I hate, hate, hate when businesses ask me for my phone number. They're doing it to sell my number to a telemarketer- because they apparently didn't make enough money off me in one transaction. I ALWAYS tell the cashier 'no' when they ask for my phone number. Today, at Motherhood Maternity, I was buying a tank top to go under a very deep-cut maternity shirt (seriously, what is the deal?!?) and I told the woman 'no' when she asked for my phone number. So she got all up in my face about it! She wanted to know why I didn't want to give my number and when I told her it was because I don't want it sold to telemarketers, she fed me a line of crap that the company only asks for my phone number so they can call me in case I leave something at the store.
YEAH. RIGHT.
First of all, a woman working at a maternity store should know better than to get all up in the face of a pregnant woman because one of two things will most likely happen: either she'll cry or she'll get really, really pissed. Guess which one I did? (Despite the last entry, this experience did not elicit tears) I told her that I have the right to shop anonymously without being tracked by her company.
Do you give you phone number out when businesses ask? WHY?!?
i hate that too. i don't mind giving them my zip code, but i never give my phone number. there's only one reason to give someone your phone number - so they can freaking call you - so screw that.
Posted by: Schomer | March 06, 2007 at 02:37 PM
Stick to your guns. I hate it when they ask too. For telemarketers that call, I have a canned line that I use on them - "This household has a policy of not giving out any information over the phone, and I request that you put this number on your do not call list." There's not usually a lot they can say to come back to that. But the cashiers in stores are different, for some reason, and most of the time, I end up caving and giving them my number.
Posted by: Josh Bancroft | March 06, 2007 at 02:52 PM
Josh, maybe it's because it's harder to say no to someone in person? I have to admit that I always feel like a complete bitch when I do it.
Posted by: Anna | March 06, 2007 at 03:48 PM
I'm a total floor mat when it comes to potential face-to-face confrontation, so I usually give them my number. I mean, why don't I just make up a number? Why do I actually give them MY NUMBER? The sales person totally shouldn't have argued with you. But I'm not surprised - that Motherhood Maternity in Savannah has so much info on me. They wanted to know everything - when was I due? Did I know if it was a boy or girl? Was I planning to breastfeed? And this wasn't just casual conversation, they were typing it all up. And why did I tell them? I don't know. Again with the floor mat.
Posted by: gummibunny | March 07, 2007 at 05:43 PM
Oh I hate it too! Why do I feel like business are trying to steal my personal information?!
What I usually do is give them a phone number I had in college - like 8 years ago! That way I give them some bogus number, but I don't have to feel like a weirdo for not wanting to give out my info.
Posted by: Jason Says | March 09, 2007 at 04:42 PM
[this is good] The authoritative answer, cognitively...
Posted by: Bryon Cahill | May 05, 2010 at 06:25 PM