Just bought a 2m section of flexible tube for a gas stove, and the sales clerk asked first for my phone number, to which I replied “I don’t have one”. Then she asked me for my name, to which I replied “I’ll pay in cash”. She then insisted it was so “the cashier will call you by name”, to which I replied “I’m not giving you my name, I’ll pay in cash”. [Edit: she apparently got a bit upset when I refused to give info, but ended up entering “no name” according to the receipt]

Am I wrong for not wanting to give personal data for an item paid in cash, in person? No other hardware store ever asks me for my personal info.

  • violentfart@lemmy.worldEnglish
    82·
    7 days ago

    Reminder that these people are just doing their jobs; try not to direct your ire at them.

    • historicaldocuments@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      7 days ago

      That’s part of the system, though. Corporate doesn’t telegraph that they’ll do that as you walk into the store because that gives you a chance to take your business elsewhere, and they’re banking on basic human decency during the checkout phase to get that sweet, sweet fraction of a penny a fake name and phone number will gain them. I’ve read the stories about people being fired for not signing enough shoppers up for credit cards, so I don’t put anything past the corporations.

    • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
      63·
      7 days ago

      That’s such a cop-out. Low-level oppressors throughout history have just been “doing their jobs” too, but that doesn’t make them any less complicit.

      • DoctorWhoDMC@lemmy.worldEnglish
        93·
        7 days ago

        Oh my God. Retail staff are not oppressors.

        Clearly OP’s store just has a system that relies on calling customers’ names… It really isn’t that serious. Every fast food place around me asks for a name to call out when the order’s ready, but unless they’re checking my government ID before pickup, that’s literally just so the staff can tell who is who.

        I’d wager good money there’s security cameras in-store and in the car park; your every move can be traced anyway, especially if you just have a phone on your person.

        • chunes@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          7 days ago

          It is serious. As well as ridiculous. Don’t ask people personal information. You don’t need it. It’s also a complete waste of time. Just run the transaction.

          • DoctorWhoDMC@lemmy.worldEnglish
            11·
            6 days ago

            Okay, I’ll just call out “hey you in the corner in the tin foil hat, your coffee is done” instead of “Bob”.

            Clearly you’ve never encountered those webpage forms where you can’t click “Next” until you’ve filled out the form entirely, so they probably can’t just “run the transaction” without a name.

            “Why do you need my name?! That is PERSONAL INFORMATION!!!”

            “… Sir. This is the post office.”