Four stores asked for my phone number today...

[cynatnite]

Took daughter clothes shopping for senior pictures. Four stores asked for my phone number when we paid. By the fourth time I told the girl at the register no we weren't giving it. It feels like an invasion of my privacy and it offends me. It's goes too far, IMO.

[mainer]

1. wait till they start asking for your fingerprint

One store asked my husband to place his finger on this newfangled machine, and my husband said "forget it" and was about to walk out. The clerk called him back and said, "Never mind. Here's your purchase."

[helderheid]

2. My husband and I answer "no".

[Chipper Chat]

3. Corporate hunger for your phone number.

An operator "standing by" will eventually call you to sell you that bargain bathing suit you just have to have. Also George Bush wants it.

[driver8]

4. I never understood why these stores need my telephone number.

Radio Shack always asks for it, and I finally quit giving it to them.

[tbyg52]

5. They *don't* need it--they just *want* it.

I say "no" *once*. If they ask again, I walk out.

[slampoet]

20. These stores SELL YOUR PHONE NUMBER! That is why they ask.

Never has a retailer had to call me about an order. Not even a dry cleaner or a catering place and those are tow i wouldn't mind about.

GAWD i wish that print shops would call when they f-up my printing jobs, but they always wait for me to get angry in the store in front of their customers.


The fact is that no retailer that doesn't live by appointments (hair care, gym, etc.) needs your phone information.

[Atman]

36. No, that is NOT why they ask.

They ask because your phone number is typically public information and it affords them all sorts of valuable marketing data. You're paranoid, man!

.

[Gormy Cuss]

40. With due respect, they use it both ways.

Both to build aggregate demographic profiles and to develop marketing data.

[slampoet]

43. Actually there was a case in Rhode island where a store chain (Ames) sold data to the Boston Globe

and the Boston Globe called people for subscriptions.

[Atman]

45. Yeah, well where is Ames now?

Karma got 'em.

.

[slampoet]

47. I guess that makes you next.

Thanks, i had friends loose pensions.

but you would just call them GRUNTS, right?

[Atman]

50. No.

What is your problem, man? I have no beef with you. Chill out. You're taking this far too personally. I'm sorry your friends lost pensions, but what the hell does that have to do with the OP? Or even MY post about the hourly workers?

Peace, brother. Relax. I have no fight with you.

.

[slampoet]

55. I'm replying to you at the moment post by post.

What would you rather i do? Give up and give you my phone number because it is hard to do otherwise? You really have taken the path more traveled eh?


Funny how you are in the middle of an escalation online but you CAN'T SEE how things could escalate in a store. I'm just calling you on what you say.

Also If you think you can throw a term like GRUNT around and not have it taken personally you have annother thing coming. Don't insult working people while using them as a shield.

I am sorry that you've not had to explain yourself before, like you have asked me to do in this thread. Read some Socrates if you think I'm bad.

[Atman]

59. I just don't understand you, that's all. You're all over the place.

For instance, what the hell is this supposed to mean? --

"What would you rather i do? Give up and give you my phone number because it is hard to do otherwise? You really have taken the path more traveled eh"

When did I ask for your phone number? What is hard to do otherwise? I see you're upset about something, I just can't figure out what it is, or why you feel I'm the one on this thread you have to take your anger out on.

Good bye. I've tried to be civil with you, but you want none of it. We've nothing left to say to each other.

.

[slampoet]

92. Wow. You really aren't capable of a debate are you?

I guess some people never get to that Stage Four of Piaget development.

[deaniac21]

79. Hey Sweetie,

could I get your digits?

[deaniac21]

78. Loose pensions.....GRUNTS

the imagery here is a bit too much for me.

[New Era]

96. I used to work there

I used to work there and never asked people because I felt it was pointless/invasion of privacy, unless I was selling a cell phone or such. However I constantly got reprimanded by the manager and memos from the District office reminding me to do so. They were very serious about getting those phone numbers. I should also mention that it is a VERY republican company and our district office said the tv could only show the promo dvd or fox news. I'd always watch HBO and Cinimax though =) (Maher and Penn & Teller "Bullshit")

[MADem]

6. They get NONE of my personal information. And if they don't like it, they don't get my business. NT

[Gormy Cuss]

7. Providing your phone number constitutes establishing a customer relationship for marketing purposes

and they can call you with offers (least likely) or use reverse directories to attach your address and mail ads to you AND share the info with affiliated companies (such as those who would be happy to market products to a household with a teenager.) Because you provided the phone number voluntarily they aren't bound by either the Do Not Call list and the DMA's mail preference list.

It's not an invasion of privacy, it's an attempt to invade your privacy and you did well by declining.

[slampoet]

31. GREAT POST!!

[jtrockville]

8. I simply say "No, thank you". Then they exclaim

"But you won't be eligble to receive special offers if I don't have your phone number." When I cheerily reply: "That will be great.", I just get a puzzled look.

Doesn't it occur to anyone to go and get what they want without being prompted?

Do products/services have to be suggested as something you want in order for you to want it?

[A HERETIC I AM]

13. Try saying "None" if you want a REALLY puzzled look

I went for a while in late '04 without a phone and found that to be a perfectly reasonable answer. The looks i got were kind of funny, as if to say "What? Do you live in a cave? How could you NOT have a phone?"

Yup. Thats my phone number. None.

[Atman]

9. I worked for a company that helped develop this stuff

Technology allows them to look up statistics on their customers based upon phone numbers, which are generally public information. They can figure out what zip code you live in (good demographic stuff there!) and all sorts of other consumer information based upon your phone number.

And you have absolutely no obligation to provide it to them, and they'll rarely if ever give you a hard time for simply saying "no."

So just say "no thank you," and forget about it. No big deal unless you make it one.

.

[slampoet]

26. You can say they rarely give you a problem but that doesn't make that so.

For instance Guitar Center revokes warranties for some products when you don't give them all your info including address and phone. Also I have been delayed and threatened as a shoplifter by security at once place for not giving my information.


You can say it is rare to have a problem but the existence of this thread says otherwise.

[Atman]

35. I have never, ever heard of such a thing. Did you call the AG?

I shop at Guitar Center. They want your name for their mailing list. And if you bought a warranted product, they understandably want to know who you are so they can verify the warranty should you bring the product back. There is nothing sinister about this...EVERY retailer wants to know who there customer is, but no customer is obliged to tell them anything at all, surely not if you pay cash. I simply don't believe you were threatened by security anywhere for not giving your personal info to a cashier. I don't believe it for a second. The "existence of this thread" is only because the OP didn't want to give her number, not because she was detained by security or anything.

.

[slampoet]

46. I was bringing back an item w/o a receipt and wanted them to look it up by my credit card number.

I gave a fake number at the time of purchase and because their system wasn't capable of looking up the credit card i had used, security was called. i was also threatened BECAUSE i admitted giving a fake phone number.

But I'm sure conceiving of a situation like this is hard for you.



Are you going to defend these people by saying that they make only $6 an hour.........while you call them GRUNTS again?


YOUR experience of America is not that only one. Get off your high horse, please.

[deaniac21]

82. Why you poor little thing! It just seems bad luck follows you

like a cloud. Ah, declare!

[slampoet]

99. It's called not being white.

Look into it and become a real American and not just someone who works here.

[slampoet]

98. So i guess you're just a HOOKER.

Enjoy your money.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

10. Nothing Really Wrong With Them Asking. It's Completely Voluntary As You've Seen.

So I really don't see why it would be something that would offend somebody. Just say no thanks or make up a phone number instead.

[Dulcinea]

70. I give them an old number.

Or make one up. I don't want any more junk mail than I already get!

[DesertRat]

11. Bath and Body Works asked me for phone number and email address

I told the cashier that they already have my email address and that they send me coupons and updates. She said that they need to "update" it. She seemed aggravated when I politely refused.

[Atman]

15. She's a $6 an hour grunt. Give her a break.

She'd doing what's she's being paid $6 an hour to do.

.

[DesertRat]

16. Read my post. I said I was polite.

[blogslut]

24. Maybe the register is programmed to ask for email

Not saying the clerk should have been rude but there's a possibility that the company equipment makes her ask that question in order to finalize the sale. I wouldn't be suprised. And yeah, they ask that stuff so they can compile mailng lists and marketing data. It's a cheesy thing to do but oh so very common.

[slampoet]

23. So if they pay her $3 an hour she gets to take away MORE of my freedoms?

Your logic is flawed.

Just because a corporation is making a person suffer in a bad job you'd like to prolong that experience by conforming?



Are you the person who was caught handing out lollipops and balloons at Gitmo?

[Atman]

30. Wha wha WHAAAAA?????

Take away your freedoms? $3 an hour? What the hell are you talking about? My logic isn't flawed at all...she's an employee who has been instructed by her employer to ask for your phone number. Period. She'd not doing it because she wants your number, she's not doing it because she gives a rat's ass...she's asking because she was told to, it's part of her job, for which she's paid very little in the first place.

I don't know where you make the connection between salary and taking away freedoms. Hell, I don't even know where the taking away freedoms part comes in. They're simply stores doing marketing stuff stores do, like trying to find out who their customers are. Take a layer of tin foil off, dude.

.

[slampoet]

41. So you admit that saying she makes $6 was just an irrelevancy you dragged into the conversation.

But you try to use how little she is paid AGAIN as a tool. "for which she's paid very little in the first place."


You should have just said that you should be nice to every one.

But you weren't nice enough to read the poster's full email so why are you surprised you get emails like this?..........


You make your money from companies who pay people very little to do retail.

Stop using those same people to try and defend your job.

IT IS SHAMEFUL.


Oh and just a note. People take GRUNT as a slur.

[Atman]

44. I simply don't know what you're talking about.

Have you ever heard the phrase "That's not in my pay grade?" The inference is clear...she is not management, she's an hourly worker who does not set policy, so blaming her for asking questions she's been told to ask is totally pointless. I'm not focusing on her salary, you are. Would you feel better if I say she's a $20 an hour cashier? Good grief, man! What freakin' difference does it make?

I did just say we should be nice to everyone, in another post! LOL!

Why wasn't I nice enough to read the poster's full e-mail? I don't know what you're talking about. What e-mail? Do you mean "post?" Fine...what post? Clue me in, please.

I make my money from people who pay people very little to do retail? Where did you get that? I was referring to a company for whom I freelanced -- actually, started by my former boss at the Casual Corner home office -- which developed consumer tracking technologies, like the phone number matrices.

What is shameful is when people go on tirades accusing people of stuff without having any understanding what the hell they're posting.

.

[slampoet]

54. you're the only one expressing ignorance.

"without having any understanding what the hell they're posting"

and making accusations i suppose too.

i understand what is going on, because i have read all the posts.

Please stop loosing your temper. It makes you look like you have something to hide or that you are loosing the conversation.

[deaniac21]

83. I'm loosing my mind or my belt, I can't decide which.

[Occulus]

88. check your PM box

there's something you should know.

[Occulus]

90. he called me a dickwad and accused me of being a thief yesterday n/t

[Redneck Socialist]

64. replied to wrong post sorry.

I hate it when I do that. :mad:

[mondo joe]

58. I think I missed which of your freedoms she took away.

:shrug:

[CountAllVotes]

12. I just make one up

123-4567 ...

ya get the idea?

[Cassandra]

14. The Container Store does that...

and I always say no. Bed, Bath & Beyond and Crate and Barrel ask for my zipcode, which I will give if I'm in the mood.

[Ikonoklast]

17. 867-5309

Ask for Jenny.

[deadmessengers]

18. 5551212

Or, say, "sorry, I don't like to give that out". Worked for me for years at Radio Shack, who, as others have pointed out in this thread, was WAY ahead of the curve with asking for your phone number during every transaction.

[uppityperson]

19. That;'s the number I use also.

If you get gas at a grocery store associated gas station, use it and you usually get a discount,

[JANdad]

75. Just for the record...

As a former District Manager for RS...they only asked for the last four digits of your phone number...

[deadmessengers]

76. Not when I worked there

I worked there back in 1990, and I had to ask for a customer's entire phone number. I remember quite clearly getting bitched out about it by people rightfully concerned with their privacy.

[JANdad]

77. Not when I worked there...

You are mistaken...and btw...I worked there at the same time...The only time full numbers were requested was for TSP amd returns...

[tammywammy]

21. Just say no or make up a number

That's what I do.

I don't mind giving out my zip code, but I don't give out my phone number.

[rucky]

66. As somebody who helps maintain my wife's store mailing list...

Please just say "No" don't make up a number or address or email - it's a pain in the ass.

and in case you were wondering, no, we don't sell or share personal information, and customers usually appreciate the contact. and if they don't, they opt out without any backtalk.

[slampoet]

22. "Dude I just had three root canals would you just give me my damn magazine?" is what i had to say

to get a Guitar Center employee to back off.

He was training three newbies too. I'm glad i embarrassed him. He only lasted 4 months there anyway.

Why? apparently he did the same thing to Duke Robilard and got fired.

[sniffa]

25. i give the same number every time

it's usuaLLy met with Laughs and actuaLLy entered into their system.

555-5555

[Rosemary2205]

27. My cell number is 919-677-8000

Actually it's the corporate offices of one of the biggest data mining firms in the US :evilgrin:

[cynatnite]

28. ...

:rofl: I'm gonna remember that.

[cynatnite]

29. n/t

[slampoet]

57. GREAT POST

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

32. The first time that happened to me was 20 years ago at Toys R Us. I told them NO and

continue to say No to any store that asks if delivery isn't involved. I don't mind giving my zip code. It is no where near as personal.

[Fox Mulder]

33. Best Buy asks for my number too.

I never give it to them. They don't need it at all.

[brettdale]

34. Heck sounds like something that happen to me

I went into a department store and bought a dvd, the sales clerk said

"I need your address and phone number"

I replied

"But Im paying with Cash"

she replied

"Doesnt matter, this store has a policy, we dont sell anything without asking for the customers address and phone number"

I replied

"Am I on some sort of mailing list?"

she just laughed and said

"No, a bit paranoid today, huh"

So I just walked out and got my DVD elswhere.

The DVD was The Office Xmas Special BBC Version by the way.

[Atman]

37. "We don't sell anything without asking." That doesn't say you must answer.

She was 100% correct. Story policy. The register screen comes up with a blank text field prior to finalizing the sale which prompts the cashier to ask you for the information. The cashier also has a button there which is essentially "customer declined." Saying they don't selling anything without asking for the information is not at all the same as "We won't sell it to you unless you provide us with the information." Not at all. But they want you to think it is. Which, apparently, you did.

.

[brettdale]

39. Well thats what I thought until later

Apprently this store wont sell you anything, unless you give them your name and number.

[Ilsa]

38. Makes one wonder if the store is working for the gubmint. nt

[orleans]

87. what was the name of the store? is it a national chain? n/t

[mondo joe]

42. I just say "I don't do that. Thanks."

I also consider it invasive, but it's not the fault of the person working there.

[Stinky The Clown]

48. Radio Shack used to do that all the time ... and ask for your name

I got really fed up with it years ago. When paying with a Twenty and asked for my name, I answered "Jackson". If I was paying with Ones, I used to say "Cash". If pressed, I used to say "Buh-bye"

[rucky]

68. I used to work at Radio Shack...

and we had to maintain a quota of at least 90% of customers giving us their information, or we got written up.

[Berry Cool]

49. Shopping for anything in a store is so unpleasant nowadays.

You can't just pick out what you want, take it to the counter, pay for it and leave.

They ask me if I need anything else (trying to get me to impulse purchase). I say no.
They ask me if I have their loyalty card. I say no, and they ask me if I want to apply for it. I say no, and they give me a spiel on how much money it will save me. Again, I say no.
They ask me if I will be charging my purchase to their credit card. I say I don't have one, and they ask if I'd like to apply for one. I say no, and they tell me how much I'll save on today's purchase if I do. (They won't tell me it's at 26% interest and that even applying for it will show up as a ding on my credit report.) Again, I say no.
They ask me if I'd like to buy some magazines today (at FYI, anyway). Again, I say no.
They ask for my phone number. Again, I say no.
They ask for my email. Again, I say no. They tell me about all the special offers I'll miss. Again, I say no.

By the time the average purchase is rung up and I have left the store, I have had to tell someone "no, thank you" about five to seven times. Of course, they know how much people hate having to say no. Especially again and again and again. That's what they count on.

I know the people behind the counter are not to blame. In fact, I know they'll probably be fired by the management who came up with this brilliant idea for their failure to get me to sign up for their loyalty card or credit card. And knowing that only makes me feel worse.

Is it any wonder I do so much of my shopping online?

[cynatnite]

53. Clerks from all three stores asked me if I wanted their credit card...

I got a little snarky at one point and got a dirty look for it. Belk's, Rue 21 and Goody's all asked for our number and offered a small discount for applying for a credit card.

[Hotler]

51. Next time a sales person asks for your phone number...

give them them one of these numbers; White House switchboard 202-456-1414, or 202-456-6213 for the comments line. when asked for a zip code give them 20500

[triguy46]

52. I always get asked for my zip code....

So at one store I gave my pat "90210" with a blink or hesitation. The clerk looked at me, paused, "Really?" "Yep." "That is sooo cool."

Then a week or two later at another store, same deal, "90210." Stare. Pause. "Right. I'll go ahead and put that down." "You don't believe me?" "Yeah, right".

In both I was in my typical summer Oklahoma attire of tshirt, ball cap, flip flops, khaki shorts. I can only imagine that clerk 1 needed the brush with fame of having checked someone out who was from "90210." Clerk two on the other hand knew bullshit when she heard it.

[brettdale]

56. hehehehehe

Thats funny.

[mnhtnbb]

60. I tell them I'll give them my zip code--but not my phone number.

They can do all the marketing analysis they want with zip code.

I have an unlisted phone number and there's no way I'm giving it to store clerks.

[havocmom]

61. I used to be polite and say, no, you don't need it.

Then, the clerks were getting more aggressive about the matter. I know flat out they are forced into it by management/policy. I now say flatly and coldly, NO and offer no other utterance. It isn't their fault and I won't be more rude than flatly telling them no, but I also won't allow for further discussion of the matter.

Management would stop insisting if we, the public, all just say no and offer NOTHING else on the matter.

[Matsubara]

62. It is an invasion of privacy, and it's rude.

We as Americans have become so docile in the face of corporate domination, that many people simply comply as a matter of course and give them the digits.

It would be good ef EVERYONE, the MINUTE They are asked for personal information, simply balked, cancelled the purchase and walked out.

Enough of that, and I'm pretty sure the stores would stop their damn prying and rudeness.

[treestar]

73. Exactly. Who is the customer here? They want to sell their crap

to people. They're not going to if you won't give your phone number? They can keep it.

[Nikki Stone1]

63. Give them a fake number. I give them the phone # dedicated to my computer line.

They've never gotten through, suprisingly enough.

[Redneck Socialist]

65. It's for marketing. Everybody relax

Just say no or give them a fake one. The person at the register doesn't give a rat's ass if you answer or not. They are only asking because their boss told them they had to.

[upi402]

67. Agreed. And paypal fishes too. They all do. n/t

[SoCalDem]

69. use the correct prefix, and scramble the other numbers

:)

[DFW]

71. Next time, ask the sales clerk for THEIR phone number first

When they refuse, tell them they can have your phone number when you can have theirs.

When in the States, I get asked for my zip code. When I start with a capital "D-" instead
of numbers, and a phone number that starts with 01149, they usually drop the subject.

[moondust]

72. I always tell them

to skip that part. And they somehow always manage to process my transaction without it.

It is indeed an invasion of privacy.

[Decruiter]

74. Give them the number for time. Give them the number for City Hall.

Give them any number that comes to mind, just not your real number.

Marketing gone to hell in a handbasket.

Ask what happens if you refuse to give your "number", will they not let you make the purchase?

ROFLOL.

[Breeze54]

80. I tell them to call - 1 888 - Don't Call Me!! OR ( 555 - EAT SHIT!) LOL!

:P

I got asked my DOB, at the grocery store, before I could buy cigs last week!!
I've NEVER had that happen before!!
She had to put it in the register or it wouldn't scan!! wtf!

I get asked my phone # a lot too but I always make one up.

Usually 555-555-5555 :P That'll show 'em! :rofl:

[baldguy]

81. RWers will kill to prevent the govt from invading what they see as their "privacy"

But they give it up willingly - even eagerly - to corporations.

[ChoralScholar]

84. I go,

7....4....1....9....9....9....Q....F....1....,....:....

It pisses them off.

[deaniac21]

85. When they came to take away the phone numbers

I did nothing because I had no phone.....

[triguy46]

86. BR-549.

[renate]

89. I just say it's unlisted and I've never had a clerk pursue it any further

Never once, in 13 years, has anybody said "oh, please?" or anything like that.

I might start giving out the data-mining guy's number, though. :rofl:

At Safeway or any other store where you need a membership card/phone number to get a discount, I punch in my area code and then 123-4567.

[question everything]

91. Mine is listed, but I still just say "no"

and this is the end of this.

You see, even if one is on the "do not call" list, companies that have "established" relations with you are exempt. And, I suppose, if you've provided the number then they have clear sailing.

[porphyrian]

93. Just make one up using a real area code and prefix.

Ironically, Radio Shack finally stopped that shit.

[SoCalDem]

94. I once tried to buy a stinking watch battery there, and when they asked

for my name, address & phone number, I said "why do you need that?". They said they could not complete the sale without it, so I left...sans battery :grr:

[porphyrian]

97. Yeah, I hated that and their stupid junk mailers.

It's not like they were charging less than anyone else to justify the mandatory marketing crap.

[Iris]

95. I always give it.

I live in an area that has been sorely neglected as far as goods and services go because the population there has been seen as "undesirable." I have to shop in more upscale neighborhoods for things I'm used to having, which is a luxury many of my neighbors don't have. So, I give my number and zip code readily in an attempt to show that people in my area actually have money to spend.