Stores that ask for zip code or phone #

E

El_Guapo

500+ Posts
I HATE that. I absolutely refuse to give my phone number. I used to refuse to give my zip code but then I read somewhere that if you're paying by credit card, your zip code helps verify that the card is really yours and not stolen. So I figure zip code is relatively innocuous and I usually begrudingly give it.

Today I was at a store buying a trivial $3 item. I pulled out a $5 bill from my wallet. The clerk asks for my zip code. I said "no". She asks again - I said "I'm paying cash "and held up the $5. She said she couldn't complete the transaction without my zip code, so I said "that's fine", left the item on the counter, and walked out.

Was I being a prick? What the hell kind of store won't take CASH without your zip code? I'm a little concerned because in a way, this sounds like something a long haired maggot infested dope smoking FM rock and roller ACLU type would do, but on the other hand, it's none of their damned business what my zip code is, ESPECIALLY when I'm paying CASH, so maybe I just taught them a valuable lesson about the free market.
 
Dude - use 78787 or whatever. Phone number? 281-988-8899 or whatever comes into my head at the second.

It's just a number and it's fake. You did teach that little underpaid clerk a valuable lesson about American Free Enterprise though.
rolleyes.gif
 
I don't think it has anything to do with credit cards, b/c I always get asked that at places like Best Buy. I would guess that it has something to do with marketing, trying to determine where each store's customer base is coming from.
 
previous poster is right.

best buy does it to determine how far people are having to drive to shop at their store in order to help them decide where to open new stores.

i assume other companies do it for the same reason, but it's not for credit card validation.
 
Gas stations sometimes ask for your zip code to verify your credit card but your right most places like best buy and radioshack probably just use it for statistical purposes.
 
When I got to the car I thought to myself that I could have just given her a b.s. number - like 12345 - but then I got to thinking why should I have to? Why is "I'd rather not give you my zip code" good enough? At other places when I've put up resistance they might look at you funny but they just continue the transaction without it, and that's even when I was using a credit card. It's astonishing to me that they would refuse to sell me something just because I didn't want to give my zip code. I mean, is a retail store's primary function to sell products or to collect marketing data?

What I really should do is go back and get a Titlest 983K and whip out $400 cash and see if they'd let me leave THAT puppy on the counter over a stupid zip code.

I don't know - I'm about as far removed politically from a civil liberty/privacy zealot as one can be, but I really hate it when stores ask for this stuff.

Ahhh yes, Radio Shack. They started this crap. RS has probably lost hundreds of dollars in potential sales from me over the years because I hated being asked for my name and address just because I wanted to buy a damn battery.

Basta!
 
Guapo, It's not your fault. The sales people have the right to just forget about that question. It’s when the clerk is a prick or a stubborn *** that this happens. What you could do is ask for the manager. Then explain that you do not wish to give this information. The manager is not going to refuse a sale because of this. I have seen upper or middle management straighten out clerks that act like this way.
Your situation of stubborn customer versus stubborn clerk is classic. The customer is always right in this case.
 
Guapo, I'm betting you were at Golfsmith, right? If so, PM me and I'll explain the rationale.
 
Dude, it is not that hard. Just make up some number. I ususlly drop a 99999 for my zip code and 512-123-4567 for my phone numnber when they ask me.
 
idiots, think a bit. use my old school 512 Cell # AND SOME 512 credit data. I kive in NYV, i get next to zero spam, I use some serious other stuff to protect my credit report and mail and it...guess what it works. I get no crap. I get only real fair credit offers. don't apply for what you don't need. shred your paprer, pay cash, stick with one or 2 banks and you will be ok.

do i know what I'm talking about? enough that I was asked to to speak at the UN last week, is that ok? I know about ebiz, I know about security, I know about identity. if you are really in need, you can PM me, but I'm a corp guy, not really door 2 door. but I know some 121 tricks
 
I always say, "what's the zip code here?"

The clerk usually tells me.

Then I repeat what she told me. Sometimes they're surprised.
 
Make the **** up. When asked for that personal info, I always say "hmmm. Let's see here. Zip code. Um, lets go ahead and use 224443". "Um, sir, there are only 5 digits". "Oh, then just take off the three, I guess".

"What is your home phone number?"
"I'd say it's probably 512-331-3331"
"Wow. That must be easier to remember!"
"um, yeah"

If I'm on my toes, though, I always give them the telephone number for the store where I am.

Or you could say you're from Canada, and give them a Canadian equivalent: "4GB 29C".

Or you could say "Well, actually, I'm from a small town in central Ohio. There are not many people that know this, but there are 43 urban districts in the continential United States that have not yet adopted the zip code technology. 38 of those are Amish communities, but the other five are not. I live in one of those communities. Now, I do know that there is a vote coming up soon -- and I mean very soon, like within the next 4 months-- that will include us in the ZIP code database. If you want, I can email that to you when it does eventually happen. Should I just send it to the corporate email account, or your personal account?"
 
Guapo.... not your fault at all... it is probably just a poorly trained clerk... I'm sure they're told during training that if someone refuses to give you a zip code you just enter 00000 or something which would generate a different statistical category for their purposes...
I mean come on.. you were talking to a $5/hr moron who can't think for themself and was being lazy... you deviated from the norm and it threw them into a tizzzy since they can't think... you should've just asked for the manager..
 
You might get some ***** talk **** to you, but give her a look like you're gonna smash her in the face next, watch her shut the F up.
 
Ok, I understand the phone number, but why worry about giving out your zip? Anyway, I agree that it is annoying and i take extra steps to avoid radio shack, container store, etc. because they waste so much time at check-out with that. Get us out of line and on the road ASAP, please!!
 
My girlfriend went into Conn's yesterday to buy me a $40 DVD player, and was asked for her name, address, phone number. She was paying with cash as well.

What the hell? I wish I was there. Going to return it anyway, it won't play burned DVDs. Any suggestions on a cheap DVD player that will play burned DVDs?
 
Good God, I cannot understand some of you people. You get your panties in a wad and decide to act like jackasses over the most inane stuff.

It's very simple. If they ask for you phone number, simply say, "I prefer not to give out my phone number." If they ask for your zip code, give it to them. What possible harm could come from it? They are simply trying to improve their service and their marketing.

But, then again, I tend not to walk around this planet with a boulder-sized chip on my shoulder. I think I'm turning into a rare breed.
 
I agree with some of these other posts--who cares about giving out a zip, fake or real? A zip code is a large geographic or populous area and disclosing it will not prompt the store to send agents to knock on your door. Stores use it only for internal marketing purposes.

Now for the phone number, big difference. Stores ask for the phone number to get you on mailing lists. They can do reverse look-ups and get your street address for mailing lists, which some sell to other retailers. Unless you want more junk mail, give a fake or make a stand.
 
I think it upsets most people because now it's a zip code. Next it'll be a phone number. Next address. Before you know they'll require your kids DNA.

It's an invasion of privacy. Your giving this business your money. Why the hell should you have to give them personal information so they can find yet even more ways to annoy you with ads, junk mail, telemarketing calls at dinner time...

Wasn't it Kroger that ran to the gov't immediately after 9-11 and OFFERED them all of their Kroger card customers private records?
 
Update - went to the same store yesterday (albeit their other location) and bought a box of Precept Laddies. Paid with a credit card and was not even asked for my zip code.

Go figure.
 
don't blame the lowly clerks, they are just tools of the corporate system. Just give them the UT zip 78705 was it?? Phone? How about the Aggie AD office?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Weekly Prediction Contest

* Predict HORNS-AGGIES *
Sat, Nov 30 • 6:30 PM on ABC

Recent Threads

Prediction Results Threads

2024 Schedules

Back
Top