – give them a break.
App discounts, dynamic pricing are some new tools to gather data. Stay calm, move on and choose contentment – stress is optional. If “stressed”, look at it backward: desserts 🙂
There is no regulatory pushback because there is no political motivation to address the problem. Not enough people like you write their Congressman or MP to demand it.
Even a large number of letters from constituents wouldn’t stand a chance against the large donations politicians receive from big business.
That’s a very valid observation. Perhaps I should have messaged my local representative instead of posting on Humble Dollar. Although, I’ve found that, unlike perhaps your politicians, ours only seem to respond when an election is approaching.
My representatives always reply, but the replies aren’t usually personal like they used to be, especially if my letter is delivered via email. The responses pick up on key words in my email, and generate a generic answer.
I’ve considered sending them an email full of nonsense, (imagine something contrived by the cast of Monty Python), just to see what their response looked like.
This is hardly a new phenomenon, at least in the US. Department stores were pushing their branded credit cards when I moved here in 1975. Maybe you don’t do much shopping… It’s not just credit cards, I was doing some Christmas shopping on the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s website recently and it was trying to get me to join as a member. I have selective vision when it comes to sites like Amazon – I ignore everything on the landing page and quite a lot more.
Personally, I am a fan of credit cards. The AA frequent flyer miles I acquired with one of mine made several trips more comfortable as they funded business class seats. I sometimes wonder why I still carry cash.
You guessed correctly, I really don’t do much shopping. When I find something I like I’ve a habit of buying multiple items so I don’t need to shop much.
I carry cash for 2 main reasons:
1) I like to tip in cash.
2) A few retailers offer “discounts” if you use cash. (Avoiding the credit card’s processing fee)
I ignore everything on the landing page
Agreed. It’s like getting groceries with a list instead of wandering the aisles.
There are a couple restaurants I go to that have very reasonable prices. They prefer cash due to the merchant fees, otherwise I rarely use cash.
Similarly along these lines is the Amazon Prime & credit card offer upon checkout. If I had these it would entice me to spend on more stuff I don’t need. I just select the free shipping as I only make a few purchases a year.
I don’t understand why Amazon Prime would lead you to buy more stuff. Needing to reach a certain amount to get free shipping seems more likely to have that effect. I currently have Prime, because I didn’t get around to canceling it after Christmas one year, and it has no effect on what I buy. It’s true I buy my vitamins from Amazon rather than a different site, but I wouldn’t stop buying them if I didn’t have Prime.
I generally only use Amazon if I need something specific such as the right air filter for my lawn mower and don’t want to go to multiple stores to try and find it. Will use it for presents for my daughter in California as I can have them delivered directly to her. Also I buy used books through them as I don’t like to have the pressure of getting a book back to the library on their schedule. Ebooks are a non starter. I like to hold a real book.
My thoughts are that if I had Prime, I personally would be inclined to spend more to get, or cover, the yearly membership value. I’m not saying it’s bad or wrong to have the membership, I’m cheap and don’t like to spend. It’s hard for me to enjoy what I call a “luxury” even though it’s a standard of living for many.
Amazon’s credit card offer is enticing to get an initial discount and points, but I don’t need another credit card and I have my credit frozen.
My comments are just my lifestyle and not to be condoned toward others. I do envy those who can benefit from the amazing Amazon. I just read an article in my email this morning called “Is Amazon Prime Worth It.” It certainly offers many benefits, although I don’t see myself taking advantage of it and don’t really want to change my habits.
You do point out valid reasons to benefit from Prime, and thanks for pointing that out. I guess for me, I should never say never, just to leave my options open.
Another reason that keeps me from easily buying on Amazon and not keeping a credit card on file is because of this latest news. “Amazon Issues Attack Alert — 300 Million Customers Are Now At Risk.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2025/11/26/amazon-issues-attack-warning-for-300-million-customers/
My feelings alternate between amused and aggravated every time I’m “offered” the opportunity for a new credit card or an extended insurance policy. I don’t think “offer” is the right word when they are really trying to cram these things down our throats. It’s sort of like being “offered” arsenic.
Thirty years ago, I decided to place every credit card offer I received into a box. After exactly one year, I spread them out on my full size pool table. They took up every square inch, including on top of the rails. I still have a picture someplace. Three decades later, the offers not only come in the mail, but also on the internet and in the physical checkout lines at all sorts of retailers. It’s no wonder that so many people get under water as a result.
Do you still get credit card offers in the mail? I can’t remember the last time I saw one. Moving twice in two years really cut down on junk mail, but I hadn’t seen one of those offers for years before that.
Oh yes, at least two per week I’d say.
That’s really interesting. Clearly I’m not considered a good customer for one! Is your credit report frozen?
It is now, but hasn’t been in the past. That could explain it.
Your credit score is surely over 800.
Oh yes, but my credit has been frozen for two or three years, since one of the data breaches. I have been surprised by how little junk mail I’ve been getting since the last move – it’s like I fell off a bunch of lists.
Before the internet, like you, I received numerous credit card offers by mail. I typically tore them into pieces, stuffed the pieces into the supplied postage paid, self-addressed envelope, and mailed them back. Not sure if it made a difference in how many offers I received, but it made me feel better.
Oh my…I still do that with any unsolicited mail I get. Gives me an intense feeling of satisfaction!
Mark – nowadays there is rarely a postage paid, self-addressed envelope.
Very true. Which is exactly why getting that rare prepaid envelope feels like such a gift—free postage for my revenge confetti lol
Unbelievable timing Mark as I first read my Morningstar e-mail and on of the articles was “Is Buy Now Pay Later Dangerous?”
This is a key paragraph:
Studies also find that BNPL plans may affect consumers’ shopping decisions. For example, a study conducted by the Behavioural Insights Team found 50% of participants said they bought something they would have otherwise saved for, and 38% spent more than they planned because BNPL was available.
There is no interest, BUT there are late fees of 0-29.7%.
Note to our UK readers- spell check did not recognize your spelling of behavioral. 😁
Damned Yankee spelling, I can never figure it out. I had just assumed you used “or” rather than “our” as you do with the likes of “color” rather than the UK spelling “colour.”
See here, Crothers, if you plan to communicate with us yanks, you’re gonna have to learn how to write in American!😜
I need a triple translation machine: Irish English to British English, then into Yankee English. My head hurts thinking about it; I need to sit down and have a cuppa.
You’re right, Mark, the correct American spelling is without the u.
I try to think about sight, hearing and body protection when using a chain saw. Your point is well taken that we also need to be concerned about a pain in the wallet.
I wear face protection and have mediaeval looking woven metal gauntlets that cover most of the hand and arm but I truly don’t bother with ear protection.
You truly should worry about your hearing. Hearing aids help, but not enough.
Amen to that. You wouldn’t believe the trials and tribulations I’ve gone through with my hearing.
My son has extensive experience in both the electronics and automotive industries. He says the the norm is to heavily weight employee evaluations on their ability to sell long-term payment plans and extended warranties. It’s not surprising that the same approach is used with online sales.
My wife left banking because the focus shifted entirely to sales, rather than providing assistance and value to customers.
Providing credit is very profitable. I would guess especially in areas where profit margins are slim offering direct credit is good for the seller.
Here merchants very frequently are charging the transaction fee they pay to the card company to the customer so the merchant benefits twice, avoiding the fee and via card use, higher purchases that might not happen for a cash payment.
Between transaction fees, annual card fees and outrageous interest paid by people banks can’t lose even giving cash back or other rewards. I just read that the 30-40% who carry balances subsidize the cash back and rewards provided by the banks.
”I just read that the 30-40% who carry balances subsidize the cash back and rewards provided by the banks.”
Although I agree with the above Dick when I read about proposed Federal legislation to reduce merchant fees the card companies testify it is the fees charged to merchants that allows for points and cash back programs.
I guess that’s partially true too.
Totally agree with your essay. I have a nephew who only care what the monthly payments are when he purchases something. I honestly don’t get it.
A friend’s daughter was buying a car recently. When browsing the dealerships’ websites with her, I noticed the standard pricing format was showing the monthly payment rather than the cost of the car.