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.
“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.
This is in a Spanish-speaking country, so maybe should’ve said “Aquiles Baeza”
I often use Turd Fergusson
Raúl Diaz
John with a W
Jawn your order is ready!
Smug achually-voice
“It’s pronounced Yawn”
You win.
The other option is “Jon Withanhache”. You can then complain they spelt it wrong too.
I used to say ridiculous names to acknowledge their policy and politely rebel against it. It’s fun when the hostess calls out “Batman, party of 4”
I can just use my own name while traveling. They have no idea how to spell it. And even if they ask and get the spelling correct, the next person has no idea how to pronounce it.
How else would you pronounce it? It’s H-F-U-H-R-U-H-U-R-R, isn’t it?
And my companion is Anne Uumellmahaye
Sitting here drinking my coffee and seeing someone got this reference is brightening my morning.
As a webdev, I’m proficient in coming up with names to test the limits of the interface. I would probably have to stick to ‘Konstantin Konstantinovich Konstantinopolsky’, since they are unlikely to accept the last name of ‘O’er-thirtythree-thirtythreefootfences-Istretchmyleg’.
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.
I always found that really weird. Like, what’s the point of self-checkout then? Just hire a damn cashier, or two.
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.
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.
I thought places that identify as a membership club could ask to look at receipts.
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.
Yes. If other stores stop you it’s kidnapping
It would technically be false imprisonment in most places. Kidnapping would require taking you away/hiding you.
Depends on if that’s part of the membership agreement.
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).
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.
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.
With things like that are, $1000 is like a weeks groceries for a family…
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.
Local walmart assigns the most pathetic people to the receipt checker job. Its always either the frail old lady or the 3ft tall guy.
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.
Absolutely! Appearing secure is MUCH more effective than actually being secure.
Appearing secure is MUCH more effective than actually being secure.
Cheaper too.
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.
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. 🤷♀️
Local area code + 8675309. Used it since the early 00’s. As an added bonus, many places have discounts set up for that number.
You as a matter of course pronounce the last digit “ni-e-yine”, do you not? De rigueur, I would think.
Why do places have discounts for that number? Guessing you’re american, I have no clue what that number is.
Its Jenny’s number
??
All the major chain stores have loyalty programs. They’re really for tracking and marketing purposes, but they give discounts to incentivize participation. Most people just use the fake number for the regular discount.
But, these programs they also give rewards after a certain amount of spending. Rewards like 10c of per gallon of gasoline, or a free candy bar. With enough people using the same number for the discount, there are often a lot of rewards built up just waiting to be claimed.
Where I live that goes to a working number that plays a recording of the song.
Apparently it’s owned by a guy who runs a small ISP who did it just for the lulz.
deleted by creator
Local area code? Hell no --> 805
I remember Barnes and Noble asking for my phone number to buy a paperback copy of 1984.
I was like nah man.
If only there was a book on the topic of the dangers of mass surveillance…
Any recommendations?
That’s some top notch irony 😄
My doctor’s office had a space on the form you fill out when you come in that said nickname. So just for fun I put in Your Royal Highness. I didn’t realize that was the name they called when they were ready for you to Go to the exam room. They had to repeat it twice before I noticed.
LoL. I wonder if they were amused or annoyed by that nickname
MD here 100% the staff and provider got a kick out of it. Top notch giggles m8.
no you’re not wrong. if they super persist, your first name is the name of their store.
No some shit is stupid. I once took 20 minutes on phone trying to cancel ADT because “I had to give a reason” to which I refused.
“Because I don’t want it anymore” should be reason enough.
You shouldn’t have to provide a reason at all, period.
Absolutely. ‘Please cancel my account’ should be enough, on the first try, always.
In every situation it should be just as easy to cancel a service as it is to sign up. If you can sign up online you should be able to cancel online.
Because I don’t like that you asked me for a reason.
“Because I’ll stop fucking paying you if you don’t"
No, not wrong. But I usually give a silly name, like Glutomis Maximus! Yes, there is an exclamation point in the name.
Had a server who laughed at this and retorted, “oh, so it is an ironic name, like they called the bald stooge Curly.”
Yes, I have no ass. Bitch. I am going to tip you so hard now. 30%.
Biggest Dickus, I want a Biggest Dickus. /s
Hilariously, I am wearing a Monty Python shirt at this moment,
“I fart in your general direction.”
Did I find a soul twin?
Wouldn’t say quite a soul twin, but I like it too.
In case you haven’t seen it, look up Red Dwarf.
Of course I have seen Red Dwarf. Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting?
I now use 8675309 because I’m old and the people taking my “info” don’t catch on or don’t give a fuck.
I also give the name “Nünya” and tell them its French
Why the heck did they ever need to call your name? For stuff like starbuck, sure, but then it’s entirely unnecessary since number can works too. These practices are unnecessary as heck and work as a way to gather data. Unless required by law(pharmacy, for tax reason, etc), If any shop asked for name/phone i would’ve just say no, if that’s unacceptable i would walk.
I’d dare say not even Starbucks needs to know your name. You should get an order number/code like everywhere else.
With Starbucks, they just need a name - not necessarily yours.
My of my uni friends used to pick ever more ridiculous names just to hear them call it out when his drink was ready.
No, they really don’t. Order number is more than sufficient.
Give a number if you prefer a number. Batista will not care if you say “just write ‘123’”
Its not your problem.
Sure, but they’re trying to present a less cold and impersonal atmosphere. Order numbers are for computers, names are for people.
not even Starbucks needs to know your name. You should get an order number/code like everywhere else.
I’m standing right here, I’m the only customer in the place right now - you don’t need my name.
I tell people the name is “batman” and then when they yell it out I look flustered and say “oh please call me Bruce”.
Idk if they find it funny but I get Starbucks like twice a year maybe.
Why is it needed for Starbucks?
They call out your name when your drink is ready.
There’s a whole cottage industry of influencers now who still think it hasn’t been overdone yet to try to get them to shout something ridiculous, unpronounceable, or impossible to spell when they write it on the cup.
try to get them to shout something ridiculous, unpronounceable
I’ve always been partial to Heywood Jablomi
The one and only time I went to Starbucks, I was the only one in line. I waited right there as they made the drink. There was absolutely no need for my name. I get that it’s just what they do, but it felt weird.
This reminds me of a strange encounter I had at a Starbucks in a train station in Paris: I order, pay, give my name (for the cup) and start to wander off to wait. A random super concerned dude starts explaining to me that I need to stay in the “waiting for drinks line” till my drink is ready. I was like “um, that’s why they write your name on the cup and call you?” But no, he was insistent that the propor protocol was to wait in the line, the other folks in line seemed to agree. Super weird. I succumbed to the peer pressure but AFAICT the 2nd line was 100% stupid (maybe they have too many people w/ the same 1st name there?) and it’s kinda wild being from Seattle and having a random French dude mansplain Starbucks to me.
It’s their problem to remember who ordered, not mine. I also like good coffee. Ergo, I never visit such shops.
I’ve told people “I don’t have a phone number” on autopilot because that’s what I always say when they ask for me email address. I’m sure no one believes I don’t have an email but I KNOW they don’t believe me when I say I don’t even have a phone number. No one has ever pushed back through they’re like oh… uh, ok? Then I just get on with the transaction. It’s not like they won’t sell it to you if you don’t have an email or phone number. I’ve never felt the need to fully decline giving a name I just give them a random name if need be. I think you handled it just fine, if you don’t have to and you don’t want to, don’t! Exercise your agency!
I just flat out say no thank you - most clerks couldn’t care less
I’m like this, a simple “no thanks” has worked for me and I don’t have to construct a whole narrative about being a hermit.
No thanks is the best because it’s pretty universal.
“Do you have a loyalty card?”
“No thanks”
Answers both the initial question and the, “would you like to sign up” follow-up. Saves everyone time.
I can’t remember what I was buying or where this happened now, but recently I was buying something (by cc) in store and they would not let me pay without providing a phone number
Should have given your name as Skibidi, James Skibidi.
James T. Skibidi
My name is Sargent Slaughter and my phone number is 867-5309.
You were not wrong. Fuck them, their scam, and their privacy invasion.
A few years ago, I bought a computer at some kind of Walmart, with my debit card, exactly like cash. I kid you not, the clerk then asked for my IBAN out of the blue. I was dumbfounded. He told me he needed it for the transaction. I refused and he said nothing.
I’m pretty sure this tactic works with a lot of people who don’t know better. If I gave him my IBAN, he would have subscribed me to a monthly insurance. The CEOs who force this should be in jail.
