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!!

[HyacinthBooquet]

Why on earth would you feel guilty? confused

Because sometimes its nice to be human.

[putthehamsterbackinitscage]

One alternative approach to stop these companies....

If you write to them asking for full details of any info they have on you (subject access request) they have currently 40 days to respond in full, and next year that reduces to 30 days

If they get enough requests it may deter them from collecting data they don’t need...

And under new regs next year they need explicit consent for actions that are not justified under specific clauses such as fulfilling a contract so reasons like to add you to marketing databases - plus you will have other new rights as a data subject ....

[EggysMom]

I've only been asked for my postcode recently by Asda, so (having time on my hands) i enquired as to why they wanted it. It wasn't for promo material or anysuch - it was because they survey to see where their customer base comes from at that branch. I was happy to oblige, my postcode only narrows down my location to one of 50 houses.

I have been known to give my works postcode by mistake though!

[deepestdarkestperu]

Do you feed back to management that people get arsey, that the company are alienating their customers? What do management say. Or do they say, like you did upthread that they "are just doing their job."

We do feed it back - they don't care, because they're not the ones dealing with fed-up customers, and really, it doesn't alienate enough people to cause a problem for them. Our registration stats are pretty high, and our store continually beats targets so they don't care if a small minority get pissed off.

We don't force people to register. We ask (because we have to - we'll fail mystery shops if we don't), and if people say no, it's no big deal so long as they're polite about it, and realise we don't really want to be asking either!

[deepestdarkestperu]

Do you feed back to management that people get arsey, that the company are alienating their customers? What do management say. Or do they say, like you did upthread that they "are just doing their job."

We do feed it back - they don't care, because they're not the ones dealing with fed-up customers, and really, it doesn't alienate enough people to cause a problem for them. Our registration stats are pretty high, and our store continually beats targets so they don't care if a small minority get pissed off.

We don't force people to register. We ask (because we have to - we'll fail mystery shops if we don't), and if people say no, it's no big deal so long as they're polite about it, and realise we don't really want to be asking either!

[AccidentalyRunToWindsor]

@purits I imagine it's because the party line is that by getting the details you can offer your customers 'better service' in future.

I guess that telling your Manager that customers are getting pissed off will reflect back that you aren't asking customers in the right way, if you ask them by highlighting the benefits then they will be more than happy to provide it...😒

HR- well I imagine that will be part of your role so not much they can do about it.

[AccidentalyRunToWindsor]

As in the asking for the details. Obvs they should get involved if the Managers are bullying/not having the conversations in the right way.

[formerbabe]

Because sometimes its nice to be human

. So being human means I have to share my personal details with a perfect stranger so they can probably use them for marketing reasons...

[donquixotedelamancha]

"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."

I personally wouldn't bother giving a false postcode, but I don't think any of this is the customer's problem. If everyone gave a false postcode/email then the practice would disappear. If management treat staff badly as a result then the staff should be just as assertive as customers have to be with them.

Many people feel that the marketing practices of big firms are (very slightly) unethical. It's not other people's responsibility to make your unethical job easier.

[melj1213]

How can that be? If you get a real post code what does it matter? Or do you mean a postcode that doesn't exist?

I work in Asda, for a few weeks every year we have to ask customers for their postcodes (it's never a set time so I assume it just goes on until we reach the arbritary quota of postcodes set by Head Office but tbh I've never asked what the specific parameter is) ... we don't get told about it in advance, we just get a new prompt to "Enter Postcode" on the till at the end of the transaction. Throwing random postcodes/made up information throws off the algorithm whereas a polite "No thanks" doesn't.

The reason for it is for Head Office and store management use it to see where our customers are coming from and to try and target any promotions and initiatives to increase customer numbers (or see where we have lost customers and work out why) and build up an idea of our customer base. Are we just getting customers from a 5 minute radius or are they coming from further away (and if so, how far away?)? Are customers coming to our store even though there are other supermarkets geographically closer to them? Are we getting customers from the "richer" areas of town or the "poorer" areas and how does the ratio compare? Do we get more customers in store from X area whereas Y area uses our delivery service? Certain local free papers contain adverts/leaflets for the store, do we get more people from the areas that receive the adverts/leaflets through the door than other areas? Have we gained or lost customers from specific area, and is there anything that might explain that change (Eg a new supermarket has opened 5 minutes from a postcode where numbers have dipped from last year)? How does that data compare to the information from last year or the year before or 5 years ago?

[HyacinthBooquet]

hmm. So being human means I have to share my personal details with a perfect stranger so they can probably use them for marketing reasons...

It can mean anything you like.

[deepestdarkestperu]

If management treat staff badly as a result then the staff should be just as assertive as customers have to be with them.

But people want to keep their jobs! Retail staff, as a general rule, are easily replaceable. I don't mean that nastily (I've always worked retail) but it's not skilled labour or a niche job with a limited number of applicants. Why would you make things more difficult for the person on minimum wage?

If you have an issue, complain to Head Office or ask to speak to the manager - don't try and cause problems for the person who's just doing what they need to do to keep their job.

[IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday]

Assistant : "Can I have your email please?"

Me : "No, thank you"

End of issue.
And I've never been given a cats bums face by an assistant.

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

I don't care what "algorithms" I am upsetting by giving fake postcodes. I am under no obligation to give true information to buy a pair of knickers.

I either use SW1A 1AA (Buckingham Palace) or SW1A 2AA (Number 10).

[deepestdarkestperu]

I am under no obligation to give true information to buy a pair of knickers.

Then don't give any - they can't force you to

But don't cause problems for someone on minimum wage, who'll likely get in trouble and accused of adding fake customer information to improve their stats.

[Smitff]

I always say no, and suggest they give their head office feedback that this customer is vehemently opposed to even being asked.

[Workingonthemoon]

I just say "no thank you". Politely but no excuses, justification or discussion. I'm not very assertive so just stick to that line on the rare occassion I'm pushed.
I feel sorry for the staff as I know they have to do it (admittedly I didn't realise there were targets) but if I wanted to sign up to marketing then I would without the sneakiness.
If enough people refuse to give it, the companies will realise it's not worth their time.
Someone is currently using our address for somstging dodgey so I've been ringing the companies we've been getting letters from. I've had some "intetesting" discussions with the companies about why I do NOT have to give them my full name etc. and why they don't need by DOB to investigate said account. They have tried everything including threatening me with bailiffs if I didn't give them my details. I did just laugh at that which wasn't a helpful response.

[Smitff]

Oops, posted too soon.

Depending on the store, somebody somewhere can build up a reasonably likely picture of my size, earning bracket, address, phone number, whether I have children or not and if I do how many and which sex, whether or not I work, whether I'm married or not etc etc. This information can all be sold on without my knowledge or consent. Fuck that.

[IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday]

And I agree that it isn't the customers issue if they don't want to give out personal details.

Giving out your address is a very personal thing.

[Workingonthemoon]

It isn't fair on the staff to give them fake details.
Plus, how does it stop the actual issue unless the company does a deep dive? Generally as far as they know that customer was asked and gave a postcode.

[donquixotedelamancha]

"But people want to keep their jobs! Retail staff, as a general rule, are easily replaceable."

I was very aware in posting that it's harder to do than I flippantly suggest; but managers being genuinely rude/inappropriate to staff who have been given false postcodes need to be pushed back against. We are talking about big firms, with HR departments. Nobody needs to be mistreated over a customer giving a false postcode.

This is not the customer's problem, they can respond how they like.

[BeALert]

Shopping in Sears in the US is the worst.

"Would you like to take out our credit card for a 4% discount?"

"No thank you."

"How about our loyalty card which gives you a 6% discount if you buy 8 qualifying items in the next 22 days?"

"No thank you."

"Are you sure? It's a really great deal?"

"I'd like to just pay for these clothes please."

"Well now, bless your heart! But if you sign up for our credit card..."

"Fuck it. I'm leaving."

And they wonder why people shop online instead.

[donquixotedelamancha]

Assistant : "Can I have your email please?"
Me : "No, thank you"
End of issue.

I find no difficulty saying this, but recently I made a complaint after a store assistant agressively insisting that I couldn't make a purchase without giving my email.

This wasn't store policy, but clearly they felt under pressure to collect data and some people behave poorly when put in this position.

[seagreengirl]

I just say "no thank you" and don't give it a moments thought afterwards.

I used to be a terrible one for always explaining and giving reasons to complete strangers, always feeling guilty when I was approached by chuggers. Then I just snapped and decided, no more. Now I just say "no" with a smile and never look guilty, and definitely never apologise. The freedom you feel is amazing.