Christine Mullen(edison)Sociology- Retail credit cards

I currently work at a retail store where we offer a store credit and a store credit mastercard.  Though most of our clients are frequent shoppers with this chain others are either first time shoppers or ones who are occasionall buyers.  The company that i work for is a cooperation that is located all over the world and is one of the only retail stores who has a company has no debts. Though many stores in our chain are shutting down, here in florida all are doing well numberwise.  The biggest push that the company expects is for its associates and managers to open up a specific number of credit cards each week/month/quarter/and year.  The company reminds its associates that when a client has a store credit card they tend to spend more money.  Our credit card has an outrageously high interest rate which many people today do not want.  Though the company knows that society as a whole is basically in a recession they still urge, us associates to open a certain amount of cards.  The store i currently work at now even threatens its employess that if you donot open one card each shift that your hours will be cut.  Some people up at the coperate level donot understand how hard it is to have a client open up a credit even if the company is offering 15% off just for applying.  I know at first i was a little hesistant about asking a clinet to open up an account knowing the damages that this card has on your credit score and i think that i can speak that on behalf of my fellow associates.  According to Cardweb.com, a survey showed that in 2002, an average of debt of an american household in credit card debt was $8,940 . I guess I should say thanks to those who open up an account considering it keeps me at my job but at the same time sorry to those who i have helped contribute debt too.

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