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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be tired of being asked so many questions for even small things in shops?

169 replies

Iris65 · 19/01/2017 20:40

I went to ask for a passport renewal form and was subjected to a three minute sales pitch about check and send. When I said no thank you I was asked where I was going on holiday and when, then they tried to sell me travel insurance. I went through the same 5 minute ordeal to post my passport form the next day.
In a department store every time I buy anything I am asked whether I want a store card, what my name and address is, whether I want to give my email for offers advance notice of shopping.
When I buy painkillers form the chemist they give me a three minute speil asking whether I take other medicine, telling me how often I to take them and other advice. Then they ask for me email to send me offers.....
I appreciate that in the chemist they have to give the info and it's fine. I just say 'OK, thank you.' But when did it become OK for every purchase to involve dealing with long sales pitches and dealing with requests for personal information.
I had one assistant ask for personal information saying 'It's not sensitive' and following it up with wanting my name, address, phone number, which bank I used - including sort code and account number! I told her it certainly was sensitive and walked away.

OP posts:
Elphame · 20/01/2017 00:11

If I'm asked for my postcode I just say no. Same if I'm asked for my email address - no.

leccybill · 20/01/2017 00:26

Boots Advantage Card is brill though I think. And no upselling at the till.

Take note Superdrug, with your crappy offers.

SugarLoveHeart · 20/01/2017 00:35

I once dashed into Topshop on my way to work for a sneaky spot of shopping. Only had an extra five minutes to spare. Found a nice t-shirt on sale & went to pay. The assistant informed me that it was BOGOF & that I should choose another item. She spent my spare five minutes trying to convince me... I only wanted the bloody t-shirt, as it was a good deal anyway!

Singingforsanity · 20/01/2017 00:40

Disastronaunt and Bushymuffmum - of course I don't think refusing to give your details is arseholish (I don't give mine either) but she sounded like she was obnoxious to the frontline staff, who couldn't care less what her postcode is. All she needs to say is 'no thanks' and job done. Really no need to bother with snarky requests involving Data Protection.

Rainatnight · 20/01/2017 00:45

YADNBU!

I'm so glad you said this. I thought it was just me. I feel I'm being put through an interview every time I buy something.

chipsandchilli · 20/01/2017 00:53

I find Saver's the worst. You nip in for bin bags and air freshener's and they ask you if you want some Jimmy Choo perfume which is on offer, you say no thanks and they say or we have the Ghost on offer then they try and sell you some razor's when you say no, You can tell they are sick of asking and know you don't want to but have been told they have to ask you.

confuugled1 · 20/01/2017 01:15

Shops that ask for an email address to send you/store an electronic receipt and tell you that's what it's for in the same sentence as asking you for it I don't mind as I too have been helped by that, so long as they don't start to query it if I say no (so my dm's xmas present I wasn't sure about - very handy, pack of everyday socks for dh, not bothered and I do know that, I don't want to get in a discussion about it.)

Postcode on the otherhand is purely for their benefit and it does annoy me. I usually give a jolly 'oh no thank you, I'm fine without that, thanks' which isn't quite the answer to the question they asked and so they don't have a stock reply that they've been taught to the usual replies they get... So they're thrown, on the back foot and usually just will give a puzzled look, say oh errr ummm and because I've been polite and said thank you a couple of times it closes down the conversation. If they look like they are hesitating or about to say something, a quick 'do you want my card?' or 'what's the final total?' type question soon speeds things along without them really noticing... Can recommend trying it just to see the momentary look of panic, confusion and terror as somebody goes off script (sorry to anyone that has to ask these questions!).

StrongerThanIThought76 · 20/01/2017 06:44

Hmm at post office check and send and not changing your name after marriage!

Renewed kids' passports last year, wanted to ensure I'd filled everything in properly and included all paperwork "if children are party to any court proceedings" according to the info leaflet.

Woman behind counter shoved the court document back at me saying 'I don't know what you've given me that for'. I simply replied that it was a required document according to the leaflet, please could she just check and send it. She told me that was the first she'd ever heard of it. Wtf? There must be loads of kids covered by court orders- residency etc.

My passport is still in my married name, despied being divorced. She'd have had plenty to say about that!

Original poster
Iris65 · 20/01/2017 07:03

I feel sorry for the staff too which I don't argue and just say no thanks. It's the companies and the policies I am fed up with.
As for the post office and married/divorced names - they would have had. Field day with mine as I am twice divorced and still use my last married name. If anyone comments I just make a joke about competing with Zsa Zsa Gabor Wink

OP posts:
ParadiseCity · 20/01/2017 07:12

I feel sorry for the staff but I avoid WH Smith because of the hassle factor.

Wilkos sells a huge range of stationery and other useful stuff and chocolate IF I WANT IT plus their staff are still allowed to be pleasant normal human beings - I shop there more than anywhere else now.

womanwithoutasong · 20/01/2017 07:15

Ive been asked for my full address and car reg at Maplins. Why for goodness sake?

I also hate the charity collectors stationed at the exit of supermarkets and diy outlets.

I also never buy from a chemist now you can get stuff online due to the intrusive public questioning.

All this questioning and upselling just makes for a horrible, irritating and tiring experience. I remember when shopping used to be enjoyable. I much prefer to do everything online now.

TadlowDogIncident · 20/01/2017 07:16

I always either say no or give the postcode of the Houses of Parliament...

Pippin8 · 20/01/2017 07:31

Another thing I hate is people outside supermarkets begging you to join the RAC or give to their charity.

I want to do my shopping in peace, just piss off.

BoomBoomsCousin · 20/01/2017 07:32

I just say "I'm in a rush. I need to pay and go." Which normally does it. Once, when it didn't work, I just walked off, because I was going to miss my bus and I'm not into rewarding poor service. I always make a point of mentioning it in surveys.

Narnian · 20/01/2017 07:57

Oh good god, WH Smiths. I gave up shopping with them some time ago. From the arsey till woman that would lecture me on carrier bag use and self service tills, the trying to flog me shite Cadbury's chocolate, the overpriced tatty stock etc. The final straw was when they allowed bloody bastard chuggers in their store to hassle me. Life is too short for this shit.

I think the only thing keeping them going is the captive audience they have in hospitals and railway stations.

RebootYourEngine · 20/01/2017 08:18

I hate this. I just decline. I might try giving out Buckingham Palaces postcode. Although i think i might get a few strange looks what with being scottish and living in the north of scotland Grin

My local superdrug just say 'can i interest you in of our offers' it is like they are so fed up with it they cant be arsed telling what the offers are.

Lostpangolin · 20/01/2017 08:24

I phoned the non emergency number to report a break in. The operator asked for my birthday. I queried whether they planned to send me a card. "No sir, it's for our records". In which case you don't need my birthday, goodbye.

myfavouritecolourispurple · 20/01/2017 08:26

I hear you OP.

The worst is Waitrose. Do you have a Mywaitrose card? Do you want cashback? Do you need a bag? I'd hate to be a foreigner who doesn't speak English very well - you just want to pay for your item and go, not be harassed by loads of unnecessary questions. I guess self-service has its place.

I also agree - don't bother with passport check service. Fill it in online and you don't need it.

If I get asked for a phone no and I don't want to give it, I just say 01234 567890 (sorry if anyone actually has that number!). That's online though, I don't think I've ever been asked in a shop.

stoopido · 20/01/2017 08:31

I refuse to give out my details for the store cards in shops and email receipts, giving out my whole life story to a queue full of people isn't going to be happening. WH Smith and the chocolate is really grating and agree about Holland and Barrett doing the whole store card sale when there is a long queue of waiting customers. Took me 15 minutes to get out of there once with only one other customer in front of me opening up a store card but computer kept saying no! I ended up putting the things back and walking out.

londonrach · 20/01/2017 08:34

Just say no. Not hard. Also refusing receipts sent by email.

stoopido · 20/01/2017 08:34

Oh and home insurance asking about my children's details? Why? I don't understand why they all need to know the ins and outs of my arse!

myfavouritecolourispurple · 20/01/2017 08:34

I get asked for my postcode in the White Company and Crew. I always give it to them because I thought they were looking up my details to say I've bought something and then at some point I get a discount code with my catalogue. Or would I get that anyway? They don't just ask for my postcode though, they confirm my name and house number.

myfavouritecolourispurple · 20/01/2017 08:42

I thought you had to leave your name & address etc for refunds

I thought it was so they could check the odd one to make sure the sales assistants aren't on the fiddle. I don't mind doing it to protect the sales assistants. I'd draw the line at providing DOB and phone no though.

I notice that at airports now they have signs up saying you must show your boarding pass because it's their terms of doing business. After all that furore a couple of years ago about VAT etc. Now they've been caught out, they've just decided to say they won't sell you anything if you don't provide it. It may become similar in other retailers - ie give us your email address or we won't sell to you. That is permissible under the DPA - because you have a choice not to buy from them.

drspouse · 20/01/2017 08:47

Guy in the post office once asked me if I wanted "protection" for my "little one". I think he meant insurance, but creepy or what?

wasonthelist · 20/01/2017 09:03

This whole having to give your postcode thing in clothes shops is really annoying too
I hated asking it when I worked in retail.

In order not to make life tricky for the poor assistants who are only told to do it by toss-faced twats in management, I just give a false postcode.