Jim Fakerson at 123 Fake St. in whatever zip code you want will work fine. Telling a fib is not perjury at Radio Shack!

They were first in asking for phone numbers and insisting that all transactions required a phone number. I always gave them the store phone number. Maybe give them the store address!

@slowinthefastlane: True, but it's admirable to bring attention to idiotic policy, as well.

Awesome. Glad to know they fixed their mistake... But now, will they ask for his address when he'll try to use these certificates?

@slowinthefastlane:
Amen to that. My favorite is using Beverly Hills, 90210.

I don't know, maybe I'm just cranky, but this doesn't seem like a total resolution to me. Did they indicate that they're going to stop demanding needless personal information, or just offer the guy some gift certificates to get him to feel better about the experience?

I've had the same experience with my Radio Shack. I just give them fake information.

I've asked clerks for their home address before I will give them mine. Never had one give it to me.

@slowinthefastlane:

Should you have to in order to complete a cash sale?

I had a cash return to make in Belk once and they would not complete the return until I'd given them my name, phone number, address, and DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER. I make it a point never to return to any place that requires this kind of info from me for a cash transaction.

742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, Ohiyamaude.

DONE

I never take the gift certificates. Let them keep the money and solve the problem. Otherwise, they just perceive their bad service as a petty-cash expense.

1060 W. Addision, a classic

I suppose giving fake info is the most expedient way to get out of there, but why not address it head-on and say you're not going to give them your info? If more people refused to, these policies would become unworkable for the stores and they'd be dropped. I've noticed that I get asked for my phone number more and more during transactions, I say no, and the transaction goes on. I also refuse to give my zip code when they ask -- that's not so much a privacy thing as it is about me resenting that the store is going to inconvenience me by making my transaction take longer just so they can get marketing info.

I would only give radio shack my address if they gave me a cash payment, the street address and cell phone number of their CEO.

My solution is don't shop at radio shack. Seems to work fairly well. And has the added bonus of no longer needing to fend off wireless phone sales pitches when buying batteries.

I've had Radio Shack try for the name-and-address when paying with legal tender. I just tell them my name is Cash -- Johnny Cash. Most of them get it, but as time goes by, it will be fewer.

Radioshack is obsolete. The internet is way cheaper, even with shipping, then their 20 dollars to convert A into B

I always use 10 Downing Street, London. Kids at Radio Shack have no idea.

I would have given him this address: The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Just like I tell other sales people my zipcode is 90210 & my phone # is 876-5309

:-)

Radio Schlock is still in business ? ? ?

Wow. They still do that at RS? That's actually a throwback to the good old days - the 70s at least. You know, when they had needles for every obsolete record player ever made, free batteries, and enough loose electronic parts to build your own nuclear weapon - or a killer robot. Those were the days. I don't think I've been to Radio Shack in years.

I'm sure the 20 bucks in coupons that may not ever be redeemed is well worth it considering the value of the data collected from everyone who gives it up with out question.

@valarmorghulis: (asking for clerk's address)
I'll sometimes say something like "my, aren't you forward -- we've just met and you haven't even bought me dinner yet!" Do it while smiling and it doesn't come over as rude.

Doesn't work so well on the older clerks of either gender. In that case, where it's clear they're too low-level and are just following policy, I'll smile and say, "No thank you."

True Story:

Frustrated by the same routine, I looked the RS clerk straight in the eye and said,

"John Smith, 123 Main Street"

He laughed and reached for his wallet. He produced HIS driver's license... His name? John Smith...

He then filled out the paperwork, "John smith..."

;)

They took it seriously :)

@MissPeacock:

On a return, a lot of places now ask for ID because of return fraud. There's zero reason to ask for it on a sale.

Since the cashier isn't the one setting store policy, I just give fake info. My daughter worked for 2 hellish weeks at Work 'N Gear, where the cashiers were given quotas for telephone numbers of store patrons. In those short weeks she saw how the staff were hectored and lectured about getting the numbers and how their very jobs depended upon it.

Naturally, she was quickly indoctrinated by the general staff on the art of supplying her own fake numbers to fulfill the quotas. Two short weeks were enough nonsense for her.

I make it obvious to the cashier that I'm "making it all up on the spot" and leave it at that. Too lazy to contact corporate!

IIRC, asking for personal information has not been their policy for a while. I worked there seasonally in college, at that time we had to ask. When a customer asked why, I said "so we can send you junk mail"

RS is indeed obsolete, but when you need an 8-terminal distribution block or a specialty audio cable, where else are you going to go? Can't find any of that locally.

They must be under the gun by Ft. Worthless to get folks put on their mailing lists.

It's a stupid policy for Radio Shack - but like others said - just give a fake address. It takes 10 seconds, you get what you need - in and out.

@chicagocooper: I use the same address. I often wonder how much junk mail Wrigley Field gets.

@Antediluvian: Dear god, with a name like your's, who do you consider to be 'older'?

Yeah, I've tried to make it come across as humorous a couple of times, but like you said, that'll usually only work if they're in a good mood already.

Yeah when I worked in retail if someone doesn't want to put their phone #....just enter (999)-999-9999...

Quite often college (and probably corporate) campuses assign room numbers to anything that's bigger than a broom closet. I assume this is for keeping track of maintenance workorders or something like that.

For a long time I used to give out various bathrooms (402 Foo Hall) as my address.

The odd thing is, they got his phone number. Businesses use the phone number to obtain the address to send mailings and other crap. So it's strange that they would ask for both when they can easily find one with the other. Perhaps they worry that they are being given cell phones more frequently. Still, asking for an address is just wrong. It would be ironic if, to use the store credit, he had to give them his address.

@MissPeacock: I had a cash return to make in Belk once and they would not complete the return until I'd given them my name, phone number, address, and DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER. I make it a point never to return to any place that requires this kind of info from me for a cash transaction.

The reason for this is to help combat fraud. Rightly or not, many stores now require positive ID on returns (especially cash returns), and often only allow a certain number of returns by a single customer in a given amount of time. This is to keep shoplifters from lifting an item from the shelf and "returning" it with a receipt found in the parking lot, or purchasing an item to replace an old, broken one, then repackaging the old one to return, etc.

After a certain number of returns, many store policies will allow you no more. They ask for your DL to track this.

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20001

@slowinthefastlane: I always give 1313 Mockingbird Ln, then whatever city/state I happen to be in.

I see their plans to stop asking for personal info at the register panned out as well as Jerry Springer's plans to stop provoking controversial outbursts during his shows.

They can't figure out what they want to do with this policy... Back when I used to work there (I know... *sigh*), they first said yes you must get at LEAST name/phone, and address was better (still needed it for things like checks, certain service products, and whatnot).

Then they got rid of the whole policy altogether, only collecting info for warranties, phones, etc... Then they brought it back, and i dunno wtf they're at now, but some of the old-school managers are just real pricks about their metrics and numbers. Severely so.

So just remember this: You don't HAVE to give your name, number, and address for a cash sale (I had lots of people say their name was "Cash, Johnny Cash" as mentioned above). The employees are not supposed to refuse sale due to not providing this information... however, most of them will get away with doing whatever they want, it's pretty sad.

Next time, just tell them that the missed sale will affect their numbers more than their Names/Address percentage, and if they refuse to make the transaction for you, you will indeed give your name and address--as you RETURN ANYTHING you buy at ANY OTHER Radioshack at HIS location, and never give that store a positive transaction again.

Trust me, it'll work. Managers HATE returns.

I always tell them I'm homeless and live in a cardboard box.

1313 Mockingbird Lane
Mockingbird Heights, CA, 66666

I had to buy some microswitches for some arcade controls I was rebuilding a few years ago. The clerk asked me if I had a "project" going on. I told him with a straight face that I was building a remote controlled machine gun. Oddly enough, he didn't ask me any more questions.

@AMetamorphosis: You got your phone number wrong....

@Wimpkins: The zip is 20500...

I guess I'm the fictional phone number / address Nazi today.

@AngrySicilian:

LOL, Thanks !
Its this damn dyslexia again ( grin )

You can use Schenectady, NY 12345, just to mess with them. It is a legitimate zipcode, and matches the city and state, but sounds illegitimate. When they call you on your bullshit, be very insistent about it.

Don't try this if you live in or near Schenectady, though. Most everyone around here knows that 12345 belongs to the GE campus. (Yes, I live in Schenectady though, obviously, in a different ZIP code). Also, be sure to pronounce it right: ska-NEK-ta-dee.

Also kind of fun is to use 22 Twain. Pronounce it two-two, not twenty-two. Try saying it out loud if you don't get it.

@chicagocooper: You falsified your renewal!?!

Incredible, I got the same treatment about ten miles away in Pearl, MS on Highway 80. I bought around $80~ worth of parts (I usually go to Hoopers Electronics, but I was in a rush). When I tried paying with a $100, the sales clerk asked for my name and address - I refused. He then gave me the option of paying with a credit or debit card or leaving the store. So I left the store. I ended up going to Hooper.

Long story short, I have not been to a Radio Shack in over a decade and thanks to my incident, and Tim's as well, I won't be going back for another decade more :)

I'm glad that Tim got a gift certificate out of the deal, but I would have sooner burned the thing than accepted it.