This week we learned a great deal about how companies try to persuade you. Here is my personal experience with persuasion in action. I went to Kohl’s near my hometown to purchase some linens, they are nice, and affordable. I walk with purpose to the register to purchase these linens only to be asked if I would like to open a Kohl’s card.

“No, thank you,” I reply smiling, because I know the procedures the cashiers have to go through. The cashier then tries to persuade me by how much money I can save on Kohl’s cash and blah, blah, blah…I put my hand up and ask,

“Do you accept cash?”

To which the cashier looked at me, undeterred, and went right back into her rehearsed persuasion. Now, I understand and respect business as it is, but I was in a hurry, so I took the cash out and held it over my head. The cashier stopped and stared at me,

“What are you doing?” she asked quizzically.

“I am stretching my dollar, I feel you need to jump for my real cash, I am not partial to Kohl’s cash. I like the real stuff, I am pro cash.” I state, very seriously. The lady next to me giggled and looked down. The cashier was totally confused.

“You want me to “jump” for that? Are you serious?” she smirked.

“You want me to open a credit card with your store to charge me interest on purchases I can buy with cash?” I smirked back.

This is the system of persuasion that I personally enjoy taunting. I think they know I know what they know. It is all bullshit. Bullshit clubs, with bullshit dollars, to buy bullshit that is marked up 300% to be magically put on sale for 100%. Bite me Kohl’s. The end of this stand off was me slapping my twenty dollars down for a nineteen dollar purchase and exclaiming,

“Keep the change.”

Seriously, never had so much fun…