ConsequencesIX

BugMeNot2

Also an RS employee
For the most part there's no reason for us to ask your personal information, and we usually won't bother.

There are a few products where we have to ask because the computer literally will not let us complete the transaction without name, address, and phone number. Basically it's only cell phones (pre-paid & post-paid), SIRIUS satellite radio, and Dish Network. And then it's only so RS gets credit for those sales from the service providers.

We also of course ask it for extended warranties and returns, but I don't think that's unreasonable.

I also usually ask for it if it's a big ticket, just to avoid potential drama in the future by being able to look the receipt up. You can certainly refuse that though.

On my own little tangent... this is understandably a wrong situation. But folks... please don't get all uppity when we ask you if you want the extended warranty or batteries. It's our job, it's how we get paid. If you don't want it just say no, don't get all defensive.

Akula765

This company is completely backwards. While I do enjoy helping people find what they need, I think it is sad that radioshack can't see that it's most recent actions have basically told employees that it doesn't care about them, it only cares about profit. If you think OUR cell pitches are annoying, try hearing it from your manager for a living.

Gah. I'm done with my rs rant for today. I think I'll go to bed early, I'm opening tomorrow.

spaceace76

If it's a third party item and you have no proof that it was purchased at the store, they don't have to take the return. You have no proof that you even bought it from a Radio Shack.

This is one of the few things that coorporate will not help you out with.

GOKOR

Everyone who thinks RadioShack has a policy that requires them to get name and address, you're wrong.

The company would like that they get everyone's info, but probably 95% of stores DO NOT ask for it, and there is no negativity from coorporate for it.

As for fake info, most could care less if it's fake or real, but the associate will catch shit if it's obviously fake. So don't be a douche to them, they're trying to survive the day without getting bitched at, just like everyone else.

A tip for you RadioShack customers, if you complain, the regional and district managers will hook you up. It's more important to them that you are happy, even when you're overwhemlingly wrong, rather than backing up the store when they're right.

GOKOR

LOAD OF CROCK. You should take off your aluminum foil hat now.

They were could be used to catalog bar coded items, but what they were designed for was to scan a bar code and be taken to a web page for the company/product asumming the product was in the database.

dragondorm

It seems pretty obvious by now that anyone can return anything without a receipt and when they ask for your address, just give the stores' ... there's gotta be something in there.

typetive

This is to cut down on return-fraud, which is a HUGE business. Many large shoplifting rings have begun altering their model to return fraud since most stores don't have systems or policies in place to catch it.

RvLeshrac

grayem98

If the manager pisses you off for no reason at all you can sign them up for a bunch of junk mail from other business( i.e. Home Depot, Sears, Lowes, etc.)

I've never done that by the way.

rshmgr

I'm surprised it hasn't been fully mentioned as of yet, but, if being asked for your address, zip/postal code, and/or phone number upon checkout bothers you, and saying "no" won't work for whatever reason, just tell the cashier that you live outside the country. Most of the U.S. retail systems have zero ability to deal with this and the cashier will inevitably enter a default or made-up address. You can take it a step further if you are bored and, as I do, actually give them your address, valid or otherwise, and wait for the fun to begin:

Cashier: "Can I get your mailing address, please?"

Me: "Sure, it's Halford House..."

Cashier: "Sorry?"

Me: "Sir Edward The Great's Royal Academy of Music"

Cashier: "Wait..."

Me: "Dickinson Hall"

Cashier: "Sir.."

Me: "Number 666"

Cashier: "But..."

Me: "South Hill Park"

(Cashier frantically attempts to enter address)

Me: "Hampstead Heath"

(Cashier gets really confused)

Me: "Hampstead"

(Cashier gets even more confused)

Me: "North London"

Cashier: "Uh..."

Me: "Great Britain"

(Cashier has no idea what to do)

Me: "United Kingdom"

(Cashier begins sweating)

Me: "NW3 2SB"

(Cashier's head explodes)

===

I've yet to ever have a problem doing this. For reference, both MicroCenter and Radio Shack get really peeved when you drag this process out for about 10 minutes only to learn that you don't live in the country and that their data entry system is ill-equipped to handle postal codes that begin with a letter and are longer than 5 digits long. I guess they don't expect tourists or non-residents to ever shop in their stores. Twats.

j3sX

Security was called, the police were called, and I got my headphones at the cost of no longer being welcome in that particular mall.

RedSonSuperDave

Craysh

[slashdot.org]

spamtasticus

spamtasticus

Since then, a simple no seems to work.

I just bought something at Advance Auto Parts, though, and when I refused to give personal information the cashier informed me that I would not be able to return the item if I needed to. I said "Excuse me?" fairly loudly, and watched a manager walk over. She explained the situation, and he said that I could still do a return but I'd need the receipt. She seemed unaware of this.

nsv

Neecy

jamielarue

Mr. Gunn

I've had this zip stuck in my head since I was a kid. I guess growing up watching Zoom! and all the other good stuff made by WGBH for PBS did help me in some way.

That is the zip for Allston/Boston, Mass. where WGBH is located.

If they demand an address (and I don't feel like telling them to F off) I give them
69 Hump St.
Tittmoning, Austria

Or, if they are really being asses about the address stuff I'll give them
69 Hump St.
Fucking, Austria

Both are actual towns in Austria.

kretara

Taydin

Keat

Residentdrunkgirl

Thats right... he gave out his address.

crappedcrusader

Nobody in my store asks for info unless it is needed (check/return/wireless/service plans/etc). We've never gotten any grief from the district manager about it afaik.

Even so, some people get upset that they need to give us info if they want a return.

Shuft

@MissPeacock: Only name and address is REQUIRED for returns. Phone number is optional. No corporate store is supposed to ask for your DL # unless they're running a credit check or something.

@RandoX: My manager always asks that question, mostly because he's genuinely interested. But he probably would have found your answer very amusing :)

@DCGaymer: Sometimes the receipt printers will randomly stop working. The associates should have at least known how to print up the receipt on another terminal without asking the manager, it's not that hard. To get it working again, all they have to do is restart the terminal.

And to everyone who gives out a fake address, most of the time giving out name and address is optional, associates just like to get their numbers up. But don't ever give a fake name and address if there's a mail-in rebate. I had a guy who did that once, giggling at the time. He wasn't too happy when he got his rebate check and found out he couldn't cash it because he didn't have an ID that matched the fake name on the check. Also name/address helps if you ever lose you receipt, as we can look it up that way, or we can look it up if you paid with a debit or credit card.

ellastar

darundal

dragondorm

jimconsumer

Bed and Bath around here is another one that asks for phone numbers for any transaction. Also the Container Store. I'm always amazed at how many people in line with me give it willingly.

scoosdad

TruPhan

dafountain

uberbucket

[zip4.usps.com]

Bruce

Pro-Pain

Also, I wonder if that would constitute any sort of fraud."

Well, it depends on how the question was phrased and how you give the info.

If you were to say, "my current location is ... " and give them the address of the shop you were at, I can't say that you'd be fibbing, just that they weren't paying attention.

(Yes, I've done this before.)

The only info I do give out when asked (sometimes) is ZIP. I don't think it's unreasonable for them to want to know how far you traveled to the store. When I have a bad experience though I give out 44444 (Newton Falls, OH - the town with ZIP!).

typetive

wobudong

HeartBurnKid

Phyrexia

Also, I wonder if that would constitute any sort of fraud.

DuckSeason

I remember the boss got hardcore about phone numbers, so I asked for them. I asked a customer for his phone number, and he gave me 867-5309. I told him "my thoughts exactly."

We were told for a while that this was for "store tracking" so we can determine where to build stores and allocate stock accordingly. yeah right. Turns out, we used the numbers for a robo-dialer. I caught a lot of shit from customers for that. But they've got a right to be angry - to have a phone call auto dial them to get them to go to the store.

tom2133

Phyrexia

I'm a little surprised the sales rep didn't just use the catchall and be done with it.

MercuryPDX

And let me say that there was nothing more annoying when giving out my work address in the early 90's than having people say "Oh wow, so you work in Beverly Hills and your zip code is 90210? Do you ever see Kelly or Mitch*?"

*Or whatever the hell their names were, I've never seen the idiotic show.

revmatty

The "Assistant Manager" gave me the same bit, citing it's "our policy". I informed him of my policy of not giving out personal information for no reason, put the $$ on the counter, picked up my converter and started walking out. I pointed out that $9.99 + 6% tax was $10.69 and he should take the $10.75 on the counter, give me my receipt and while he's at it, stop trying to invade my privacy.

After a few seconds of stammering, he handed me my receipt and wished me a nice day.

Floobtronics

Name and address was a quota you had to meet for their advertising shit. 80% was the goal, so you had to get 4/5 name and address combos from customers. We actually made up a "refused" entry to boost our N&A percentage, and the customer didn't have to deal with those damn ads.

avsfan123

sean77

Coles_Law

Wait no i don't. I agree with the principal of refusing to give an address. But if you want to just move on giving a foreign address is a fun way to confuse them, (i don't think any system can accept non U.S. adys) and they don't get points. Unless THEY just make up an address for you.

jamesdenver

I started to give some phony info, then stopped, looked at the cashier and said, "Can we just skip this nonsense?" making sure she understood that I understood she was just doing her job. Apparently they are not as rigid about it as the Shack, because she just shrugged and we finished the transaction.

thepassenger

Antediluvian

APowerCosmic

Re-read my post. It's to cut down on fraud committed by people scamming the system to get FREE cash. Unfortunately, those who have legitimate cash returns get screwed in the process.

Buckler

KogeLiz

I mean, everyone else does it without complaining... Why cause a scene?

Dooley

picardia

I've taken the time out to explain WHY I don't want my info recorded, but the paid by the hour employees don't care.

My solution has been to never shop there unless it's a dire emergency. Meaning possibly 3-4 times over 20 years.

MadDog23

rshmgr

rjhiggins

shanoaravendare

SadSam

rjhiggins

Radio Shack has that info for me about a thousand times over.

sgodun

DCGaymer

Darkwish

For phone number requests, I still give out the number for the now-long-deceased pay phone that used to be at the end of the hall in my college dorm back in the '80s.

ophmarketing

These stores are simply compiling information so that they can resell your data to third parties with whom they have an agreement and you get the telemarketing calls and snailmail spam..aka junkmail.

I just wish Congress had a backbone and outlawed all marketing and pr.

unclescrooge

Frankly, I'd give them 1060 West Addison, Chicago, IL 60613.
And if they want a phone number, I'd give them my fax line at work, or my local "favorite" politicians' office number.

yikz

pestie

ChuckECheese

rags827

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.

obamaramallama

John Whorfin

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.

kc2idf

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

AMetamorphosis

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

AngrySicilian

AngrySicilian

RandoX

savvy9999

danno99

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.

tf5_bassist

nytmare

ptkdude

Wimpkins

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.

Buckler

NcSchu

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

Gev

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.

valarmorghulis

humphrmi

Nighthawke

coan_net

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.

carterbeauford

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!

skategreen

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.

JustAGuy2

Wormfather

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..."

;)

pegr

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."

Antediluvian

FilthyHarry

Steaming Pile

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

:-)

Radio Schlock is still in business ? ? ?

AMetamorphosis

LeonardKlaatu

Bladefist

EllenRose

B

DogTown

curmudgeon5

chicagocooper

SuffolkHouse

DONE

homerjay

MissPeacock

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

friendlynerd

valarmorghulis

WhirlyBird

curmudgeon5

jwarner132

IrisMR

elocanth

slowinthefastlane