Do you give your phone number out to stores that ask?

[luvmy3]

I give it at CVS because I never have my card. Ditto for Borders discount club.
Supermarkets don't ask.
Most of the rest of my shopping is online. Probably I have given those businesses my phone number, in the normal course of ordering.

I figure, my phone is for MY convenience. I choose not to answer it, most of the time.

When I forget my card and they ask for my number to look it up, I give it to them, but it doesn't work so I have to give them my cell and that still doesn't work, and then I say 'oh I must have given a fake number when I filled out my card". I usually get a look with that

 

[kaytieeldr]

I always answer "No" to the phone and email requests. Period. They have no right to ask, imho.

They ABSOLUTELY have a right to ask. You have the SAME right to refuse.


But whatever anyone decides to do when asked for information one feels isn't necessary to the transaction, please DON'T take it out on the cashier. She or he is simply following store policy. If you feel they should get a different job if they don't agree with the policy - offer them one.

 

[MushyMushy]

Why do they need a phone number to send coupons? Wouldn't it make more sense to ask for your address?

Here's why I hate giving my number out. A few years ago we'd gone to Toys R Us and they asked for our number. I hesitated, but DH gave it to them. The cashier assured us that they don't use it for anything and they don't call people. A few days later on Saturday morning around 7 a.m., the phone rang and it was a call center wanting us to take a survey about our experience at Toys R Us. Then we started getting all sorts of marketing calls.

Cashiers don't usually give me attitude about it, although at our local Fashion Bug one cashier was always "befuddled." I don't know if she was putting on an act, but I suspect she was. I would go in maybe every couple of weeks for a top or something and EVERY time she would ask for my number and EVERY time I wouldn't give it and EVERY time she would stand there confused, not know what to do, have to ask the manager for help and then the manager would come over and just put in a series of 9s.

Sorry, I just don't see why any store needs my number to take my money.

 

[onyx8]

I just say "No, thanks" and they don't bother me about it.

 

[FireDancer]

I have a Google Voice number and I give that number out. When anyone calls that number both my cell phone and home phone ring simultaneously. I can set up filters so that unknown numbers go right to voice mail.

I highly recommend it for such circumstances.

 

[MushyMushy]

Respectfully, you don't have ANY idea if that's a working number or not. What's the point of inconveniencing a stranger who, through NO fault of their own, has been assigned your old phone number? Just refuse to give ANY number to the store that asks.

That's why I won't give any number at all. I had a cashier once suggest I just give them "any" number and I jokingly said "911." Well, it's any number! I thinks he ended up putting in her own number.

 

[crashbb]

The store I work at asks for you phone number. They aren't sold to anyone or used to sent out anything, they are just used to "label" the receipt. If anyone says "no" that is not a problem.

UNTIL...

They try to make a return without the receipt. If they have they've given their phone number, I can look up their purchase history and re-print a receipt. If they didn't give a number, I cannot print up an old receipt and I cannot do the return. The official rule (as stated on the back of the receipts and the sign by the cash) is no returns without the receipt, but we do try to help if we can.

 

[Took]

They ABSOLUTELY have a right to ask. You have the SAME right to refuse.


But whatever anyone decides to do when asked for information one feels isn't necessary to the transaction, please DON'T take it out on the cashier. She or he is simply following store policy. If you feel they should get a different job if they don't agree with the policy - offer them one.

Wow, where did I say that they should get a different job????? I don't "take it out" on the employee. I'm always polite. I also didn't mean the employee had no right to ask.

I meant the company had no right (okay, maybe they have a legal right, but I really wasn't talking about the law) to ask for informationn from someone who is already paying them for a service.

Don't know why you're upset here, but your beef shouldn't be with me.

 

[EMom]

I don't give it, but if they insist, I give a fake one. Why? Years ago, (long story short) I met a guy at a store who was handsome and flirtatious, but gave me the willies. Because I was filling out a store form with him, I had to give my info. He kept commando flirting, despite many reminders I was married. Finally, I had to get snippy with him and he went from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde in record time. After that, whenever I went in that store, he would shadow me. Gave me the creeps.

Turns out, he was a freaking serial killer. He often met women via his job and lo and behold, he had my info. He had even lived in my neighborhood at that time. Worst of all, he had a specific ""ideal woman" and I fit it to a T. I may not be every man's dream, but I was his.

After that, no one gets my info. Nope.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

I just give them my old phone number that we don't have anymore.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I will be perfectly honest - we used to ask for phone numbers where I worked and I disliked it. We HAD to ask - the register prompted us and there was a report sent out each month with the percentage of phone numbers that were captured. Many times people would just flat out refuse to give out their number (which is fine, I could get to the next step in the register) but what got me was how rude some people were. I don't mind you not giving your phone number, but don't be rude to me because I am required to ask as part of my job.

There were actually many people who liked giving their phone number because would allow to get coupons in the mail. People still ask now how they can get on the mailing list.

I'm sure I've had people give out fake phone numbers, I don't really care if you did or not. What I really disliked was when people would give out 555 numbers - I'm not an idiot - I know what 555 numbers are. I'm not going to hound you for a 'real' phone number if you obviously don't want to give one. But don't think that I'm dumb or that you pulled the 'wool over my eyes' by giving me that number because you didn't.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you don't want to give out your phone number, that is fine - but don't be rude about it.

 

[MIGrandma]

I don't have a problem in giving my phone number, because it's listed anyway so if they truly wanted it they could get it, and most of the time I pay by check so they have my name, address and phone number right in front of them so I figure there's no point in refusing.

I don't mind if they ask for my zip code either.

 

[wenrob]

Whenever asked for my email, phone number, address I just look at them and say, "No." Nothing else. It generally stuns them and they seem a little lost for a moment. Only one store has ever persisted, (actually hassled was more like it) they lost the sale and my business.

 

[sbell111]

My wife and I simply give out our old number.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

we don't even have a landline so when they ask me i tell them "i only have a cell number" and they won't make me give it to them.

i don't understand why they need a phone number. why can't they go with the usual e-mail address if you want??

and they ask EVERY time, i feel like saying "how many times do you need the same phone number??"

 

[crashbb]

we don't even have a landline so when they ask me i tell them "i only have a cell number" and they won't make me give it to them.

i don't understand why they need a phone number. why can't they go with the usual e-mail address if you want??

and they ask EVERY time, i feel like saying "how many times do you need the same phone number??"

We take whatever phone number type is given. And we ask every time - one to "label" the receipt (we don't ask for name/address) and two because your phone number is your ID number for the rewards program (if you are a member).

It is funny when people have to rattled off three or more numbers before they remember which one they gave before (the screen tells me if they are rewards members, so when it is someone I know is in often and is likely a member, I'll ask if their membership doesn't pop up).

Again, I have no issues if people don't want to give their number. I don't like it however, when they are rude about it! I have to ask - but I don't push it.

 

[disykat]

Same with zip code. I may give them one from where I used to live. Stores really don't need this info. People have bought, sold, traded & bartered for millennia without this info. .

I LIKE giving my zipcode. I LIKE it when stores are smart about how they merchandize. I LIKE it when they open a new store in my area because they realize that many from my area travel to their stores. I still don't get why you wouldn't want them to have this annonymous data?

 

[Darsa]

please DON'T take it out on the cashier. She or he is simply following store policy.

Thank you thank you thank you for pointing this out! I get SO angry at people who get all up in a cashier's face for doing their job; I used to cashier myself and know very well how it feels.

 

[angie@dvcstore]

It depends for me

 

[My sister's princess]

I always give my zip code and my phone number.... but I am one of those people who would also give my social security number to the Dr. if they asked (sorry couldn't resist)