InCREDITable: Run my credit? For a discount on an oil change?

I just walked back into the office from dropping my car off to get an oil change. Normally, this would be a "nothing" event during my day. But today I realized something. And this is nothing new, but it kind of caught my attention today for some reason. I also went past that CVS by my job on the way home and all I could think of was that SHIM who made me uncomfortable that day when I wore my pink shirt. But anyway...

The cost of an oil change is $29.99. Seems steep to me, but whatever. But the advertised price plastered to the see-through (ya'll like how I decided not to use translucent) window was $14.99. I didn't even notice the advertisement until the guy behind the counter mentioned it to me. But how did he mention it?

Guy: "If you want to apply for a [company_here] credit card I can give it to you for that price [points at $14.99 sign]."

Me: What price?

Guy: [pointing again]. That one you bumbling idiot!

Me: [a bit stupified] Ya'll gotta run my credit for me to save $15 on my oil change?

Guy: Yes sir.

Me: No thank you.

This made me realize that people must actually take them up on these offers from time-to-time. As if it's not bad enough that we run our credit cards to the limit like Rick Ross on silly stuff, we actually apply for mechanic credit???

Pardon moi, but...How does this make sense?

I own a car that's such a lemon that I have to take it to the mechanic SO OFTEN (or one problem is so huge) that I need [company_name] credit to pay off the work on my car. This, in addition to typical credit lines I already have. My car must really suck.

This is one of those Meet the Parents moments (for me) courtesy of Denny:

"So let me get this straight, your name's Gay Focker?"

(you guys know this is classic stuff here)

"So let me get this straight..." I have a car that's a liability that turns into a credit card liability on top of the credit card liability I may already have? This makes no sense! But it does make you a Focker...A Dumb Focker! Man that's one of my favorite movies ever!

Anyway, let me not make it seem like I have not been a Dumb Focker myself. I did open an account at a certain women's store during my past relationship, so I can't front like I'm all high and mighty. In retrospect it was a bad decision, but it was made out of psychosis love. LOL.

I had to share this lil story because it caught me off guard and made me think about how many times I've been asked to open a Sears account, Target account, or some other credit line where they'd drop my credit score 10 points just by pulling it and I would eventually run myself into debt so large that only my life insurance policy could cover it. Sort of like that trillion dollar deficit they used to always throw around in political circles. All this debt-increasing, rather than just "sitting on money till I'm above the law", like Jay-Z once said.

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Addendum: Just got off the phone with the "Guy" and he tells me that it's going to cost me $120 to change my oil and replace three taillights! LOL. It that's isn't CLASSIC, I don't know what is! Man I'm glad I know the little bit about cars that I do. Gotta love these mechanic guys. They're so wiley when it comes to preying on those who don't know! Fockers!