Life is full of little annoyances. How do you deal with them?

[Habibi]

If anyone has any story of some petty or creative thing they do in the face of any of these types of annoyances, I’d love to read them.

–ATM fees and any one of a million other reasons to want to poke your thumb at your bank or the banking industry.

–Reality TV. It’s a big one, I know. But I wonder if anyone has set up some way to mock or strike back at this trend.

–Stores that require you to check your bag at the front. There’s a reason, I know. But still, it can get tedious. Same goes for stores that keep behind the counter all the stuff that you least want to have to request out loud.

–Pushy salespeople who ask every 2 minutes whether you want help.

–When counter clerks drop your change on the counter rather than placing it politely in your outstretched hand.

–When credit card offers come in misleadingly official looking envelopes that try to give the impression that youre in trouble. 'Urgent" “Enforcement Division” or other such vague and worrisome tags usually come on the front. Has anyone done anything to get back at this tactic? I dont know, maybe, send an equally official looking envelope (perhaps with lawyer’s office tags on it) to the offending company so that they think they are being sued or somesuch.

[Fringe]

I’m feeling somewhat lazy today, so rather than coming up with original responses, I’m just going to go with the examples you gave.
**–ATM fees and any one of a million other reasons to want to poke your thumb at your bank or the banking industry. **

This doesn’t bother me so much, I just chalk it up as a minor evil that isn’t worth getting upset over. Except when it comes to overdraft fees. I’ve lost well over $100 because of overdraft fees. Needless to say, I cussed a great deal, and have since learned to be extremely careful with my balance.

**–Reality TV. It’s a big one, I know. But I wonder if anyone has set up some way to mock or strike back at this trend. **

I turn away and retreat to my den of nostalgia, focusing most of my TV time on MAS*H and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Sometimes I’ll watch Roseanne as well, although I traditionally wasn’t a big fan of the show. I’m finding it more enjoyable these days. Other than that, about the only other shows I watch are Family Guy and Futurama. So, Reality TV isn’t really a big concern. I basically just avoid it like the plague.

–Stores that require you to check your bag at the front. There’s a reason, I know. But still, it can get tedious. Same goes for stores that keep behind the counter all the stuff that you least want to have to request out loud.

Actually, this has never happened to me. I will go off on a tanget though, and state how very annoyed I am by the ridiculously low number of check-out lanes that are open. Everyone has to crowd into just a few lanes, when there are three times as many that are vacant with no one working them. I usually go for self check-out lanes, but sometimes they just go crazy. My response? Obscenities, of course! I just try not to get too loud; I wouldn’t want to taint the ears of any litl’ ones that may be around.

–Pushy salespeople who ask every 2 minutes whether you want help.

I have a “look” specifically for this. If I deliver that, with a “No, I’m just looking” in my deep man-voice, they back off. Never fails.

–When counter clerks drop your change on the counter rather than placing it politely in your outstretched hand.

Doesn’t happen often, as I tend to use debit cards. But when it does, I just scoop up the change.

The last example provided has never happened to me, so I haven’t much of a response to say the least.

Habibi, how do you respond in the situations you provided?

[Bongmaster]

@Habibi

–ATM fees and any one of a million other reasons to want to poke your thumb at your bank or the banking industry.

For this one I try and stick to my bank and a local convienence store called Wawa, no fees. This bugs me too.

@Habibi

–Reality TV. It’s a big one, I know. But I wonder if anyone has set up some way to mock or strike back at this trend.

I just avoid it, best to vote with your remote

@Habibi

–Stores that require you to check your bag at the front. There’s a reason, I know. But still, it can get tedious. Same goes for stores that keep behind the counter all the stuff that you least want to have to request out loud.

I do my best not to shop there. Checked bags pales in comparison to the Nazi tatics the local Sam’s Club uses though. After forcing you to endure long lines (see last complaint) you then get to wait AGAIN on the way out so they can check your receipt…guilty until innocent. If you walk past the line you can expect security will chase you down in the parking lot. This gets me so pissed off I don’t even have the words to describe it. Its my stuff and I’m on my time. They have no legal right to force me to stop unless they want to accuse me of shoplifting…and yet the sheep which populate my area all wait happily to be checked by the Nazi door guard. Pathetic.

@Habibi

–Pushy salespeople who ask every 2 minutes whether you want help.

These guys I just tend to dismiss and I don’t often get bothered.

@Habibi

–When counter clerks drop your change on the counter rather than placing it politely in your outstretched hand.

If its a place I visit regularly I will return the favor the next time I am in line. Instead of handing the person my money I’ll place it on the counter. I have observed that most people who do this don’t seem to mind getting the money that way…I guess to them its not really rude.

@Habibi

–When credit card offers come in misleadingly official looking envelopes that try to give the impression that youre in trouble. 'Urgent" “Enforcement Division” or other such vague and worrisome tags usually come on the front. Has anyone done anything to get back at this tactic? I dont know, maybe, send an equally official looking envelope (perhaps with lawyer’s office tags on it) to the offending company so that they think they are being sued or somesuch.

Raargh! I rank this right behind the Sam’s Club thing. I’ve gotten quite good at telling which is junk and not so its become a little game. Its really silly though…if you have to trick me into openning the envelope do you really think I’ll buy your product? Sheeze…

[Cat_Whisperer]

Life is not full of little annoyances; life is just full of stuff that happens. If you are annoyed by it, that is because you are choosing to be annoyed. Okay, I’m being somewhat facetious, but there’s a grain of truth in that. You can choose to focus on all the little annoyances in your day, or you can just let them slide right off of you and move on. I’m still working on it; I’ll let you know when I get there.

[Mr.Blue_Sky]

When confronted with life’s little annoyances, I ask myself, “Would it be worth the prison time to end this annoyance?”

The answer is always no.

[Binarydrone]

@Habibi

…–Stores that require you to check your bag at the front. There’s a reason, I know. But still, it can get tedious. Same goes for stores that keep behind the counter all the stuff that you least want to have to request out loud…

I just don’t shop at those places. If I am in an especially sour mood I will ask for a written document that assumes liability for the safety of my personal possesions. Never had a store produce one, so I then walk out. Do note that I am not rude about it, as I know that it is not that clerks stupid policy, but those places don’t get my money.

[BiblioCat]

@Habibi

–When counter clerks drop your change on the counter rather than placing it politely in your outstretched hand.

I’m actually more annoyed when they give you your bills and drop the change on top of the bills, and then balance your receipt on the top of that. It’s awkward, and requires you to use both hands to get your money back in your wallet. Hand me either the bills or coins first, then the other, and put the receipt in the bag. I only have two hands!

[Trillionaire]

@Habibi

–When credit card offers come in misleadingly official looking envelopes that try to give the impression that youre in trouble. 'Urgent" “Enforcement Division” or other such vague and worrisome tags usually come on the front. Has anyone done anything to get back at this tactic? I dont know, maybe, send an equally official looking envelope (perhaps with lawyer’s office tags on it) to the offending company so that they think they are being sued or somesuch.

Maddox has a great idea for dealing with credit card companies sending unsolicited mail.

For those that can’t be bothered with the link, he suggests stuffing their reply paid envelopes full of other junk mail (pizza coupons etc) and mailing them off… I think it’s a great idea but haven’t gotten around to doing it myself yet.

[KGS]

–ATM fees:
I use my bank’s own ATM or get cash back from a store that doesn’t charge fees and I keep careful track of my balance to avoid overdraft fees. Of course, since Wells Fargo is the KING of “hidden fees”, they are always sneaking around trying to charge me for something esoteric. It’s almost like a game with them. The worst was when I called their 800 number to get the address of a local branch and they charged me $1.50 for the call. But that’s ok…someday I’ll paint a bunch of Twinkies red, strap them to my chest, and walk outside the bank shouting, “ALLAH IS GREAT!” Hey it’s not a constructive solution but at least I’ll get to be on the evening news.

–Reality TV:
One word: Netflix. Seriously, what young’uns don’t realize is that network TV has always sucked. And ever since My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancee, nothing shocks me anymore.

–Stores that require…
Why carry bags in the store in the first place? Don’t you have a car? As for receipt-checking, I don’t mind the two seconds it takes for the clerk to mark my receipt with a pink highlighter – if there’s a line, I just walk right out. Nobody has chased me into the parking lot (as of yet.)

–Pushy salespeople…
I just glare at them straight in the eye and start twitching. That keeps 'em at bay.

–When counter clerks drop your change…
Never a problem, except at the drive-thru.

–When credit card offers come in misleadingly official looking envelopes…
Not as annoying as those sweepstakes offers telling you you “may” already be a winner.

@featherlou

Life is not full of little annoyances; life is just full of stuff that happens. If you are annoyed by it, that is because you are choosing to be annoyed.

Been to a lot of self-motivation seminars, haven’t we?

[Nava]

@Habibi

–When counter clerks drop your change on the counter rather than placing it politely in your outstretched hand.

This had never happened to me until I went to the US. I’m used to people counting the change on your hand; some of them, if they aren’t sure they have counted right, will move the coins around on your hand like it was a counter. Then I went to the US and it seemed like most of the store and cafeteria clerks were terrified of touching you. Sometimes they would leave the money on the counter; sometimes they would put it on your hand but very very carefully and if they touched you in the slightest they’d apologize worse than if they’d ripped your skirt off.

I just pegged it to cultural differences, same as this thing about Americans standing further away than Europeans but somehow managing to make me feel like they’re closer.

[MandaJo]

I deal with them by enjoying being annoyed. Not all the time, of course, but the occasional self-rightous fit of high dugeon is really very satisfying. I rant and rave and wave my hands in the air and my husband pats my head and says “yes dear”–because he knows I am enjoying myself–and I go on. It cleans out the system. I like to cuss.

[WhyNot]

–ATM fees and any one of a million other reasons to want to poke your thumb at your bank or the banking industry.

To get around ATM fees, I’ll either use my own bank’s ATM or get cash back over the purchase amount when I buy something. So far there’s no fee for that. (ah shit, some bank exec is going to read this thread and it’ll be all over!) Other than that, I try to withdraw enough at deposit time that I don’t need an ATM all that often between deposits. I hardly ever use cash anymore, though - I use my Visa debit card pretty much everywhere. Also no fees yet for that, so I’ll get some funny looks “charging” $4.78 for fast food, but there’s no fees or interest.

–Reality TV. It’s a big one, I know. But I wonder if anyone has set up some way to mock or strike back at this trend.

There’s nothing you could do that would be more mocking than it is already, all by itself. Don’t watch, and eventually it’ll go away. There’s still some good stuff out there.

And Netflix.

–Stores that require you to check your bag at the front. There’s a reason, I know. But still, it can get tedious. Same goes for stores that keep behind the counter all the stuff that you least want to have to request out loud.

I hate this. There’s not much I can do if I’m taking the bus and that store is the only one that has what I need. And the poor schlub behind the counter is most likely not the idiot that instituted the policy, so being nasty to her isn’t all that productive. I just put up with it and be as nice as possible.

–Pushy salespeople who ask every 2 minutes whether you want help.

Seriously? Be nice. Ask their name, and then repeat it back to them. Tell them that you’re looking around right now, but will ask for them when you need help. If someone else asks, tell them the name of the person “helping” you. They know if they poach another salesperson’s sale, there will be shit to pay later. (This is especially useful in commission-sales places). For example:
“Hi! Welcome to Ed’s House of Cheese! What can I help you with today?”
“I’m going to browse for awhile on my own, thanks. What’s your name?”
“Anne. Can I show you our extensive limberger collection?”
“No thanks, Anne. But I’ll be sure to call you when I need you.” Wander off.
(someone else): "“Hi! Welcome to Ed’s House of Cheese! What can I help you with today?”
“Anne’s got me, thanks!”
For some reason, it just feels nicer (to me as a patron and to me when I worked sales) than the same ol’ barked “Just looking!” which feels rude after awhile.

Again, the person asking probably didn’t make the policy that all customers need to be addressed, so it’s really pointless getting nasty with them.

–When counter clerks drop your change on the counter rather than placing it politely in your outstretched hand.

That I have no tolerance for. I usually suddenly become “clumsy”, juggling my purse and wallet and baby and say, very sweetly, “Could you pick that up for me? Thanks.” Gives them extra work and holds up their line for a few extra moments.

Exception: Ethnic restaurants and stores. I can never keep up with who thinks touching a woman is tantamount to rape or which hand is evil. I cut lots of slack there and just pick up the change myself.

When I did sales, I would hand back the change with one hand, and put it in the palm. Then wait to see what the customer does. Does the hand stay out? Put the bills and receipt on top. Do they put away the change? It only takes an extra second to hold onto the bills and hand them off second - less time than they will take juggling their stuff to free two hands to put away their money. Personally, I like change in palm, bills on top, because I can hold the change with my fingers while I put the bills away. I hate change on top of bills.

–When credit card offers come in misleadingly official looking envelopes that try to give the impression that youre in trouble.

I no longer open anything with a return adress in Delaware, unless I know the company sending it. Everything from a company I’m doing business with has their name on it. Only the blanket mailings are blank. I just hope I don’t have a long lost rich relative in Delaware whose estate lawyers are trying to get in touch with me!

[Peanuthead]

@WhyNot

Personally, I like change in palm, bills on top, because I can hold the change with my fingers while I put the bills away. I hate change on top of bills.

Halleluja! I can’t understand why this doesn’t drive everyone crazy. First the change, then the bills. Why can’t retail clerks seem to grasp this concept?

[Cat_Whisperer]

@Peanuthead

Halleluja! I can’t understand why this doesn’t drive everyone crazy. First the change, then the bills. Why can’t retail clerks seem to grasp this concept?

I suspect it has a lot to do with pay and motivation. We’re probably lucky they’re not flinging the change at our heads.

[ccwaterback]

@BiblioCat

I’m actually more annoyed when they give you your bills and drop the change on top of the bills, and then balance your receipt on the top of that. It’s awkward, and requires you to use both hands to get your money back in your wallet. Hand me either the bills or coins first, then the other, and put the receipt in the bag. I only have two hands!

Even worse, when they say, “Can I help you?”, then immediately turn away to continue their conversation with a co-worker. I swear, one of these days I’m going to jump over the counter. :mad:

[overlyverbose]

@Manda JO

I deal with them by enjoying being annoyed. Not all the time, of course, but the occasional self-rightous fit of high dugeon is really very satisfying. I rant and rave and wave my hands in the air and my husband pats my head and says “yes dear”–because he knows I am enjoying myself–and I go on. It cleans out the system. I like to cuss.

This is my way of dealing with it, too. I like to say “fuck” a lot. And usually by the time I’ve said it a few times, my keys have re-appeared or I’ve finished cleaning up the cat barf or I’ve remembered whatever it was that I’ve forgotten.

The thing that annoys me most, though, is something I can do nothing about. Since when did signalling when driving become passe? This drives me absolutely bonkers. How the heck and I supposed to know where the guy in front of me is going if he doesn’t let me know? When that happens, all I can do is mutter under my breath.

[Nunavut_Boy]

@Manda JO

The thing that annoys me most, though, is something I can do nothing about. Since when did signalling when driving become passe? This drives me absolutely bonkers. How the heck and I supposed to know where the guy in front of me is going if he doesn’t let me know? When that happens, all I can do is mutter under my breath.

Sometimes, when I am feeling particularly jaunty, I purposefully avoid signalling. My logic is it’s none of anyone’s business where I’m going. I actually find excessive signallers obnoxious. People who signal in cul-de-sacs or in parking lots…look, man, I don’t care! Just move that hunk of shit!

[overlyverbose]

@Nunavut Boy

My logic is it’s none of anyone’s business where I’m going.

I think that’s a pretty poor excuse for not signalling. Sure, signalling in a cul-de-sac isn’t all that necessary; however, if someone behind me decides to switch lanes at the same time I do, but doesn’t bother signalling, we have a far higher chance of crashing into each other than if the guy behind me signals, I see it, and decide to remain in my lane until he’s passed. I should think that safety trumps “feeling jaunty.”

[overlyverbose]

@overlyverbose

I think that’s a pretty poor excuse for not signalling. Sure, signalling in a cul-de-sac isn’t all that necessary; however, if someone behind me decides to switch lanes at the same time I do, but doesn’t bother signalling, we have a far higher chance of crashing into each other than if the guy behind me signals, I see it, and decide to remain in my lane until he’s passed. I should think that safety trumps “feeling jaunty.”

P.S. It is other drivers’ business where you’re going if there’s a possibility you might cause an accident by not letting them know.

[Dunderman]

@Habibi

–ATM fees and any one of a million other reasons to want to poke your thumb at your bank or the banking industry.

We don’t have them here.

–Reality TV. It’s a big one, I know. But I wonder if anyone has set up some way to mock or strike back at this trend.

It’ll go away. I hope, I hope, I hope…

–Stores that require you to check your bag at the front. There’s a reason, I know. But still, it can get tedious. Same goes for stores that keep behind the counter all the stuff that you least want to have to request out loud.

I don’t carry a bag, so this isn’t a problem for me, and I fully understand why the stores do it.

–Pushy salespeople who ask every 2 minutes whether you want help.

Yeah, those are annoying.

–When counter clerks drop your change on the counter rather than placing it politely in your outstretched hand.

I don’t think this has ever happened to me.

–When credit card offers come in misleadingly official looking envelopes that try to give the impression that youre in trouble. 'Urgent" “Enforcement Division” or other such vague and worrisome tags usually come on the front. Has anyone done anything to get back at this tactic? I dont know, maybe, send an equally official looking envelope (perhaps with lawyer’s office tags on it) to the offending company so that they think they are being sued or somesuch.

Never happened to me either.

Now, the little annoyances that really get to me are the really little ones. Like today I was going to put a small pile of coins on a table. I managed to hit the table with my thumb, spilling some of the coins over the floor. Those annoy the living shit out of me. The dead shit, too.