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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to NOT want to give all my personal details when I buy a teddy bear?

67 replies

AlmightyCitrus · 16/04/2011 17:43

Went in a famous name baby shop today.
I fell in love with a small teddy (£8.50) and decided to buy it for my baby (not yet born, but I like to be prepared).

Shop assistant: Can I have your name and postcode?
Me; No. Why?
SA: We at least need your postcode.
Me: For a bear?
SA: Yes, if there is a fault we need your postcode.
Me: I'll have a receipt though.
SA: But I need your postcode.
Me: No.

Shop assistant looked puzzled, then took my cash.

Now, I can understand for certain things they like to take loads of details (TV's etc) but it was a bloody teddy bear.

I presume my info would really be used for "marketing purposes", and to send me loads of mailings that I don't want.

Imagine the nightmare that shopping would become if every shop was doing this.

I'm not BU am I?

OP posts:
Meglet · 16/04/2011 17:44

yanbu.

Which one was it. MC or M&P?

breathing · 16/04/2011 17:45

Goodness me! Seems a bit silly YANBU.

belledechocchipcookie · 16/04/2011 17:45

Nope, you're not BU, it's so they can send you crap things through the post.

KarlWrenbury · 16/04/2011 17:45

Is it like buying a tv. Maybe you need a license.

GypsyMoth · 16/04/2011 17:45

more and more places do this i'm noticing

JuicyOlive · 16/04/2011 17:45

Can reply until you let me have your postcode. Wink

chopchopbusybusy · 16/04/2011 17:46

YANBU.
Maplins do that too. I always refuse.

FabbyChic · 16/04/2011 17:46

They may well have been doing a survey to determine which area the majority of their customers come from. You were a bit up your own arse not to give it. What can they do with a postcode without the house number of your house?

Fuck all.

CUKAmbassador · 16/04/2011 17:46

You

midnightexpress · 16/04/2011 17:46

No you're not. It seems to happen all the time these days.

midnightexpress · 16/04/2011 17:47

Well then why didn't they say so fabbychic?

Cheeser · 16/04/2011 17:48

M&P asked me this last time I went in (about two years ago). I usually say no to requests like this but for some reason I gave my info... and heard not a peep from them marketing wise or anything. Still a bit Hmm why they want it though

NettoSuperstar · 16/04/2011 17:48

YABU.
You need to give your details incase you are cruel to the teddy.Grin

Some people are, I recall someone on here who threw one in the bin Shock

CUKAmbassador · 16/04/2011 17:48

(Try that again)

It's purely for market research(not sure why they asked your name) and the reason they gave was rubbish.

Primarily by providing your postcode it will allow them to work out the catchment for their shop. Name is unimportant, but sex and age is a good indicator. It's a simple way of collecting information. Wouldn't worry about it, but it does piss me off as well and I just say no.

ashamedandconfused · 16/04/2011 17:48

I dont mind giving postcode - its usually asda that ask, just for their market research/where do our customers come from info - and I have never had any mailings as a result

CUKAmbassador · 16/04/2011 17:49

I develop these type of systems for people. If it was the Bear Shop it may have been me :-)

worraliberty · 16/04/2011 17:49

Well I'm sorry OP but people like you disgust me Hmm

You swagger into a shop expecting to re-home a teddy bear, yet you refuse to give them your details so they can come and check the suitability of your home.

Do you even have a woods nearby for it to shit in? Grin

givemushypeasachance · 16/04/2011 17:50

A local garden centre always asks your postcode at the checkouts; not name though. I'm happy to give my postcode but would be a little wary about my name, even though if I'm paying by card they'd have it anyway...

VivaLeBeaver · 16/04/2011 17:50

TK Maxx do this.

If you go to Build A Bear you have to fill out all your details - name, age, email, address, inside leg measurement to get the bloody birth certificate.

Itsjustafleshwound · 16/04/2011 17:51

Marketing purposes - see where custom comes from. There is little they can do w/out a house no.

Original poster
AlmightyCitrus · 16/04/2011 17:51

M&P Meglet.

I don't think I was being up my own arse. If I'd given my postcode, they'd of probably followed with ..."and house number".

I like...nay DEMAND anonymity when buying small furry teddy bears.

OP posts:
EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 16/04/2011 17:52

Just lie. I do Grin

NettoSuperstar · 16/04/2011 17:52

Well exactly Worral.
It's a big responsibility taking on a new Teddy.

DontGoCurly · 16/04/2011 17:52

yadnbu

I hate any extra faffing about at tills. Waste of time. Marketing bastards!

chocadoodle · 16/04/2011 17:57

M&P always do this.

I've always given it and have not yet had a single thing from them.

Although I'm a bit Hmm as to why they want it and from what I remember they do then go on and ask for your house number. The shop assistants have always said it's in case of a return but don't expand any further.

They've started doing it in ToysRUs too. I asked if it was for marketing purposes but was told no. No one seems to know the reason though.

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