Yes, I understand you don't want to give that information out

[MadMike]

Places that ask for phone numbers though never get it from me.

Same with me. Thankfully, Best Buy seems to have stopped asking, but I think Toys R Us still does it.

The one time, I was in kind of a mood, when the cashier asked for my number, I asked why it was needed. Her answer (or non-answer in this case) was "It's store policy."

I decided not to hold up the line needlessly, and gave her the number of second line I had for dialup at the time. I didn't care if they called that one, as there was no phone connected to it, only a computer.

[Imogene]

it's always fun to give them a zip code (an honest one) that they're not expecting.

I've gotten 90210 a couple of times now. To which I usually reply: "That's not a real zip code, but the system took it. So, enjoy your way too pretty neighbors and all the drama."

I should also point out, the system prompts for zip code for any transaction (buying, returning, cash, credit, debit, store credit, whatever).

I also had an employee come through my line during Christmas, who was apparently from HQ, and she warned me after the transaction that they will apparently be sending out secret shoppers to score us for getting that info. At the time, I had been told by an FES to just put in our zip code, to keep down the lines.

[prb]

I usually say "No" when asked for my postal code. I'm polite about it. Maybe saying "No" is ornery in itself, but I'm sick of every errand being turned into an ordeal.

"Do you want a points card?"
"Can I interest you in our store credit card?"
"What's your postal code?"

All questions I was asked just yesterday at the hardware store in an attempt to purchase light bulbs.

Enough, I say! I simply want to trade this money for your light bulbs! I have no interest in helping you with your marketing and/or expansion plans. You take money, I take light bulbs.

So yes, its a rather simple thing to give out a postal code, and I don't think its personal information. I just don't like to encourage this nonsense.

Trying to figure out which storw this is...

Home Depot
1) Points card - No

Home Hardware
1) Points, no

Lowes
[doubtful, only 3 canadian stores]
1) Points, no

RONA
1) Points - AirMiles
2) Credit - Yes
3) Postal - I've been asked it before

Also, Canadian postal codes are much more "private" than american Zip codes. If you give it out, they can find out the street and a range of street addresses.

[powerboy]

.

"Do you want a points card?"

Depends on what shop I am at, I will say yes.

It doesn't bother me to give my zipcode. Like what was said earlier, if it is a store that is a distance from me, then maybe they will build one closer. And plus, it is just a number. It is not spilled milk- no one should cry over it.

[aurelemsrealm]

The zip code question doesn't really bother me, but I'm more resistant about giving out my phone number.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I give out no information of any kind that is not pertinent to the transaction at hand. I'm there to trade money for goods. Not to help out the marketing department, not to participate in a poll, not to help in building a demographics profile.

Can you imagine how much faster the lines would go if you could just give someone money, bag your stuff, and be on your merry way?

And I don't lie, either. I don't want to give the impression of cooperating. I won't be rude unless the cashier is, but I will not give any info of any sort out.

[Listerfiend]

Not to mention that the whole process really messes up the transaction. It prevents the receipt from printing out, and so people that charge their purchase often assume that something went wrong or ignore the fact that the screen on the credit machine said "approved" and just see "please slide your card." Results in many people getting frustrated over nothing, thinking that their card was messed up or whatever.

It's usually pretty run-of-the-mill where I am; not many people object to it (that is, when I actually ask. I know I'm a bad kid, blah blah). A couple times though the customer's retorted with "what's YOUR zip code?!" to which I answer with the store's. Usually puts people at ease. The people that I hate though, say crap like "oh, you don't need that" or "that's not necessary." I swear, one of these days I'm going to take it literally and not type in anything and see how long it takes the customer to freak out.

[Speez]

I actually work at a circuit city store and the whole phone number thing goes like this, if you have a purchase over $100 the computer asks for your #. Also any credit card transaction it will ask you. If you get an extended warrenty on an item, they'll have your info for where to send stuff, also if someone tries returning something without a receipt and without their name in the system to look up their ticket, they are screwed. Honestly, I have 4 family members in the system with our home number and I never get any phone calls that I shouldn't get, and never get any mail except for the occasional employee mail. I also like when people hesitate to give their number, then they give it, and their name is already in the system, along with their wife, and kids and such lol. Anyway, it is kinda stupid but w/e. The zip code info isn't bad at all, takes a whole 2 seconds to give, and nobody can track you just because of a zip code. But i do respect peoples opinions, i'm still getting paid

[Shadowwalker]

A few months ago I ordered a pizza from pizza hut. Never ordered pizza before so I didn't know the procedure. So I'm driving at night and in a hurry trying to remember what to get and I get the pizza person.

Her: Hello, thank you for calling pizza hut and blahblahblah
Me: ugh....
Her: *finished her speech* can I have your name?
Me: Joe.
Her: and your last name?
Me: huh? ummm... shmo?
Her: and your phone number?
Me: what?
Her: .... your phone number..... (in an annoyed voice)
Me: ummmmm *tells phone number*
Her: and your zip code?
Me: WTF why?!? i just want to order JESUS CHRIST
Her: ...
Me: tells zip code
Her: okay now I need the name of your high school, favorite movie, and details on your love life
Me: *hangs up*

lol well the last part didn't happen but geez man it's really really weird when i'm all ready to just order a pizza and right off the bat she's asking for my full name, zip code, and number. it's just weird and caught me off guard.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Well, ordering pizza they usually want your phone number in case there is a problem and they need to contact you, and especially if it's delivery, in case the driver can't find your house. Also, for delivery, they'll want to make sure your zip code isn't outside their delivery area. But if you're picking it up, really all they should need is your name (and maybe your phone number).

B&N used to want the cashiers to collect email addresses (this was a few years ago, at least). They had a prompt for it before every transaction, and they seriously expected us to ask every customer for their email address. Which we had to type in twice, to verify that there were no typos. NO ONE did it. Not one cashier in my store actually asked more than a handful of customers at the very beginning. We just cleared out of it and started ringing (hell, I cleared out of it as soon as I was done with the last transaction, whether I had another customer waiting or not). They had it for a while, then took the prompt off before Christmas because at least they realized it was too busy then for such nonsense, and we hoped that they would leave it off for good. Alas, it was not to be. It came back in January. But after a while I guess they realized they weren't getting any emails from it and got rid of it. Now they try to get them when people order books (which dramatically cuts the opportunities for collecting emails, since obviously a lot more people buy stuff than actually order stuff). I think now the order screen defaults to email, instead of phone number, as the primary contact (I know that when I preordered a book for my brother before Christmas she asked for my email first instead of my phone number).

I actually put my own email in the the register prompt once to see what they were sending to people. I never got anything.

I don't care about giving out zip code, but I don't give out my phone number. Though when I first moved back to NJ from PA, once or twice I gave my old PA phone number. Just for the hell of it.

[rvdammit]

I've gotten 90210 a couple of times now. To which I usually reply: "That's not a real zip code, but the system took it. So, enjoy your way too pretty neighbors and all the drama."

Except 90210 is a real zip code, according to the USPS.

http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/citytown_zip.jsp is a town lookup for a zip.

[Stormraven]

I have to say that I'm right in line with RecoveringKinkoid.

That information isn't pertinent to the transaction, which is why I don't care to give it. I do, of course, try to be polite about it, but I still won't give it.

[powerboy]

I will give my zipcode.

What I will not give out it

• phone number (unless ordering some type of food delivery)
• email address
• home address (unless ordering some type of food delivery)

[TWOLF]

I can see where being asked for your zip might be irritating, but it's not like the customer is being asked for the whole address.

[RetailWorkhorse]

I have used my grandsire's postal code whenever I was asked for one (I never know where the heck I am, and I have a mail forewarding service) and anytime I was asked for a number I always answered with 1-800-328-44757 (1-800-FAT-GIRLS). It's an adult entertainment line. Always wondered if I could work for them....

"Hello, I'm 5 foot 6 inches, 38-24-38, and my name is BAMBI"*






*Seeing as I'm actually 4'11" and male.