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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to give my name and address to buy a tshirt?

100 replies

DrivingMeDaisy · 02/06/2017 15:04

Just popped into Joules and bought 3 kids tshirts. At till point asked if I've shopped there before? Yes. Then asked for postcode, surname, then title, at which point I asked why it was needed as I just wanted to buy some tshirts. Sales assistant completely thrown, apparently they need it for their mailing list and to send me offers (which wasn't explained and I didn't want). AIBU to not want to have to give personal details just to buy some clothing? Noticing this more and more in shops now.

OP posts:
allegretto · 03/06/2017 08:27

I always say I live abroad and dont have a postcode.

SandyDenny · 03/06/2017 08:34

Taking a photo of the receipt is a good idea in case you lose it but why do you need to email it to yourself, it's on your phone anyway

magimedi · 03/06/2017 08:36

I just say that I don't have an email address (fat lie) & am old enough to get away with it.

ElsieMc · 03/06/2017 08:40

Yes, they always immediately ask my post code, then house number and spend time looking it up because it has a house name. Then they want my email. It holds the queue up and I don't want everyone knowing where I live etc. Very intrusive. Its just a marketing ploy to inundate you with offers etc. Just say no.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 03/06/2017 08:46

Mothercare piss me off with this. I would give details to bravissimo because I saw a woman get good customer service trying to return a 6m old bra and they were able to look her up.

TrollMummy · 03/06/2017 08:55

Fat Face & White Stuff do this I just decline. DD(13) has also been asked this in certain shops which threw her the first time as she knew not to give this information to anyone. It is is a bit inappropriate - a stranger asking a child her personal details and addressHmm I've told her not to in future at say she doesn't have an email.

ShelaghTurner · 03/06/2017 09:02

I had such a row in Comet over this (yes it's going back a decade!). Bought a vacuum cleaner and refused to give my address. Cashier called Mr Management who told me it was compulsory which I said was nonsense. I was paying cash and had no intention of giving them any details for a poxy Hoover. He started properly yelling that it was for the guarantee and not to think I could come back to them moaning if it broke because it wouldn't be covered because I was so stupid. I waved the paper receipt and said that was the guarantee wasn't it? He yelled again saying yes but if I lost it then I was screwed. I smiled serenely and said, for a £50 hoover I'd take my chances and I swanned out.

I was the epitome of chilledness. I'm not usually that confident so amazed myself but he was totally batshit Grin

NetflixandBill · 03/06/2017 09:05

Just refuse. They'll be trained in asking you for it in such a way that youre less likely to question it- this is where all the 'would you like your receipt emailed to you' has come from.

MorrisZapp · 03/06/2017 09:20

I can cope with the email requests. What I can't cope with is the demands that I take out a storecard. How stupid do companies think we are? Ruinous interest rates and a lifetime of spam, for the privilege of getting 15% off a pair of jeans.

I once had a horrible scene with a sales assistant in Debenhams, she was furious when I wouldn't sign up.

HardcoreLadyType · 03/06/2017 09:21

It's easy to unsubscribe from mailing lists that you don't want to be on. There will always be a clicky link at the bottom of the email, and you can just go through to it and take your name off their list.

Actually, I notice now on my iPhone and iPad that there is often an "unsubscribe" option up the top of the email, just underneath the sender's details. (I'm not sure if this is the same on other devices. Could well be.)

If I am asked for details in a store, the shop assistant will usually ask if I am on, or want to go on, their mailing list. I would be amazed if they tried to argue with me, if I said "no", because I think mostly shop staff are polite to customers, although I am sure there is the odd occasion when someone is poorly trained, or is having a bad day, when they might not be.

rockcake · 03/06/2017 09:22

Just say no

YA def NBU though. I really resent this kind of thing too

And ever since that MN thread a few months ago about us all being spied on through our tv etc, i find myself wondering and worrying about this stuff fairly often. Hate it

Hdgshsksk · 03/06/2017 09:29

Taking a photo of the receipt is a good idea in case you lose it but why do you need to email it to yourself, it's on your phone anyway

Because it takes a second and I find it easier to search for. I have a picture album for receipts but the photos aren't individually titled (iPhone) and Id have to scroll through them to find the receipt I was looking for - admittedly not a massive problem but email works better for me a I can find the relevant receipt instantly.

QueenofEsgaroth · 03/06/2017 09:38

Data is currency, by giving it away you are increasing your security risk and giving the company freedom to sell info on for money.

caffeinestream · 03/06/2017 09:42

I'm a shop assistant that has to ask this. I hate doing it but it's part of my job. It doesn't bother me if people say no. I don't like giving out my details in shops and don't do it when I'm shopping, but I have to ask as part of my job.

Just don't have a go at shop assistants who ask you this. I've had some really snotty customers who seem to think I'm asking so I can follow them home and post dog shit through their letterbox or something!

QueenofEsgaroth · 03/06/2017 09:47

It's intrusive and rude, maybe part of your job but I am afraid it is going to be treated like intrusive and rude questioning regardless. You could imply to the pissed off customer that you agree by suggesting customer feeds back to management...

caffeinestream · 03/06/2017 09:51

Or you could just be polite to people who are only doing their job? Hmm

DownWithThisSortaThing · 03/06/2017 10:02

I hate this, mainly because my email address is long and my name is long and often misspelled so I have to spell the whole thing out, and also I get more than enough junk mail and emails that I really don't want anymore. (I've unsubscribed to a lot of them but still get the emails Hmm) so I just say no thank you and usually the shop assistant is fine about it. The only time I've had them badger for it is in Cath Kidston, she asked for my email for the receipt and I said "no thanks" and then she said "but it's incase you lose your paper receipt". So I said "I don't want an email receipt, I don't want to return it, and if I do and I've lost the receipt then it's my own fault so it's fine". She said "it's also to see where our customers are shopping" to which I was a bit sarcy and said "well I'm in your York store so there's a hint". She got quite snappy after that and said "it'll only take a second!!" I just said NO thank you and she pulled a right Hmm face at me. I get it that it's her job to ask and some customers can be shitty, but she was like a dog with a bone and there was no need for it, it's my information and I don't have to give it if I don't want to.

QueenofEsgaroth · 03/06/2017 10:03

No thank you is polite, taken aback look at question - not optional!

Persist in ragging someone for their personal information - get annoyance back. What I am saying is some people will naturally respond to rudeness with rudeness so asking a rude and intrusive question as part of your job sucks and is not likely to make your day so don't ever expect it to.

HardcoreLadyType · 03/06/2017 10:06

Or you could just be polite to people who are only doing their job?

This.

Some people just seem to revel in the drama.

(Obviously, in a situation like DownWith describes, its fine to be a bit cross. But mostly, isn't it easier to go through life being polite to people. Better for them, and better for you.)

DianaT1969 · 03/06/2017 10:19

I always say no.
Have you ever noticed how a lone Holland and Barrett assistant will push their loyalty card at the till regardless of a long queue who have been waiting ages? You need to be heavily incentivised to be that thick-skinned.
Puts me off shopping there.

caffeinestream · 03/06/2017 10:26

I'm not talking about sales assistants who push and push.

But we have to ask. We're not doing it to be intrusive or piss you off. We're doing our jobs. Would it really kill you to just politely say "no thank you" or "I'd rather not give out that information"? There's no need to get snotty and rude with people about it.

Andrewofgg · 03/06/2017 10:27

I use a bogus address - two higher than the highest in my street but using the same postcode. And s second email address. It works.

DianaT1969 · 03/06/2017 10:30

Going off topic, but how do you feel when assistants in Superdrug and WH Smith offer a completely random object once you get to the til? I feel quite sorry for them that their marketing directors are such dicks.

Mascara, perfume, enormous chocolate bar to go with that toothpaste? Does anyone ever buy?

I try never to shop in WH Smith anyway because of their ludicrous overcharging on water at airport departures, where you have nowhere else to get any. I'd love it if I got to the front of the queue in a London WH Smith shop and asked "would you like a small bottle of water for £1.95? Actual value 34p" That would be more honest.

SisyphusDad · 03/06/2017 11:08

To those who say 'it's just part of the job so just say no', can you suggest any other way of getting the company's management to understand that we absolutely loathe the practice?

FairNotFair · 03/06/2017 11:15

She said "it's also to see where our customers are shopping" to which I was a bit sarcy and said "well I'm in your York store so there's a hint".

This made me Grin, Down!

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