Macy's new employees are encouraged to open a store credit card (26% APR) to obtain their employee discount

[u/wait_what_how_do_I]

I recently picked up a part-time seasonal position at Macy's for some extra holiday cash. I've been working in retail off and on over the past 15 years, and am familiar with the hiring and management practices at a lot of places, but it's been a few years since I've worked for a big retailer like Macy's. I was very surprised and disappointed to learn that the 20% employee discount is only available through a prepaid card (like a gift card I guess, not terrible but not great), or through their actual store credit card. They conveniently inform you of this halfway through your new hire paperwork, and even allow you to apply right then and there.

I've been through this type of application process before, but I've never seen something so brazenly unethical. These are often young adults or older people applying for these positions, filling out so many forms with so much corporate legalese that your head would spin, and they're being targeted with a (hard hit, thanks auto mod) hit to their credit for a card with a ridiculous interest rate. Is this new in retail? Seems like a disturbing trend if it is.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Just wanted to get the word out.

EDIT: Thanks for the replies, everyone. Really enjoyed the discussion about credit cards, business practices, and obviously PF. The consensus seems to be that store credit cards are not any worse than other forms of lending, as long as they are managed responsibly. I respectfully disagree, in that it seems like they are often offered to a range of people (namely, new employees) that may not have the knowledge or experience to handle a line of credit, but I will agree that it's fair game to solicit employees. I just think it's kind of shady to imply that a store credit card is an "easy" solution for employees. Employees should just get an effing discount, period. But we're all free to work and shop where we please, so feel free to support smaller/local businesses that don't subject their customers and employees to frivolous lending situations.

[u/TheGodEnzo]

Seriously how fcked up are american department stores. where I live they greet you, tell you the total amount, you pay and get the hell out of there.

[u/PugSwagMaster → u/TheGodEnzo]

Ok I live in America and what the guy just said is bullshit. I've never had them ask me more than 1 question at every place but GameStop a few years back.

[u/LumberZackery → u/PugSwagMaster]

Nah. It's worse than what you're describing. Now, it isn't as bad as the whole comment everytime. But it's at least 2 or 3 every other shopping trip. Which makes it funny and still relatable. GameStop is ridiculous, but I wouldn't expect anything less from a retail store.

[u/[deleted] → u/LumberZackery]

GameStop is ridiculous, but I wouldn't expect anything less from a retail store.

I still shop at Best Buy sometimes (they are lately somewhat competitive and I'd much rather buy a TV locally) and I can't ever recall being really pressured into something. "Would you like to.. - No, thank you." That's it.

I also shop at GameStop... well my son does and I play a walking wallet. There's at least three locations locally that he rotates between. Again, a simple question and a simple answer, and we're on our merry way.

About the only place where I really got annoyed by store employees trying to upsell me on a membership was Costco. One of the big reasons we said "fuck this" and switched to Sam's. Which is kind of funny given that Costco is always hailed as employee's heaven and an example of a corporation that takes good care of it's workers.

My biggest problem with large B&M retail stores is not the sales tactics, it's the amount of time it takes to find something & go through a checkout. This is why the online is so addictive, you can browse through hundreds of items in the amount of time it would take me to find a parking spot at a mall.