Reader Helen went to Home Depot to buy some various and sundry items, but left empty-handed after the self-checkout refused to let her complete her purchase without disclosing what she planned to do with her items. Helen says:
On Sunday, May 4, 2008 I went to the Home Depot on Joppa Rd, Baltimore County Maryland. My purchases includes several plants, pots, and tile sealer. I went to the self check-out line because of the speed and scanned my items. Before I could indicate I was paying by cash the machine wanted me to enter a zip code, I entered 11111 because it’s really none of their business. The next screen wanted me to key in if my items were for home or business use. I had no ability to bypass this screen even thought I did not want to answer this question.
I requested assistance from the employee assigned to the area because again I do not feel I need to report to Home Depot where I plan to use items I purchase. I was told my transaction would not be completed without providing the information requested. I left without my items.
What next? Is “big brother” going to screen my cholesterol levels before allowing me to by diary products at the grocery?
I have e-mailed my concern over this interaction to Home Depot and all I have in response is some statement about sending this on to someone else in their system. Clearly, most individuals who utilize the self-checkout want to get out quickly and do not stop to question the invasion of privacy issue. If this is an attempt by the Home Depot to collect information as a survey, I would hope they would have the sense to request an individual’s cooperation.
Thank you for the forum where I can at least vent to a group who seems to care.
Sincerely:
Helen
Yuck. You already emailed the store, but if you’re really concerned about letting Home Depot know that this stupid survey cost them your business, feel free to launch an EECB (executive email carpet bomb). The CEO’s email address is Frank_Blake@homedepot.com. For more information about launching an EECB, click here.
What do you think about “surveys” like this one? Do they affect where you choose to shop?
(Photo: cmorran123 )
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@FreeMarketGravy:
Like I said, the update is theory is possible. But I’ve been shopping at at HD’s in various parts of the country for 10 years and the procedure has never changed.
@donnie5: our website asks for zipcode when you register. We have a disproportionate number of people in 12345 and 90210.
Hint:
12345 = Schnectady, New York.
I have “lived” there for years! And have a “business” there also!
I always used to opt out of a bunch of these, but then I realized I’m using my debit card, credit card, or a store “discount” card anyway, so unless I’m paying cash I don’t make a big deal about it, I do, however, usually supply false information. I guess my thought is that I should make it more difficult for anyone to track the info.
@deserthiker:
Paranoia – Greek, Highly aware
@PrestonBerryworth:
I really don’t understand the difference between being accurately marketed to without your consent, or being inaccurately marketed to against your consent? Except of course that maybe that if you put in FAKE info it would make the experience even WORSE.
Yeah wtf were you talking about again?
This is pretty funny! Before I was old enough to understand the gravity of the situation, I had 2 similar experiences at Home Depots in Chicago.
The first in 2003. I was a sophomore in High School and needed PVC pipe for school (I was on the props & set building crew in the Drama Club). I went alone to Home Depot to buy the piping and they gave me a really hard time about buying it. I told the cashier over and over that it was for a high school play prop (the cashier was probably a year or so older than me). A supervisor was called over, they asked for ID, which I didn’t have… I guess you had to be 18 to buy PVC Pipe. I now know that people build bombs with it…… which is no fun.
The 2nd occurance was in 2004. I was 17 – in my senior year of highschool. Again I was shopping for the Drama Club – this time I needed spray paint. Home Depot wouldn’t sell it to me because I was under 18 (because the urge to destroy property ends at 18 as everyone knows).
In retrospect, I completely understand these situations, but at the time I was infuriated. I’m 21 now, and realize that I must have seemed like a bomb-building, property-destroying delinquent.
I ALWAYS lie on that sort of thing and also on those “register to access our newspaper” or similar sites, because I resent the whole idea.
In fairness to Home Depot, not too long ago this kid from my area bought materials for pipe bombs from a Home Depot and an employee noticed his odd purchases, so she wrote down his license plate and called the police. Sure enough, they searched his house and found pipe bombs.
@maztec:
12345, lol. Mine is usually 01234 or something like that.
They only want to use your zip for market research. Who care? Enter it (or the next town’s).
And the title of this article is completely misleading, and more deptive than anything HD is doing. You put a provocative title on a post to generate more clicks and ad revenue. Then on the follow-up page, we see the ral story and that this person is just a paranoid crackpot.
The hypocrisy on this site is breathtaking.
@Dakine:
Perhaps my time means nothing to YOU. However, I think it might mean something to the dozens of children I try to positively influence on a daily basis. And they just might remember something about me too…ya know, considering they are orphans and all.
Sorry your time is so meaningless to you.
Why is this even a story? Do people seriously waste their breath worrying about this stuff? I chalk this up (as well as another post today) to “nothing else better to do but whine and complain” syndrome. Its an epidemic.
@StevieQ: +1
@RokMartian: Exactly – these posts aren’t pro-consumer. They’re pro-idiotic behavior that wastes the time of all parties involved. This person, the refuse ID people, and the “no you can’t look at my receipt” people should form a support group.
I do heating and Air Conditioning installs and service and use the Depot’s self checkout frequently. The reason it asks for home or business is that if you select business, you have the option of putting in a invoice #. I use my companys Home Depot card and the purchases are easier to track when you put the job number as the invoice number. Next time just press “home” and it won’t ask you anymore questions. YOU ARE JUST NUTS!
@BeccaThePromoMami
Actually, the reason why minors can’t buy spray paint is because some doofuses use spray paint to get high.
@BeccaThePromoMami:
I know, in California it’s the law you have to be 18 to buy spray paint, and it’s generally locked up behind glass. When I moved to Arkansas I needed to buy some at Wal*Mart, I was surprised to find it out in the open, and something you could purchase at self-checkout anonymously. Apparently not only does the urge to stop destroying property suddenly end when you turn 18, but it also ends when you cross state lines.
okay
so
you go into a giant faceless corporate store and then the MACHINE TAKING YOUR MONEY isn’t sensitive enough or whatever?
wait, what?
@ratnerstar: judgmental much?
There really should be a button that allows you to choose not to answer. That’s all. Seriously guys.
I’m with the 90210 / 867-5309 crowd here. just feed them some bogus numbers and get on with your life. This works for machines but is not effective in person (unless you want to raise a smile from the cashier). Babies-R-us is always asks for your ‘phone # at the checkout – a simple “no thank-you, I’d rather not” is all it takes. No reason to throw a hissy over it.
Victory! I wrote them an email and got this response! Maybe the OP can write to Virginia
Hello ;
We are in receipt of your email in regard to the question(s) asked at the self checkout registers. Mr. Womack at The Home Depot, we take the privacy of customer information very seriously. We do not sell, trade or misuse customer information. From time to time, we may invite out customers to provide limited identifying information, such as a zip code, to help us better serve our customers.
Once a year for one week in the fall, we ask customers if they would like to provide their zip code at the check out, which provides some indication of where customers travel from to visit our stores. During that week we also ask if customers are shopping for personal or business use to help us better understand what brings people to our stores. We recently learned this function was activated early on some checkout stations, and we have turned it off, since spring is a very busy time of in our stores.
Your feedback on this topic will be taken into consideration as we look at ways to better serve our customers. The Home Depot is committee to providing our customers a fast and convenient checkout, and we will weigh that carefully with our desire to better serve out customers. Thank you for contacting us in regard to this issue.
Sincerely;
Virginia Johnson, Sr. Customer Care Representative
The Executive Response Team
Southern Division
1-800-654-0688 ext 76567
Fax 770-384-5038
virginia_johnson@homedepot.com
The reason you were asked your age is because it’s SPRAY PAINT. You will be asked your age for this anywhere you go so GET OVER IT. And the reason you were asked if it’s for home or business and for your zip code is a survey that corporate decided to put out because they want to get an idea of thier customer base. They do that in order to better serve thier customers.
You telling them that it is for business or personal use… how is that telling them what you intend to do with it? Just answer the question and call it a day.
And the zip code question is to get an idea of where thier customers are coming from so that they know where they need to build more Home Depots, again in order to better serve thier customers.
I know all this because I work at Home Depot. Thank you and have a GREAT day.