I made a mistake this past weekend and tried to buy a desk lamp. The mistake wasn’t buying one — I have a little table I like to work at, and it needs a small lamp — but buying one in person, at a store, with other people.

“Areyouamemberofourspecialrewardsclubthatgivesyoudiscountsonallpurchaseswejustneedyouremailandphonenumber,” the person helping me check out mumbled in an indifferent and lethargic tone of voice. I didn’t really understand the question and made my first major tactical error.