To say No thanks when asked for my post code at the till

[drfostersbra]

I'm always in a rush and I just want them to chuck my stuff in a bag and take my money, I don't want to be on a mailing list, have a store card, catalogue or emails, just fuck off!!

Each time they ask I say no thanks then they go all cats bum mouth with me for the rest of the transaction.

Joules, Jo Jo Maman and white stuff are the worst for this.

The other day I was buying my screaming baby a dribble bib in the Joules sale quickly before a music class and the woman serving told me that they were having a charity day and please could I donate in the bucket, when I said I was in a hurry and didn't have coins on me she gave me an application card so I could direct debit money or something. THEN asked for my post code and was thoroughly shirty with me when I said no.

It's so annoying!!

[AccidentalyRunToWindsor]

It's just an email though? I like it, I'm always losing receipts.

So what if they are going to market better at me? I will just get more emails that I can delete or phone calls that I will say 'no thanks I'm not interested' and then block.

I recognise I'm clearly the minority here.

[deepestdarkestperu]

The Queen's post code is real and how on earth would you get blamed for information that could be true?

I know it's a real postcode. But our system records what time purchases are made, which store, who served you, what you bought and any information you give (e-mail, name, postcode, potentially your address for home-delivery). Our management can look and see if the postcodes you record are genuine or clearly made up bollocks.

It's pretty obvious that the Royal Family aren't going to be shopping in our store, and especially not 15 times a week or however often you do this - so it gets flagged up, and the shop assistant who keyed it in (probably not paying much attention to whether it's genuine - we don't care), is going to be one hauled up in front of management for "screwing with statistics".

[AccidentalyRunToWindsor]

@MrsTerryPratchett
My guess based on behaviours where I currently work;
If it was someone else's postcode then I guess the management wouldn't know. Unless they really investigated it.

If it was a totally made up one then there could be an accusation that the retail assistant is making them up to bolster their figures to gain commission/meet targets etc.

[SingingMySong]

Mamas and Papas and Matalan have been the worst for this IME, but I guess it depends on how individual managers apply the edicts. I can't remember if we were actually refused as customers without giving a postcode in M&P, or just nearly so. Haven't been back since, anyway.

I also really hate it when the sales assistant is obliged to say something lovely about my taste in selecting the item. They always do it beautifully, and I usually play along out of politeness, but I'm sure we are both cringing inside.

[deepestdarkestperu]

If it was a totally made up one then there could be an accusation that the retail assistant is making them up to bolster their figures to gain commission/meet targets etc.

Yep. And management do check, sadly! So if you keep giving either made-up postcodes, or ones that clearly aren't yours, then it just gets the assistant in trouble. It doesn't achieve anything. You're not getting one over on management or anything, just causing problems for someone who's only doing their job.

[CatsOclock]

I don't buy into this sort of thing and have reached a time of life where I'm confident saying so at the till if necessary - usually with a bit of humour to soften the blow. I find such money / data grabbing quite yuk tbh - it really puts me off shopping there.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

I wasn't very polite to the muppet in Currys on Saturday. I hate the shop with a passion but was desperate for printer ink. After waiting to pay while he had a chat with his mates and then being told to put my card in the machine without confirmation of how much I was paying there was no way he was getting my postcode or email address!

[AccidentalyRunToWindsor]

@deepestdarkestperu I've seen it happen with our staff making things up to meet a quota.

Let me guess, you are penalised if customers won't give them as well?

[missymayhemsmum]

So every time you get asked for a postcode/email , ask for a complaints form instead? Presumably enough people give their email/postcode to make it worth the staff time. If everyone refused and complained, they would give it up.

[MissConductUS]

Shops here did this like mad a few years ago and then stopped. My guess is that they stopped because it was just one more thing driving people to Amazon and other on line retailers where they already know your postal code.

I found it annoying too but if I was paying cash there wasn't much they could do with just the postal code.

[ReanimatedSGB]

I appreciate that it's hell for staff as well, and that giving them fake postcards makes it worse - but I'm still not going to give that information. I'll politely say No, and that's that.

[deepestdarkestperu]

Let me guess, you are penalised if customers won't give them as well?

Yep, it sucks! I'm quite lucky in that most of our customers are regulars, have been buying from our company since before it had shops (we used to be mail-order only) so they're already registered with us anyway. But I live in a tourist hot-spot and our system only takes UK postcodes - so if we have a bout of tourists, our registration figures fall.

Luckily my manager sees this and we don't get pulled up too much, but I know if my figures dropped and didn't pick up again sharpish, I'd be in his office for a chat about "poor registration numbers"!

[drfostersbra]

Fair enough. Remind me to NEVER work in retail.

I don't have problem with saying no. I could just go without the ice cold reception thereafter.

[Benedikte2]

I don't object to postcode but wouldn't give my email address which some firms ( or their dishonest employees) may sell on.
Besides, scores of household staff live in the Buckingham Palace complex. I have an idea there is a PO Box for their mail but that's beside the point.

[ApproachingATunnel]

I hate that and always refuse to give my postcode. More often than not i get cats bum face. Do ppl really just give their postcodes/names without thinking or am i in a minority?...
I find Matalan is the worst- their young sales assistants look positively pissed off like it's a personal insult. I just popped in for some socks and im not leaving my postcode, thank you very much!

[noeffingidea]

I always just say I don't give any details out.
Shopping is a simple matter to me. Find item, take it to till, pay for it in cash, receive receipt and leave with item.
I wouldn't be rude to any retail workers though, know they are just following instructions.

[Curtaintwitcher2017]

How on earth would management know the postcode is not where I live ? Unless I do give something unusual like the Queen's postcode?

I only ever give fake postcodes but they're usually just a few digits away from my own. Or I give nothing at all.

[deepestdarkestperu]

I don't have problem with saying no. I could just go without the ice cold reception thereafter.

I think it's just because people's bonuses and such are dependent on registration numbers, number of refunds etc. It's really frustrating sometimes. Until recently, any refunds went against our figures as a store (even if they were items bought online) and too many refunds meant we didn't get bonus that month.

It doesn't excuse a shitty attitude but I think a lot of people don't realise that people's wages are affected by these things!

[DiegoMadonna]

deepestdarkesperu I'm sorry that you work for such a bunch of jobsworths

This is the kind of reason I could never work for a large company. Load of corporate marketing bullshit and the little guy gets in trouble for meaningless nonsense.

[Benedikte2]

Eons ago when I was young it was far more likely you would find shop assistants etc who would go out of their way to be helpful. I noticed that when times became harder economically and people became more worried about retaining their jobs that they seemed to be , metaphorically, looking over their shoulders for the manager and afraid they might be breaking rules etc by spending to much time with a customer etc etc.
Retail is the pits. Very unsocial work hours and little job satisfaction (my opinion from observing young friends in retail)

[becotide]

This is a problem between employee and manager, not something that is on the customer to fix. I am NOT giving my postcode out and if giving a fake one gets the transaction done with a minimum of fuss, then a fake postcode it what I will give.

There is always a lot of resistance from management when customers kick back. Unfortunately businesses can be slow to realise a resource is exhausted - in this case the resource is people stupid enough to let companies sell their information

[DiegoMadonna]

deepestdarkestperu are you allowed to tell customers that your bonuses are dependent on it? Usually if somebody asks for some personal information I ask "why"? If they say it's for marketing, I don't give it. If they said "it helps me make more money and keep my job", I'd at the very least give the postcode for the street down from mine!

[LovelyPrep]

Oh god yes Matalan are the worst. The bloke in there got pissed off I wouldn't give my email address and tried to tell me I couldn't buy the item if I didn't give it. Idiot. I asked him to show me kind of evidence of that policy, of course he couldn't and he begrudgingly allowed me to buy a vest

[Therealslimshady1]

Oh, I am really fed up with this.

I am determined to refuse from now on.

Last week I humoured the guy in Jack Wills, and I added "no junk mail or catalogues please", he said he'd make a note...

As I walk out of the shop, my phone pings....there are 5 fucking e-mails from Jack Wills!!!

So staff are not as innocent as they claim. They lie. There is no such thing as "putting in a note to say no junk mail/catalogues"