I am not giving you my personal information!!!
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
August 2, 2012 11:29pm CST
I go to a store to buy something. I do not want to give my life history to a cashier! I was in the store today and all I was doing was dropping of an empty ink cartridge for my printer to have it refilled. Not only did the employee person ask, name, address, phone number...but I had to repeat what I said twice! I told her I was just going to wait..but she said she had to have it. I said my name and she asked me to spell it.I had to spell my first name (all of 5 letters) THREE times! My last name I spelled it but still..she'd asked again for it to be spelled. I quoted my phone number and she gets the first 3 and then I have to say the rest..twice! On the phone number I was so annoyed that I nearly shouted it to her. My first thought was she was hard of hearing, but that wasn't the case...she just wasn't paying attention. I told her it was an HP cartridge and she said that she didn't think so cause she has never seen one that large. Isaid I've had the printer for 7 years and it has been the same cartridge since the first one. SHe said..."what brand was it?"
But every where you go you are asked for your name address and phone number.I mean..all this theft ID issues.. and they say don't give this and that out...yet you can't even buy anything without them demanding this information. I tell them no and they look at me like I'm nuts..."you mean you aren't going to tell me that?". And the people standing behind you in line..they can hear what is said and how do you know that they aren't remembering the info you gave the cashier to use it against you?
SO that annoys me alot!
4 people like this
10 responses
@flapiz (23133)
• United Kingdom
3 Aug 12
I have experienced this too. What bothers me most is my phone number being repeatedly mentioned out loud. I think they should just give you something to fill out so that the transactions could be faster and to avoid unecessary repititions.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
4 Aug 12
Oh I KNow! You say it in a normal tone and they can't hear or in typing it in, forget the last ones and you have to repeat it..louder and everyone can hear it! Same with my full name...spelled and everything and then the address. I mean come on.. I know they are trying to get a customer base and all..but like you say.. give me an application. I do not want my personal info shouted out. You don't know that someone isn't there listening and then knows where you live and that is a good way for robberies to start..they see what you are buying and can judge if you are worth robbing by what you are buying or spending...
@flapiz (23133)
• United Kingdom
6 Aug 12
Well you are absolutely right. They put their customers vulnerable to robberies and even stalking.
Maybe you could drop a suggestion on a suggestion box or just tell the manager about the issue.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
4 Aug 12
Boy it sure don't, does it! Nearly every store I go into these days asks. And I am not in that large of a town! I recently moved from a larger town..and they asked all the time there but I thought it is the large, preppy kind of town..but this little hole in the wall town... just drives me nuts!!
@Jshean20 (14348)
• Canada
4 Aug 12
I've noticed that the only places that ask for really personal information (like name and address)are the places where I make bigger purchases like appliances or furniture for example. I have noticed for smaller retail purchases such as clothes, these locations are almost always asking for an email address. Sometimes I don't feel like I have the time to deal with it, so I just tell them I don't have one.
1 person likes this
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
3 Aug 12
You have the right not to provide that information.
The stores where I shop don't ask for a bunch of information. One will ask for a zip code, which I am willing to provide. Beyond that, though, I've never been in a small, local store that sought a bunch of information. I guess that is the domain of certain large, national or multinational chains.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
4 Aug 12
I agree.. I'll do the zip as I know they use that to see the traffic to their store to see where to open another one or if that store has enough traffic to remain open etc... but I don't give them anything. IN this case..I gave phone. not sure why, as I was going to be waiting for it, but the rest.. I did just tell her.. I am waiting for it... that info is not needed.
@Cutie18f (9551)
• Philippines
3 Aug 12
It is hard to deal with stupid people like that. I also lose my temper when I have to repeat an instruction a hundred times. Tragically for me, I have to deal with one everyday because my helper at home seems to be having a difficult time understanding instructions. Oh my god.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
4 Aug 12
I know they are told/required by their boss to ask and do all that. I try to remember that, but still...LISTEN!!!! My name has 5 letters in it...how hard is it to listen to 5 letters and type them in?!?!?
@love4kolkata (279)
• India
3 Aug 12
Just keep patience and tell your info once with a voice which he/she can of course understand. If after that once again you are told to give data, probably they are harassing you. In that case you can just ask to give you a sheet and write all your details. Details only contain your name and phone numbers. Be straightforward. If any issues, just report it to the shop owner. That's it!!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
4 Aug 12
You know love...I would do that if I thought it necessary. But good grief.. I was just leaving an ink cartridge to refill and I was going to wait on it. My name was all they needed so they could call me out in the store. I did talk to her in normal tone...and we were only a counter space apart...she just wasn't listening or paying attention.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
3 Aug 12
Hi there Coffebreak,
I have to say that I've never even once had that happen to me so it isn't everywhere...yet anyway. I do get asked my zip code at certain places but not most. If I had to give that much info, I'd for sure be making stuff up just to mess with them. I'd have an alias name, an alias address etc. It would definitly be a fake name and phone #. I've even done it on the zip codes. I make sure the zip I give is real but it isn't mine.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
3 Aug 12
I haven't had these questions pop up on the machine. That's just annoying. We have enough buttons to press as it is! We don't have a K-mart where I'm at but we have a Micheals and they ask it everytime. I don't even give them the same one everytime and I'm in there every week.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
3 Aug 12
I've given a fake zip as well. Kmart asks for the zip code, which is just stupid. I think they used to ask you (the cashier) but now the machine asks you as well as a bunch of other questions before you can pay.
@bhibbard13 (30)
• United States
3 Aug 12
I as well am always asked for my zip code and email or phone number. I always say, "Can I still buy this things without giving you my information?" The reply is always yes, so I tell them I do not wish to give them my information. I usually get a rude or odd look and an attitude to go along with it. I am a pretty private person. I do not want my information floating around.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
3 Aug 12
As you may know I work for a grocery store. I've had people come in and I ask if they have our store card, they say no I Ask if they want one, no they don't. I've had one come in and basically she was trying to be nice but I was like "well I can get you a card" and she finally tells me she don't want her info used. Same withs ome other guy, says no because they need your social. I said they may have before, but not anymore, not for awhile.
I've had one come in with the old style of our card, well two but one was older then the other (the style not the person. though well..)
In any case I can understand your annoyance. I think a store that you are dropping an ink cartridge off at should only need the phone number and that's it.
Most stores around here (grocery, kmart and CVS) they ask for your phone number if you don't have your card with you. I've noticed a lot of people will use cell phone numbers, I use mine...
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
3 Aug 12
Oh yes...forgot about that. I've had them ask for my phone # if I don't have my card on me or even if I don't have a card. The lady in Rite Aid always asks me because I just never have the time to stand there and fill out their form for one but I'm in there alot. She is just trying to give me the deal that you would get if you had a card. She's just being nice.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
3 Aug 12
Sid,
After awhile if I saw the person so much and knew that they were not going to get a card I would just stop asking. I might give them the store card a few times but I'd let them know we aren't really supposed to use it. At our store it's only really used for out of towners...
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
7 Aug 12
Why didn't you just ask the girl to hand you the form and you'd fill it out yourself?
@shaqziad (655)
• Malaysia
4 Aug 12
Huh? you have to leave your contact info just to buy ink catridge? that is rdiculous! you are right, people around may already remember your number after what that cashier did. i understand why you are pissed about this. contact information is not small matter.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
4 Aug 12
Yeah, it was pathetic. Even the lady that was standing behind me...agreed with me when I turned to leave saying...she doesnt know why they ask all that either. I know they are told to ask for it... and even if I had wanted to give it all... I'd still be there repeating it all for her!
