So a week or so ago I purchased a wireless keyboard and some other things from the local Apple Store.
During the transaction I was pretty shocked at all of the information they request from you. The employee asked for my phone number, zip code, address, etc. Umm… WHY? I understand they use it for metrics concerning where their customer base is coming from, and how many customers from what location. That alone can help them best decide where to build a new Apple Retail Store. However its not REQUIRED for them to have for any transaction. What’s worse is they do not tell you that its optional. In fact, what happens if you move? Are you not allowed to purchase future products until you notify their postmaster? Anyway, on to the point…
I decided to use the perk of being entitled to the Corporate Partner discount. Well, all things went well until the end of the transaction. Now to get the discount he asked that I show him my ID, so I did. That seems perfectly reasonable. You want a discount because you work for xyz, then can you please show me your ID to substantiate it?
Of course thats fine, Ive even seen employees that give student discounts when students didn’t have acceptance letters, or student ID’s. They would just have them log in to their email account at that University/College. All they need is verification right? Right. No problem there.
Now the issue I have is that after I have swiped the card, signed my name, transaction authorized and already processed, they asked for my email address. WHAT? What the F&$# do you need my email address for?
You’ve already seen my badge, so verification of being an employee of a corporate partner, thus entitled to the discount is verified. Your email address has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the transaction of the currency (cash, check, CC, or debit card).
I told the guy he didn’t need my email address. He said it is REQUIRED to have for him to physically hand me the receipt! HUH? He said he has to have it so it prints below your name on the receipt. What does that have to do with proof of purchase? Even if it wasn’t against corporate policy, why in the flippin’ hell would I want my email address floating around on a receipt?
Email addresses are the most spoofed entity on the entire internet. Why, oh why would one choose an email address to uniquely identify a person? I gave him a BS email address like
123@hotmail.com, and he said “This is a one time exception, sir”!
What the F%$#-ever. One time exception or you’ll what? Not give me the discount that I can just as easily redeem online? Yea, right.
Now I understand how easy it is to hop on the Apple Bandwagon. The company has a tremendous driving force in fashion, society, and technology, and a positive image to match its influence. But hold the phone people. Why the heck are you giving up personal information that they do not need, nor really require to process a transaction.?
Anyone ever hear its not wise to put all your apples in one basket?
They do not need to know anything other than the person presenting a credit card is in fact YOU. Furthermore, if I wanted to prove it was actually me returning a product, they can look up your purchases by swiping the same credit card. Or I could use my credit card bill, or bank register statement to provide them with the transaction number which they can also use to query, and prove I purchased the product.
If they are having problems with stolen products being returned, or fraudulent returns then they need to change their return process/policy, not require a repository of personal information about you upon purchase.
People seldom realize with the power of the internet, common sense, and a little practical knowledge, just how much can be found out about you with the tiniest bit of information. If I know your phone number and zip code I can pretty much find out where you live. People often use their email ID (ex: EMAIL ID@ email.com) as their username on public message boards, or myspace, facebook etc.
Not only that, but the blatant amount of info people post about themselves on social networking sites alone is almost enough to open up a credit card account. Anyway, point in case is you don’t need to give out any more information to anyone than what is absolutely needed. This is why we have Privacy and Consumer Rights.
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Why does Radio Shack ask for your home phone number when you buy batteries from them?
Kramer on August 9th, 2007 at 7:36 pm | Link
Area codes and prefixes are (almost always) geographically specific. Its a way for them to see what store draws how many customers from what areas.
Based on that they can open stores in those particular aread.
notquiteleet on August 9th, 2007 at 8:01 pm | Link
Or they really just want to have your phone number on file for their internal data collection system. I mean you could fake your phone number every time you go in, or you could be using a cell phone (since Radio Shack sells cell phones). But the {admin content edit -rules} response from nql is meant to try and be a justification of “oh well, it’s only a phone number.” As if an email address is that much more personal and intruding. *yawn* But of course he probably works for some company that’s a Fortune 25 company in the RTP area that he doesn’t want to give out his work email… understandable. But this isn’t about the Apple Store as it is about him wanting to complain about something that he feels is unfair to him. It’s far too complicated to set up an gmail address or even use your existing gmail account and just give a whatever+apple@gmail.com as your address if you’re that worried about it. I mean God forbid you actually have to spend 5 minutes doing that… {admin content edit - rules}
Samantha on August 10th, 2007 at 2:59 pm | Link
Samantha I did give them a fake email address. Im not wasting my time setting up a fake one to give out when they dont need it in the first place. You could make something up on the spot like I did regardless if its valid or fake. Duh.
Its not that I feel its unfair to me, its the fact that its asinine to require an email address to be physically handed a receipt.
Also where did I try to justify the requirement of giving your phone number? I only explained how that data is used, certainly not advocate that it is a permissible practice
You need to critique your reading comprehension skills, that or your just trolling again, and that would be just A-mazing.
notquiteleet on August 10th, 2007 at 4:42 pm | Link
Samantha said:
[quote]Or they really just want to have your phone number on file for their internal data collection system. [/quote]
Isn’t that the point of the complaint?
@Samantha, are you suggesting we setup a fake email address specifically for purchases like this or are you saying just give a fake email address on the spot? Either way, bottom line, notquiteleet is right.
Giving an email address cannot prove who you are or that you are tied to the credit card or accompanying discount either. The request for an email is certainly no security measure. The fact that you suggest either take five minutes to setup a fake email or give them a fake email on the spot is proof enough that this is an absolute security joke.
All he wanted was a receipt and he has to turn over personal information like email? It’s unjustifiable and unexplainable other than to gather more personal data for marketing. And shouldn’t consumers be able to keep at least something private?
@helloimamac
Not if you’re buying THEIR product. Obviously the reason they are successful is because of their marketing abilities. So you’re suggesting we just take away any data collection they have?
@notquiteleet
you is always right because my reading comprehension skills aren’t that good. Nor is my grammar, which means that you must hate retarded people. Especially ones like me. Oh the prejudice you has for people that aren’t as smart as you are. Are you sure you weren’t a Mac Genius at one point?
Samantha on August 10th, 2007 at 9:05 pm | Link
Samantha said:
[quote]So you’re suggesting we just take away any data collection they have?[/quote]
I’m suggesting a consumer has a right to privacy.
I wonder what they would have said if you told them you aren’t connected to the internet and therefore have no email address to give them. Would they refuse to give you a receipt for your purchase?
Joe on October 17th, 2007 at 4:46 am | Link