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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be pissed off that I cannot buy anything in any shop without this happening?

198 replies

MarniRose · 16/05/2015 10:14

So, I went shopping yesterday and bought items in five places ... Jack Wills, Jigsaw, Mint Velvet, Neal's Yard and Joules. As I came to pay, without exception, the first question I was asked was ' what's your email address please?' Or ' can I take your postcode please?' or ' and your full name please? '

I'm fed up with it. I just want to pay for my goods and get the receipt. I don't want it ' emailed to me.' I don't want to be added to your mailing list in an almost surreptitious way. Bar supermarkets, it really is in every shop these days.

Yesterday I said, for the first time, ' no, I'd rather not give you my email address, I'd just really like to pay please' and the woman was a bit taken aback and almost didn't know what to do.

So what do you do? Do you divulge this info and not care and then get bombarded with emails every day? Or do you refuse to give the info?

OP posts:

MagelanicClouds · 16/05/2015 18:39

I used to work in retail. I wish I could show them this thread so they'd know what most people really think! We had to collect postcodes and I hated it. One customer kicked up a massive stink about it and was very rude. She walked away, only to come back a few minutes later to have another go at me. This left me feeling very unconfident and to scared to ask anyone for the rest of the day. Management kicked my arse.
Best response I ever got?
'I don't have a postcode, I live on a boat.'
After a while I made most of them up. Nobody noticed so I guess they weren't doing anything much with the data anyway.

hiddenhome · 16/05/2015 19:02

FarFrom

Internet shopping is the way to go. No hassle, no queues, no questions, no sore feet, no plastic bags, no slipping out of your hand change

I receive better customer service online than in the shops. Friendly email messages, prompt service, lower prices.

Two weeks for some elderly persons slippers to arrive at Brantano store for MIL. They didn't arrive, so dh cancelled the order.

Dh ordered them online, they arrived the next day and were £15 cheaper

balletgirlmum · 16/05/2015 19:17

Hiddenhome - so do you not need a card for Matalan any more? They have always been a membership store & you need to register to shop there.

Sallystyle · 16/05/2015 19:20

Pisses me off.

I want to pay and get out. I am sick of saying 'no thanks' to only be asked if I want something else or asked another question.

It even annoys me when my local co-op asks if I want cash back. I would bloody tell you if I wanted cash back. I would also tell you if I want your stupid discount biscuits.

hiddenhome · 16/05/2015 19:23

No, You don't need one anymore. It's been like that for a few years now.

Sallystyle · 16/05/2015 19:38

No Matalan isn't a membership store.

Sallystyle · 16/05/2015 19:38

cross posted.

I love Matalan.

alltoomuchrightnow · 16/05/2015 19:39

I've had it with MAC cosmetics in a department store (which is odd as I doubt you can return makeup? I may be wrong? but they told me it was so they could keep a file of my favourite products. I did oblige at the time but told them I could remember my favourite products, because they were my favourites, and that I didn't actually buy a large amount from them anyway. On subsequent visits when asked for post code or email I just said 'no it's alright'. I've also been pestered for it in Bravissimo and did give it...they said it was 'for refund purpose' but I also pointed out that I've always worked in retail management and it's really not necessary.. and in my shop a paper receipt is adequate. They didn't answer that.

hiddenhome · 16/05/2015 20:03

These stores are paid to pass on your personal details. Then you receive 'targeted marketing' in the form of unsolicited mail, calls etc.

Housewife2010 · 16/05/2015 20:20

I refuse to give my name at Starbucks.

BeaufortBelle · 16/05/2015 20:26

Ha ha housewife my name's so unusual I tell them it's Jane

Charlesroi · 16/05/2015 21:19

hiddenhome I like the cut of your jib

Gabilan · 16/05/2015 21:40

I have a separate email address for junk. You can unsubscribe from mailing lists although it is a bit of a pain to do so.

I refuse to shop in PC World or Currys because I find the whole experience so unpleasant, in particular the badgering to get me to pay some sort of insurance by monthly DD. "I recommend it, I've got it for all my electronic goods". Yes, fine, but that proves nothing about its efficacy. It just proves that someone's pressuring you to sell me shit I don't need. Tell you what, I'll put the £15pcm in my account, not yours, and if anything breaks or I spill coffee on it, I'll have the money to fix it. And if it doesn't break and I take care of it, I'll have the money to spend on me, instead of you having it to swell your profits.

That and the repeated conversation that tends to go:
Sales Asst: Would you like an extended guarantee?
Me: No
Sales Asst: . Ooo, what if it goes wrong?
Me: Why are you selling me something you think will go wrong?

hiddenhome · 16/05/2015 21:46

RagstheInvincible · 16/05/2015 23:02

I'll just cancel your return and you won't get your money back.

And I'll be straight round to Trading Standards.

Twirlwirlywoo · 16/05/2015 23:06

I hate this too. I have started to say I am not online!

It is quite amusing to see the look of horror on their faces when I say this.

I don't care if they know I am lieing. The fact is I dont want my info held by some random company. I do just want to pay and leave.

senrensareta · 16/05/2015 23:06

When we were in the US last year (not a touristy area) I went to buy something and the shop said they were unable to process the sale without a valid phone number and zip code. Luckily my friend was with me and gave them hers. She and her husband have a landline which is connected to an answering machine and never used other than to register at stores

sourdrawers · 17/05/2015 11:12

Wasn't a gun was it? I can't believe that.. Not saying you're telling Porkies, just can't believe they NEED to verify who you are..

londonrach · 17/05/2015 13:45

Hiddenhome . Aibu to be upset that no one asks for my email address when i go shopping. Mind you apart from food i havent been shopping for anything for years...i must be out of date.

KahloSherman · 17/05/2015 13:46

Won stuff you say Somewhere? Hmm maybe I will have to get a spare email address and start doing those surveys...sorry

SomewhereIBelong · 17/05/2015 14:42

yy KahloS -won stuff - and often given larger value vouchers for things too as a "thanks for giving us feedback" thing - especially from places like Waitrose - 25% off a shop over £60 arrived a week after last time I filled out their feedback form. Tesco's sometimes mail a fiver's worth of points - that sort of thing.

I am quite willing to give my shopping-crap email to get money off, or win stuff. (I don't think enough people read AIBU to make a big difference to the odds.... )

BitOutOfPractice · 17/05/2015 14:47

I dubt very much if the assistant was taken aback in the OP. Most people say no I think so I doubt you were the first

SomewhereIBelong · 17/05/2015 14:48

she was probably taken aback by the "please" - don't get many of those...

Oldraver · 17/05/2015 15:05

I'm quite open to getting the odd email from companies but usually they just take the piss.

Monsoon bombarded me with several a day...they were soon unsubcribed. As will other companies that send daily emails

emwithme · 17/05/2015 15:52

If they ask for a postcode alone they get SW1A 1AA. If they want house number and postcode, I give no 10, SW1A 2AA.

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