“Will that be all for you today sir?”
“Yeah, that’ll do it.”
“And what is your phone number sir?”
“I don’t have one.”
“Your cell, your house, wife’s cell - which ever you prefer sir. Any one will do.”
“I prefer not to give you my phone number.”
“Fine. Can I just have your email address then?”
“No.”
“No, you don’t have one or no, you won’t give it to me.”
“That’s right.”
“Well which is it sir? Do you have an email address?”
“Yes. I have three actually.”
“Then which would you like to give me today sir?”
“Pardon me?”
“Which of your three email addresses would you like to give me sir?”
“How about none of them. Does that work for you?”
“Fine. Whatever. Your home address will do for our records.”
“Ok, go with that then.”
“Well, I need you to give that to me sir.”
“Give what to you?”
“Your home address sir.”
“You need my home address?”
“Yeah.”
“For the purchase of four triple-A batteries I am required to provide you with my home address?”
“Or a phone number, or email address. As I said, whichever you prefer.”
“As I said, I prefer none of the above.”
“Sir, you’re holding up the line.”
“That’s ok, I’m in no hurry.”

I’ve been through this little dance of denial more times than I care to remember and I’m getting damn tired of it. And even though I’m an OPSEC guy it’s not all about the information. I’m pretty confident that my home phone, cell phone, email address and home address are readily available to anyone with a reasonable understanding of how to find these things so I’m not full-on trying to protect this info.

No, the real reason is I resent that when stores request this information they try to hide the fact that the personal information they collect is going straight to the marketing department. Also, that they act like this is part of the sales process - that I must give them the information as part of the sale. Notice that they always request this information during, and not after, the transaction. And more and more people are just giving in and providing whatever information is requested by the 22 year old running the register.

Me? I pay with cash and deny all requests for information. Mostly, I just like the unbelieving look on thier faces when I say no but also I wonder what information they’ll want next. Phone, address, email seems innocent enough but now that we are used to providing this info without much thought - what will they want next year? Or five years from now?

Keep the Faith!
Revelator

Shop Around - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles