Comments on: Best Buy = Big Brother

By: nimble2

nimble2 — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 07:16:31 +0000

I tell the checkout clerks that my phone number is unlisted and that if I pay with cash that my name is “CASH”, “US DOLLAR”
If they don’t like that then call a manager and demand a sales overide on their computer.
If they don’t like that then leave !!

By: Pablo

Pablo — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 16:20:04 +0000

V-
Circuit City asked me the same info when I tried to buy something last year. There were several people in line behind me who grew frustrated that I demanded the manager come to explain to me why I needed to give out my personal info. I refused to give any info, at which point they refused to complete my sale. I instructed them to look at my purchase history based on my name, which showed I had spent nearly $20K at CC over the past decade. I informed them that I would never spend another dollar at CC if they continued to ask me this information and that I would contact their HQ to let them know they just lost a 5-figure customer over this policy. At this point THEY CONTINUED TO DEMAND I GIVE THEM MY INFO. So I left the product at the counter and walked out. I contacted their HQ to explain the story, and to my surprise their customer service dept. defended the policy and politely explained that while they regretted my decision, they could not alter their policy. INSANITY!!!!!!!!!

By: Don C.

Don C. — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 09:34:33 +0000

They also use the info for returns if you don’t have your receipt. They keep all of your information and receipts on file in case you want to return something without a receipt. I know this because my best-buy employee friend and I tried to scam them by buying things with huge employee discount then returning them at retail… it didn’t work because they NEED some sort of receipt to return something. So if you give them false information when you buy it then you’re screwed if you lose the receipt (unless you use credit card (who doesn’t?)) End.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 21:52:34 +0000

Best Buy should have that information on hand. The most they should ask for is your phone number and or zip code. The only thing that might require that info is some free warranty, or the maker of the item you bought is doing and informational servy through Best Buy.

By: CoolB

CoolB — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 02:58:30 +0000

And just imagine the info you’d have to give up for one of those Kato..
Pirate or Ninja? Horde or Alliance? Mac or PC?

By: Kato

Kato — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 16:34:55 +0000

They need it for their diabolical plan to build a Veronica-bot.

By: John B.

John B. — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 15:04:46 +0000

These places are just getting more brazen with the information they request… I thought asking for my phone number in a clothing store was bad, but that’s just ridiculous.

Next they’re going to get skin tissue scrapings…

By: CoolB

CoolB — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 13:13:25 +0000

I don’t recall ever being asked for my address in any major electronics store. I have however been asked for my zip code.
Also, I love your comment about being in the witness protection program Veronica.. if that’s your real name

By: Zach

Zach — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 09:51:44 +0000

Veronica Veronica Veronica,

Lol, at the Witness protection also you kinda gave away what your present is and i can kinda guess who it is to as well….

If i know you as well as i think i do, the subscription is for one of the best games in the whole entire world which you play ALOT! Also i hope your getting the burning crusade for it as well Veronica! Also am i right guessing it is for your brother? and i would hardly call $19.99 expensive

By: Michael B.

Michael B. — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 07:39:24 +0000

I’ve never had Best Buy ask for my address, but they ask for my ph. every time. When they ask if they can have my ph. #, I reply “no” and that’s the end of it. I swipe my card, take my receipt and leave.

By: Gil

Gil — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 05:03:10 +0000

Ridiculous. I agree with just giving them the fake info. Also, there are laws in California that do not allow them to ask you for your phone number with credit card transactions. Easy lawsuit… By the way, Rainbox Six is awesome.

By: M. R. Turnage

M. R. Turnage — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 02:35:34 +0000

I usually give them out fake information. How many people have an address of 1313 Mockingbird Lane and a phone number of 213.555.555?

-RT

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 02:27:38 +0000

so weird why they need any of that information…. just tell them that you do not feel comfortable disclosing that information.

By: Ethan Poole

Ethan Poole — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 01:33:09 +0000

Circuit City here does the same thing. My sister works there and says that people usually feel that way. However, they only take your phone number, which is solely to record your transactions and it allows you to return your item with a receipt.

In Florida, they can get your name and address from your phone number. :-p

By: Dillon K.

Dillon K. — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:55:45 +0000

It’s so the robots can take over the world!!

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:52:22 +0000

I just say “sorry I’d rather not…” and it’s never stopped any store from taking my money.

By: arlo

arlo — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:58:37 +0000

It’s about time (re: rainbow six). You won’t regret it.

By: Todd

Todd — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 22:26:55 +0000

I used to be like you but they’ve worn me down. Now I just blather out random names, phone numbers and addresses. 123 Main Street in Walnut Creek must be getting quite a bit of junk mail.

By: Ed S.

Ed S. — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 22:15:20 +0000

I always give retail stores some other address/phone number, like work or a friend’s information :). AND, if it’s like the grocery rewards card, it shouldn’t matter what name you provide (meaning, they don’t really use it for the purposes of actually completing the transaction). I like to use more meaningful names in such cases, such as Daffy Duck, which is incidentally my Safeway name — it’s really nice to hear the clerks say “Thank you for shopping at Safeway, … um, Mr. Duck” (”Ace Ventura”, if I go to Albertsons).

By: Rodney L.

Rodney L. — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 22:02:52 +0000

It has been my experience that it is for marketing like West said above. They send out mailings with coupons every now and then. I go into Best Buy a lot and I remember that they used to ask for that info a lot. I think now that I have had one of those Reward Zone cards for the last couple of years, they stopped asking because they can get it when they swipe the card. I could stop that, but I want the points (what’s up Xbox Live). I know that Circuit City also asks for personal info unless you pay with a credit card(Best Buy too) because then they already have your name.