And you don't need to have your Sears mastercard with you to pay the bill in store. I'll just do a credit lookup with the SSN and it will find the account.

Hasn’t always been that way. Previously, all that you needed was the statement that had a barcode on it that could be scanned or the card number that could be force input. When they removed the barcode, the register still prompted (and allowed) the card number to be entered even though it was a policy violation to do so. I know of two cashiers that were written up for doing it. This is comceptually no different, and is more the result of IT being non existant to reprogram the registers.

From some of the exchanges on Pebble, other store management has encouraged associates to use the authorization process.

Store level mangement is not who I’d be listening to on this issue. Stores are always dead last to hear about changes, and this is one of them.

A financial officer from Hoffman even PMed me and told me to use the authorization code from the hotline.

I’ve seen and heard the exact opposite unless it involved so ething related to a transaction finalized prior to 6/20.

I'm unsure why doing exactly as the register prompts would issue disciplinary action.

There are lots of times that following the register prompts that can get you fired.

I don't even pay much mind to what card folks use. I'm open to taking as many forms of tender as possible.

You’re paying attention when the register beeps and prompts for you to call. Accepting Amex for new transactions at this point is costing your store money and dinging your overall sales numbers.