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

[Liminality]

^ Classic. XD

I've never been asked for my zip code in a store. I don't think it's at all common in Denmark.
If asked for my phone number I wouldn't give it, but I wouldn't have a problem with a zip code.
My e-mail? Maybe if they had a good reason for it. I quite like filling out surveys; I'm weird like that. But it'd be my secondary e-mail which I use for forum accounts and whatnot, not my Gmail one for personal use.

[Becks]

giving out the zip code never bothered me, especially if i was traveling. it's always fun to give them a zip code (an honest one) that they're not expecting.

I love going back to WI on vacation and giving my NJ zip code.

[Imogene]

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

Okay, I wasn't entirely sure if FES H was messing with me or not the night she used that as her zip code. Cool, now I know.
*The More you know rainbow flies overhead*

[Peppergirl]

No offense to those who refuse to give your zips, but I just really can't see why it's that big of a deal.

Sure, it's mildly annoying and doesn't pertain to the transaction, but it's not like they're asking for personal information, or info in which to spam your mailbox. It's just demographics. Isn't it easier to just let the clerk off the hook and give the info?

Like I said, no disrespect intended, but I just don't see what the big deal is.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

For me, I think the biggest deal is the casualness with which people are accustomed to giving out personal information. Most people will give out just about anything you ask of them. They don't even think about it, they just do it, usually because it's "just easier." And they get used to it. So then companies think, correctly, that they can ask for phone numbers and email addresses.

My sister was aske in a maternity store, as part of the questioning the cashier was required to do as part of the checkout process, if she planned to breastfeed or not! Can you even imagine a total stranger coming out with THAT in your face, point blank out of the blue? Now consider this: apparently most people answered THAT with no problem.

I'm a "nip it in the bud" kinda gal. If it ain't pertinent to taking my money, then the answer is, and always be, "no."

Yes its easier...in the short term. I would not like to allow the store to continue to imagine that their customer base is full of people who are unanimously willing to follow the herd and put up with having their time wasted and their privacy compromised for trying to do business with them.

[Stormraven]

No offense taken. But, the fact is that it's not pertinent to the transaction. It has no bearing. I'm also not one for pointless conversation when I'm buying things. I'll gladly say 'Hello', 'Thanks', 'You're welcome', as appropriate; ask or answer any question that does apply to the transaction, but I won't ask, or answer, questions that don't.

Yes, this means that I don't answer the rhetorical 'How are you' or 'Nice day, isn't it' questions. I'm not anti-social, but I'm also not going shopping to fulfill my social needs.

[Chanlin]

Amen storm raven. I do the same thing on the phones at work (and I work in a call center). I've had a few people get really indignant about it too. I just don't see what the big deal is. Most of my calls go like this.

Me: *opening spiel*
Customer: *tells me what they need*
Me: Ok, it should be just one moment while I take care of that. *silence*
*silence* (insert more or less as appropriate to the length of the transaction)

[rant]
At this point most people will be patient and wait. Some will say hello just to make sure I am still there which I don't mind. The ones that bug me are the ones that start saying hello repeatedly every two seconds within two to five seconds of me saying just one moment.

I mean seriously I have nothing to say. The weather isn't pertinent, I don't care about your social life at all not because I'm antisocial or mean, I just don't know you. And ye gods please don't ask me about how busy we are. Like I need a reminder from some schmuck about how busy we are. If its not pertinent then why do we need to discuss it. [/rant]

And I'm right up there with everyone else about not giving out my zip code, phone number, e-mail etc. I usually just politely say "That information is private thank you." To which most cashiers just nod, smile and say ok.

(sorry for the partial thread jack but this sort of struck a nerve for me)

[Bluenomi]

I've had problems signing up to American website when they want a zip code. Our postcodes are only 4 digits so it wouldn't work even if I did use it. Some won't let you use 6 random numbers so I use 90210, its the only US post code I know!

[6809er]

Working at the Shack many years ago, we *had* to ask everyone for names and addresses. It was the single worst part about working there. I hated asking and I totally understood why people never liked to answer. And at least once a week I'd have someone freak out on me.

When I'm asked for a zip code, I answer 02134 (send it to ZOOM!) [cookies for anyone who gets that].

Phone number is 412-621-5808. That's the pledge line to our local PBS station. Heck, if they can get extra donations from it, then I've performed a civic service giving out their number.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Phone number is 412-621-5808. That's the pledge line to our local PBS station. Heck, if they can get extra donations from it, then I've performed a civic service giving out their number.

That. Is. BRILLIANT. Especially since i used to work at Public TV.

[simplyanother]

if she planned to breastfeed or not! Can you even imagine a total stranger coming out with THAT in your face, point blank out of the blue? Now consider this: apparently most people answered THAT with no problem.

Probably because pregnant women are accustomed to being asked all sorts of personal questions. People think of them as public property.

(After the birth of my youngest child, someone asked..."so, was he a vaginal or c-section?" WTF?)

When I asked for the zip code, I always ASK for it ("Can I have your zip code, please?"), thus giving the customer the chance to decline. The proper response, if you don't want to give it--is NOT [in my opinion, of course]... "that's not necessary" or "YOU DON'T NEED IT"...or anything rude. A simple "No" or "I'd rather not". I'm trying my damnedest to be nice. No need to be a jerk about it.

I sincerely hate those that give me "99999" with that smug look on their face "haha! I've figured it out!".

Most of the time though, the zip code question just catches people off guard. They aren't sucky about it, they are..."huh? wtf?" And they'll either give it to me, or not. And we go on with our lives.

The ones that choose that moment to be dicks OR to give me a mini lecture about personal freedoms, can fuck off. I'm a cashier, I'm a captive audience. They can bitch to corporate, if they want to have that changed.

[Peppergirl]

I sincerely hate those that give me "99999" with that smug look on their face "haha! I've figured it out!".

Oh yeah, they really SHOWED you, didn't they! Like you (or any cashier) could really give two shits whether or not they provide a fake zip code, or not.

I'd love to call people like that up at THEIR job and treat them like the treat us. I have the feeling they'd all be appalled and crack under the pressure.

[greensinestro]

I have this one customer I deal with occasionally who is like that. If our quality assurance team does not hear us verify the zip code in the customer's address, we are hit big time for that. This man always always always give myself and everyone else a hard time about his zip code, yet he has no problem giving out the street address and the city. We could still locate him if we wanted.

On the other hand, I did witness at Best Buy a while back this woman who had no idea what the cashier was asking her. It turned out she was visiting from England, and apparently zip codes are not used there. Country codes, yes, but not zip codes.

[crazylegs]

It turned out she was visiting from England, and apparently zip codes are not used there. Country codes, yes, but not zip codes.

We have post codes, which can identify you down to a portion of a street, so when you order your pizza over the phone you get asked tel no, post code then house number at which point the say ok your address is '999 letsbe avenue, newtown, toncastershire' and as long as their software is up to date its correct

[aurelemsrealm]

Yes, this means that I don't answer the rhetorical 'How are you' or 'Nice day, isn't it' questions. I'm not anti-social, but I'm also not going shopping to fulfill my social needs.

[rant]I mean seriously I have nothing to say. The weather isn't pertinent, I don't care about your social life at all not because I'm antisocial or mean, I just don't know you. And ye gods please don't ask me about how busy we are. Like I need a reminder from some schmuck about how busy we are. If its not pertinent then why do we need to discuss it. [/rant]

I think we all tend to get like that, at times, on both sides of the counter. At least, I do. It's no intention of being rude or antisocial. At work, I just regard it as concentrating on my work. Off the clock, I'm usually thinking about the other things I have to get done in my free time. So, I'm not always that conversational unless I really know someone, and it's usually because I'm thinking of about four or five things at once.