Just bought a 2m section of flexible tube for a gas stove, and the sales clerk asked first for my phone number, to which I replied “I don’t have one”. Then she asked me for my name, to which I replied “I’ll pay in cash”. She then insisted it was so “the cashier will call you by name”, to which I replied “I’m not giving you my name, I’ll pay in cash”. [Edit: she apparently got a bit upset when I refused to give info, but ended up entering “no name” according to the receipt]

Am I wrong for not wanting to give personal data for an item paid in cash, in person? No other hardware store ever asks me for my personal info.

  • Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk
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    6 days ago

    Last time I bought something at Dunhelm Mill in the UK:
    “Can I have your email address so we can send you the receipt?”
    “Lol, no.”

    Edit to add: OP should have said: “Coincidentally, my name is Cash. Johnny Cash.”

    • Canaconda@lemmy.ca
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      6 days ago

      So turns out thermal receipts have unhealthy levels of BPA on them which can absorb through your skin.

      So I’m considering getting proton mail and having a separate email just for receipts and loyalty programs that dont require a login.

  • lightnsfw@reddthat.com
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    7 days ago

    No they’re gathering data to sell you shit. Fuck them, the employees may be mandated to ask for it though so don’t be hard on them. Feel free to lay into management if they make a stink about it.

    • Unbecredible@sh.itjust.works
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      6 days ago

      Lmao as if the store management has the faintest hint of authority over store policy in anything bigger than a mom and pop shop. That’s what’s so irritating about dealing with corporations, there’s no one to hold to account as a customer

      • lightnsfw@reddthat.com
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        6 days ago

        Yeah, but the managers are the ones holding the cashiers to it. They’re welcome to pass you up the chain to the person pushing it on them of they want but part of their job is to take complaints and this hopefully ensures the employee isn’t getting in trouble for your refusal to give them your information.

  • Snapz@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    Well you see now this is just a but embarrassing… my name is actually “Fuck-Home-Depot”

  • inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Yeah, places have done that on and off since the 2000’s. Brick and Mortars want your data just as much as online places.

    It’s always been easy to just say no and move on and if they insist because their managers are corporate junkies, I’ve always given out random area code + Jenny’s number along with any given random name. Dirk Diggler will live on buying things as long as I live.

  • normalentrance@lemmy.zip
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    6 days ago

    I live near a microcenter and they are like this. I had to pick up an Ethernet cable and I just paid cash. When I didn’t want to tell them my phone or email the cashier looked at me like I kicked a puppy.

  • bassgirl09@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    WOW. That is really invasive. I always refuse to give phone number. I don’t need more garbage phone calls. I definitely am not giving some rando my name to help track my purchasing more. Geez. I usually stick to no thank you and I don’t give that out. If there is a problem, I will leave the stuff on the counter and go to a different store entirely. I have done this in the past due to pushy tactics. I did tell the manager on duty that this is truly invasive and I will not be back though. I was never back as a result. Apparently normal people don’t get any privacy anymore :(

  • myplacedk@lemmy.world
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    8 days ago

    “So the cashier will call you by name” means they don’t care if it’s your real name, just react when they call it.

  • Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world
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    8 days ago

    Not wrong at all. More people need to learn to say no instead of mindlessly complying to every request.

    Like the guy at Walmart that wants to look at your receipt when you leave. I just say “no thank you” and keep on walking.

    • Die Mart Die@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      8 days ago

      I always found that really weird. Like, what’s the point of self-checkout then? Just hire a damn cashier, or two.

    • CuddlyCassowary@lemmy.world
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      8 days ago

      They try to do this at King Soopers and I always say, “Not unless you’re giving me recipe ideas from the ingredients.” No one has stopped me yet, or offered any recipes.

      • Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world
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        8 days ago

        They really can’t stop you.

        If they honestly suspect that you are stealing, and have evidence, (They are recording and watching you at all times) they will take note of what you stole, but they won’t call the cops until they’ve caught you three times, or you’ve taken over $1000 worth of stuff. (Amount may vary by state) That way, they can easily prove that it was no accident, and that you have a pattern of shoplifting. It’s an easier case to win, and you get a third degree felony, instead of a misdemeanor or summary charge.

          • Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world
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            8 days ago

            Yes. That definitely is an exception.

            The reason you always have to stop for inspection at those places, is because you legally agreed to it in the terms of membership.

            If you decline, they can revoke your membership.

              • cynar@lemmy.world
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                7 days ago

                It would technically be false imprisonment in most places. Kidnapping would require taking you away/hiding you.

        • CuddlyCassowary@lemmy.world
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          8 days ago

          Oooh - now the game has advanced rules! I love it (I mean, I don’t really love anything about it, but am just trynna stay sane and fight the power).

          • Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world
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            8 days ago

            As much as I recommend giving the finger to authority, always make sure you aren’t doing something that’s ACTUALLY illegal. If you’re drawing attention to yourself while committing a crime, you’re not accomplishing a damn thing.

          • Balisada@piefed.social
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            8 days ago

            I think Target does that also. They simply gather info about a theft until the dollar value is up to a certain amount and then they detain you.

    • KC_Royalz@lemmy.world
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      8 days ago

      Mine stopped doing it. I always said no but I’ve seen numerous people flip out on them after just leaving the checkout. Not even the self checkout. I flipped out on them once also after a long day.

    • Steve@startrek.website
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      8 days ago

      Local walmart assigns the most pathetic people to the receipt checker job. Its always either the frail old lady or the 3ft tall guy.

    • TrackenDaKracken@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      I’m sure it cuts down on shoplifting, just the illusion of someone checking. They wouldn’t pay someone to stand there and do that if it didn’t work.

  • Babalugats@lemmy.world
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    8 days ago

    A new water company (currently the government want to privatise these) was checking water meters last week. long story short they broke one and the cap on the hole keeps popping up outside my house on the pathway. Rang them today to tell them about it “what’s your address?”

    I had to obviously give them that - I guess I could’ve said I was a neighbour, and just given them the location. Wanted my name and phone number. I said “I don’t want or need to give that, I am just telling you about the manhole cover.”

    “I need to get your name and phone number to continue”

    “I don’t know my phone number, my name is private Jones. I have been put on hold two times already. a lady and a child already tripped over this cover, I don’t care if you can’t continue. I have given the information, and it won’t be me that anyone sues if they break something tripping over it.”

    I stayed polite and we ended the conversation. but holy shit. You are not wrong to not give it to them. They are wrong for persistently asking for it.

    • Maeve@kbin.earth
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      I had the same issue when I called a utility company to report a cable hanging about sedan level on the street. I was on my way to work and got annoyed and said something similar: it’s your cable, so if it damages someone’s car or decapitates a motorcyclist, I guess the lawyers can cal you. What’s your name?

      They thanked me for the time and when I got off work, it was fixed. 🤷‍♀️

  • Bruncvik@lemmy.world
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    8 days ago

    Local area code + 8675309. Used it since the early 00’s. As an added bonus, many places have discounts set up for that number.

  • rumba@lemmy.zip
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    7 days ago

    It’s not your fault, but it’s also not the cashier’s fault.

    Their boss signed up for some shitty customer management app under the guise that you can get online receipts or see high-value customers and sell to them.

    Best you can do it no, sorry I don’t want to give out my information, If i’m going to be tracked, I’ll just buy it online.

      • rumba@lemmy.zip
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        6 days ago

        It might be reasonable to let the manager know you don’t appreciate it. Might change their use of it.

        • modus@lemmy.world
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          7 days ago

          Well that’s when you just read back to them whatever is on their nametag.