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AIBU?

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Original poster

Stores that want your email

88 replies

MrsFunnyBunny · 25/06/2023 21:24

I shop online and use my email for this obviously. I also use an H&M club member app and am paper free there, all good.

But shops like New look and Claires want you to tell the cashier your email address loudly in front of the whole queue of people so that they can send you an email receipt. I like email receipts but do not wish to share my personal email address os publicly. They're only allowed to ask people over 18 and New Look staff are getting quite rude now when I say I prefer to have a paper receipt.

AIBU to prefer using an app with a bar code for paperless rather than telling random people and fellow shoppers my email address, for all in the store to hear?

What are people's views on this, it seems like such a clunky way of going about paperless. Really irritating.

OP posts:
Albatross674 · 26/06/2023 00:05

I just say no thank you, no big deal.
the store staff are just doing as asked, don’t blame them

HotWithNoRain · 26/06/2023 00:08

Just say no thanks. It's easy enough. A bit like when they offer you bargainfull sweets at WH Smiths

Linnet · 26/06/2023 00:18

I was in New Look last week and said I'd take a paper receipt, as I always do, and the girl said that was fine but to be aware that they are moving to paperless soon so I'd need to give one then.

melj1213 · 26/06/2023 00:33

When they ask "Can I get an email address for the receipt?" If I don't want to give it, for whatever reason, I have always just replied "No thanks, a paper receipt is fine" and nobody has ever challenged it.

For times when I do want an email receipt (eg for an electrical or a high value item where it will be useful to have it in my email) then I have a separate email set up for online shopping, so if my regular email was [email protected] then my shopping one would be [email protected]

specialassistance · 26/06/2023 00:47

I told a shop I didn't want to give my email address and wanted a paper receipt. They refused and said it's their company policy and that they couldn't give me a receipt unless I gave them my email. I stroppily told them not to bother.

Unfortunately my purchase (costume jewellery) broke shortly afterwards and they wouldn't accept it back as I had no receipt!

Beneficialchampion2 · 26/06/2023 03:04

YABU

non issue

Ask for a paper one.

MrsMikeDrop · 26/06/2023 03:05

Find it frigging annoying and unnecessarily time consuming

KnightonShiningArmour · 26/06/2023 04:46

I remember trying to buy something in Pumpkin Patch years ago (I think it went bust about 2006?) and they refused the sale because I wouldn’t give an email address. I expect it was an overly enthusiastic sales person and I was much younger then.

I wasn’t surprised when shortly after they went bump! A shame though, they did lovely stuff!

Fakeairpodsfakeoodie · 26/06/2023 04:58

It's is annoying but on a couple of occasions I've lost paper receipts so would have been glad if an email one. But I also don't want the marketing crap, im sick of having to unsubscribe.

I wrote my email address on a piece of card cut to the size of a credit card and kept in my purse, I just show that so there's no confusion if I've said a or e etc and people behind me dont have to wait ages while I clarify the spelling.
I'll also now set up a receipts/purchases email address thanks to this thread.

daisychain01 · 26/06/2023 05:18

It worked out well for me when I had to return an expensive item to Fatface, as they were able to look up my purchase because they had me in their system with my email address - I was refunded the full amount that I had paid rather than the sale price.

I've never experienced a sales assistant "getting funny" if I declined to give my email address, maybe it was how you talked to them just trying to do their job, OP.

crew2022 · 26/06/2023 06:42

They ask for your email as if that's the only way you can get a receipt. It's a marketing ploy so your inbox will be even fuller of crap.
I always say I want a printed receipt.

DDivaStar · 26/06/2023 07:01

If you don't want an email receipt just say no. But what do you think all these people in Claires are going to do with your email address ?

SilverGlitterBaubles · 26/06/2023 07:14

Same with online purchases as soon as you on a website it pops up with a request for your email to get 10% off or whatever and then keeps happening. Shopping is now about data mining that is all.

greyhairnomore · 26/06/2023 07:23

Stickybackplasticbear · 25/06/2023 22:52

You can't be serious? Wtf do you think is gonna happen? This can't be real. If it is I'm embarrassed.

I came on to say this Confused

RattyHealy · 26/06/2023 07:24

Hbh17 · 25/06/2023 22:48

I just say "you don't need my email address to sell me this item" and then the sale carries on as normal. It's ridiculous asking people to give out personal information in a public place, so I simply don't do it.

You know that this makes you look like a total knob don't you?

Store staff don't need 'witty' responses that you think are clever. Just say no thanks.

Original poster
MrsFunnyBunny · 26/06/2023 08:00

I don't mind if I get a digital receipt or paper, I'm happy with either. I know companies already hold my email address and other personal details, which can't be helped. I prefer the H&M app as you just hold the barcode under the scanner and there is no need to spell out your email in a store with lots of other people around.

Sure, getting a generic email address just for receipts is an option but it's still such a clunky shopping experience spelling it out to the cashier in any case. At this point in time my email contains my first and surname and university, enough info for anyone to hear and misuse if they chose to. Those who say I'm being precious are a bit naive. All sorts of issues can arise from sharing your email address in a public space, harassment, hacking, or other abuse to name a few.

New Look staff have been insistent and rude when I politely declined and asked for a paper receipt. They say they're going paperless and that they HAVE to have your email address. Apparently under 18s do not get asked so they still have to provide aper receipts. It's just a very annoying shopping experience. Sadly my dd likes their clothes otherwise I wouldn't be shoppe there any longer.

OP posts:
littleducks · 26/06/2023 08:09

I have trouble in Lovisa who claim they can't print receipts so it's digital or nothing. Be interested about the under 18 and if that's a law ot policy thing as normally buying earrings for DD

SnackSizeRaisin · 26/06/2023 08:10

MrsFunnyBunny · 26/06/2023 08:00

I don't mind if I get a digital receipt or paper, I'm happy with either. I know companies already hold my email address and other personal details, which can't be helped. I prefer the H&M app as you just hold the barcode under the scanner and there is no need to spell out your email in a store with lots of other people around.

Sure, getting a generic email address just for receipts is an option but it's still such a clunky shopping experience spelling it out to the cashier in any case. At this point in time my email contains my first and surname and university, enough info for anyone to hear and misuse if they chose to. Those who say I'm being precious are a bit naive. All sorts of issues can arise from sharing your email address in a public space, harassment, hacking, or other abuse to name a few.

New Look staff have been insistent and rude when I politely declined and asked for a paper receipt. They say they're going paperless and that they HAVE to have your email address. Apparently under 18s do not get asked so they still have to provide aper receipts. It's just a very annoying shopping experience. Sadly my dd likes their clothes otherwise I wouldn't be shoppe there any longer.

Pretty sure they are in breach of gdpr asking for email addresses in order to give you a receipt. It's not necessary to collect your information for this. I expect it will be made compulsory to offer a paper receipt soon.

Quveas · 26/06/2023 08:12

QueSyrahSyrah · 25/06/2023 22:44

I have something like [email protected] and that is separate to my usual personal email.

A 5 minute faff to set up but there's only going to be more shops going this way.

This - I use a seperate account for all ordering or any form of communication that I might want, but don't want knowing my real address. Keeps all the crap out of my real inbox.

Original poster
MrsFunnyBunny · 26/06/2023 08:16

littleducks · 26/06/2023 08:09

I have trouble in Lovisa who claim they can't print receipts so it's digital or nothing. Be interested about the under 18 and if that's a law ot policy thing as normally buying earrings for DD

My dd shops occasionally at Lovisa and says they refuse to give her a paper receipt so she hasn't got the option to return anything there. I suppose at least New Look aren't pestering under 18s.

NL staff at the tills pretty much lectured me on a few occasions that they will be all paperless soon and that then I won't have the option to withhold my email address. It's a strange attitude to take with your customers.

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 26/06/2023 08:18

Politely decline. Probably better than a fake one.

LetMeGoogleThat · 26/06/2023 08:26

It's a sneaky GDPR workaround to Opt in that retail can get away with, I just say no.

SnackSizeRaisin · 26/06/2023 09:24

LetMeGoogleThat · 26/06/2023 08:26

It's a sneaky GDPR workaround to Opt in that retail can get away with, I just say no.

Yes, but if certain shops are not allowing you to opt out then that would be illegal as it's not necessary to collect an email address to issue a receipt. Nothing wrong with giving customers the option obviously but they would have to be allowed to decline. Going paperless surely wouldn't count as necessary reason to collect the info?

Personally I don't really care about them having the address, although it's cheeky, it's the time it takes and long queues that bother me.

randomchap · 26/06/2023 10:00

Rather geekily, I have my own domain name. When asked for email I just give shopname@mydomain

LoobyDop · 26/06/2023 10:12

Stickybackplasticbear · 25/06/2023 22:52

You can't be serious? Wtf do you think is gonna happen? This can't be real. If it is I'm embarrassed.

You probably need to adjust your embarrassment threshold, otherwise your entire life is going to be swallowed up by very minor drama.