Best Buy = Big Brother

Dec 20, 2006 Author: Veronica | Filed under: out and about, toys

We were in Best Buy tonight, so I could buy someone in my family a quasi-expensive gift for Christmas. In case they read my blog, I’m not going to say what exactly I was buying there, but I will say that it was something subscription related. Maybe that makes a difference in the story.

Anyhow, we get to the checkout, and they scan my items (also got Rainbow 6: Vegas for XBox 360 as a house gift) and then this screen pops up. The checkout girl asks for my name.
“Why do you need my name?”
Girl: “Uh, the system makes me do it.” So I grudgingly give it to her. “Can I also have your phone number?”
“What? Why would you need that?” I ask. She tells me that she can’t make the transaction unless I give her this information on the screen. Ryan and I discuss how ridiculous this is, but I finally give her my work number. Maybe it’s some weird registering thing with this device.
“Can I have your home address?” WHAT? Seriously?
“Uh, no. I don’t feel comfortable giving my address, and I really don’t see why they would need that information. Anyhow, this is a gift, I’m not the one keeping it.” She tried to back out of the screen, but sure enough… it took the item off the list of things I was buying. However, when she tried again and went back into the screen, all the empty lines had “UNKNOWN” filled in. We just told her to leave it like that, and it went through.
Then with a smile, I said “Sorry, I’m in witness protection. It’s complicated.”

But why? Why do they need my name, address, and phone number? Especially when it’s going to be given as a gift? It seems very unnecessary.

25 Responses for "Best Buy = Big Brother"

Darayz December 20th, 2006 at 11:32 am 1

I heard that they ask for your address to verify what kind of sales tax to impose on you. For example, if I went to tax-free New Jersey, and they find out my zip code is in 12% tax New York, I will get a tax on all my items . . Congrats on Rainbow 6 Vegas. I JUST got it a few hours ago . . see you in my cross-hairs =)
Kamps December 20th, 2006 at 12:10 pm 2

I work at Best Buy and the only time that the information is needed is if you are buying a subscription (more particularly one with a rebate) or a service plan. otherwise we don’t need that info .
Willam Spaetzel December 20th, 2006 at 12:11 pm 3

I have pretty much gotten used to giving my phone number and postal code out to lots of stores. I’m sure that they just want to be able to send advertising out to you.

There certainly wouldn’t be anything stopping you from giving them a fake address and number either.
west December 20th, 2006 at 12:58 pm 4

they ask for your address for marketing purposes

that way they can track what you’re buying and can track the trend of their customers based on their geographic location/gender/age

it’s somewhat like using your membership club card at grocery stores, it’s for their advertising departments

and more than likely, they will send you spam to the address you gave
Charlie George December 20th, 2006 at 1:28 pm 5

I get that at Best Buy too, so what I do is give them my info, except the info is wrong in case it’s a marketing thing, same goes for address. I do give a real name though.
Rodney L. December 20th, 2006 at 2:02 pm 6

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.
Ed S. December 20th, 2006 at 2:15 pm 7

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).
Todd December 20th, 2006 at 2:26 pm 8

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.
arlo December 20th, 2006 at 3:58 pm 9

It’s about time (re: rainbow six). You won’t regret it.
Pat December 20th, 2006 at 4:52 pm 10

I just say “sorry I’d rather not…” and it’s never stopped any store from taking my money.
Dillon K. December 20th, 2006 at 4:55 pm 11

It’s so the robots can take over the world!!
Ethan Poole December 20th, 2006 at 5:33 pm 12

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
Adam December 20th, 2006 at 6:27 pm 13

so weird why they need any of that information…. just tell them that you do not feel comfortable disclosing that information.
M. R. Turnage December 20th, 2006 at 6:35 pm 14

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
Gil December 20th, 2006 at 9:03 pm 15

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.
Michael B. December 20th, 2006 at 11:39 pm 16

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.
Zach December 21st, 2006 at 1:51 am 17

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
CoolB December 21st, 2006 at 5:13 am 18

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
John B. December 21st, 2006 at 7:04 am 19

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…
Kato December 21st, 2006 at 8:34 am 20

They need it for their diabolical plan to build a Veronica-bot.
CoolB December 21st, 2006 at 6:58 pm 21

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?
Andrew December 22nd, 2006 at 1:52 pm 22

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.
Don C. December 24th, 2006 at 1:34 am 23

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.
Pablo December 24th, 2006 at 8:20 am 24

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!!!!!!!!!
nimble2 December 30th, 2006 at 11:16 pm 25

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 !!