To want to be able to buy an item in a shop without giving my name and address?

[carlywurly]

This has happened three times this weekend. White company, tk maxx and white stuff suddenly don't seem to be able to let you just pay at the till without giving them your name and address. This is for a straightforward purchase, not an exchange or return.

I really find it unnecessary and intrusive, plus it holds the bloody queue up. Going to politely decline to give it from now on.

Glad i've read this. I bloody hate giving out all that info to Mamas and Pappas every time. Why have i been doing it?! I wont any more.

I think it's the way they ask - like it's necessary. I've been answering out of politeness. Until now

Ethical pickle, ou can get all that at Lidl

No store card, they don't want your details, no confusing offers, no bogofs, just low and transparent pricing

I say No. If they insist (and if I am paying cash) I give a sham name and the address and postcode of a house which has been pulled down.

Minty I use Starbucks once a day at 6.30 a.m. where they know me - not by name - as a cheerful bloke who comes in and treats them as human. It works.

How lovely for you Andrew. Very pleased.

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Omg, just realised I'm confusing myself with another Minty! Oh blimey. Tis time for a namechange mebbe?

Nobody actually gives their real name in Starbucks, do they? You give them something distinctive and impossible to mispronounce that will carry well when they call it out.

I'm surprised any goes to Starbucks let alone gives them their real name

whatno we're told in my work to refuse refunds if people don't give their details. we get pulled up if any part is missing. it's to prove I served a 'real customer' and didn't just take money out the till. I personally don't see how a signature wouldn't do! also, we don't check addresses or use them for mailing so by all means give a fake address.

At my work we used to take name address postcode and signature to prove they were a 'real' customer. I'd explain that there would be no marketing sent, the refund slip then sits in a sealed bag in the office before being sent to HO 6 months later. Some people used to get really abusive about it. If you really don't want to give your details make it up, but I certainly wasn't getting into trouble for not complying with company policy within incorrectly filled in paperwork.
Incidentally my company have done away with that and just require a signature now.

As for store cards, luckily my shop don't do them but I've worked places that have, or the till items to sell etc. It may be seen as pushy but only cos the sale assistant will have a target they have to meet and if they don't then the get a meeting with the manager on why they are 'failing' at their job

It's easy enough to decline a store card/bar of chocolate or give email address etc politely without getting abusive with the shop staff, who are just doing their job

The postcode you need to give is SW1A 1AA.

Anywhere that asks for my name for serving purposes such as coffee shops, etc, just gets 'Jane' because I have an unusual name and unusual spelling for that unusual name, so it's just easier.

Companies that try and get your details just because you've bought something there get told 'no, I'm in the witness protection program'. If they don't like it, I can shop elsewhere.

I was in mother care last week panic buying some wellies. My children are older so I don't tend to use the place now

At the till I was informed that ' we no longer issue paper receipts, please could we have your email address and we will email it ?'

I refused and funnily enough, a receipt was produced.

It's really really starting to wind me up now because it's everywhere you go. I just want to make a purchase , nothing more , nothing less

What I don't like is the way so many shops train staff to ask for your postcode or email address in a way that makes it seem necessary for you to give that info as part of th purchase.

I had this in Mothercare yesterday, with "And what's your email address please?" I just said that I'm already on their mailing list and the sales assistant just carried on with the transaction. I'd like shops to be honest about why they want the information and tell me what the benefit is for me - and be clear that it's not necessary but entirely optional - rather than try to use most people's innate politeness to extract info. Horrid for sales assistants too as I can imagine they cop quite a bit of agression because of it.

Really Felicity? I got a paper reciept yesterday in Mothercare. What about people without email too? Sounds like a load of cobblers.

Obviously cobblers as they gave you a receipt! It's the bloody underhandedness that really yanks my chain.

YANBU, Mothercare do this, my hairdresser do this even if you just pop in to get conditioner and yesterday I got this in Hotter too - I'm on their mailing list already and when I asked why they needed to make a note of who I am, the assistant could not really explain! I suspect a lot of these shops are sailing a bit close to the wind with consumer protection/data protection law. It cannot be legal to require a customer to identify themselves for these everyday purchases and sets up all sorts of issues (who wants to spell out your address if you're buying something slightly embarrassing, or if you have an unusual name or address -- yesterday I was just in a hurry to get my toddler out of the shop).

I agree about the lack of honesty that is irritating. White Stuff staff just ask for your address with no explanation, I suppose it would be a little bit better if the said we would like to send you lots of marketing including almost daily emails so may I have your address.

I actually was signed up with White Stuff as I like their discount codes and contacted them about the sheer volume of their emails. They should have some sort of limit. It's amazing that companies can be so ignorant of their customers wishes.

Give the name Mindy Ourownbusiness next time.

If you are on mailing that you don't want to be you shouldn't 'just' unsubscribe otherwise they will still retain your details. Some companies 'unsubscribe' you for a limited period so you end up getting their spammy crap again in a year or so. It's best if you email them and tell them to remove ALL your personal details from ALL of their databases. I also ask for confirmation that they have done this.

If they just need something to shout out in Starbucks so the right person gets the right drink, I'd prefer they used a number system. The number could be written on the receipt as a double check. It would feel far less intrusive than the name calling thing, which I really hate.

I can't believe I've found fellow Starbucks name refusers! I thought it was just me! ! This has made me disproportionately happy