# Best Buy asked me for my fuckin' phone number! The balls! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 4, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852 "2005-03-04T03:12:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/61 "2005-03-05T17:43:49Z")
“I’m already using Mind Telephony, Earth phones cannot reach me” “They don’t let us have phones at the hospital” ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/62 "2005-03-07T03:51:47Z")
There’s a motorcycle store near me that asks for your mailing address, and the first time they asked, I just answered “I’m paying cash today”, which they accepted as an appropriate answer, and I like them for that. Recently, I’ve been giving out “bogus information” for these marketing surveys, as I find them to be a waste of both my time, and my garbageman’s time. Less junkmail equals less work for the garbageman. Fortunately, my garbagecan is very near my mailbox, but that’s another story. I live in NJ, so I give out a zipcode just outside Boston- 02134. I remember it because the old “ZOOM” show in my youth would go on about a S.A.S.E. and then sing the address, which ended with the zipcode. I think it was P.O. Box 436, but I dunno. For phone numbers, I’ve been giving out my proper area code, but [Jenny’s](http://www.project80s.com/bandinfo/lyric_8675309.htm) phone number. To avoid the issue of lying, I deliberately tell the cashier drone (who actually doesn’t care one way or another, but it’s only fair to waste their time too) that I’m giving them a bogus zipcode, and which one I’m giving them. It breaks up the mindless tedium of their day. As far as I care, I’m giving them money, and they should be both happy and satisfied with that. The price tag never seems to mention “and we’d like to steal some of your day off to quiz you for a bit, while simultaneously slowing down the line for everyone else”. I’m always surprised by how many people have no idea what Jenny’s number is. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/63 "2005-03-07T04:03:06Z")
I give them my grandfather’s number in Brooklyn. He died in 2001, so I’m sure he doesn’t mind. (yes, I know some poor slob’s probably got it by now, but hey). I also register on newspaper websites as a male who was born in 1921 and has the same zip code as Harvard Square. But I do give them my real e-mail address. ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/64 "2005-03-07T04:29:38Z")
Poor schlub here. I work as Sears as a cashier. For the record, **fishbicycle** , I’m not pimply-faced. I don’t care what your phone number is. I don’t use it for anything. I ask because I have to. Because the managers bark down our snorkels to ask. Frankly, I think it’s a pain in the ass to ask. I hate Hate HATE asking. I hate it even more when some jackass customer pitches a fit because I had the unbridled temerity to ask. And if a customer ever wondered aloud if a competitor would ask the same question, my answer would be, “Probably so.” I know most of you here aren’t blaming the cashier. But this thread is a reminder of every moron who has accused me of being a whore for the CIA when I asked for their fucking phone number. This thread also smacks of the “retail workers are lesser humans” attitude I get every now and then from the customers who won’t even look at me and acknowledge I exist. Frankly, y’all can lie, make up stories, or whatever gets your rocks off. I don’t care. By the way, if a customer simply says, “No thanks” in repsonse to the question, I accept his or her answer and move on. So it really isn’t neccesary. Retail is hell. ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/65 "2005-03-07T07:10:57Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > Take the most benign examples of a Big Box store just asking for my ZIP code. As I understand your position (and please correct me if I am wrong), the reason that they would have behind gathering this information is so that they can know who is buying what, where. Right? This in turn lets them decide where to open new Big Box stores, and what to stock them with? Do I have this right so far? > > In my case, I have as a value not having Big Box stores in my neighborhood (though truth be told, there are quite a few already). I am happy to drive a bit out of my way to purchase the goods and services that I desire. With this in mind, giving marketers information that would lead to Big Box stores opening near me is in direct conflict with something that I have decided is important. One point to offer on this… You don’t actually know the effect of contaminating the data. They could interpret you shopping at that Big Box to mean that people are willing to travel and they don’t need to open another store in your area. Or not, of course – but the point is that while the result you are looking for is one logical conclusion of your actions, others are as well. It’s quite possible that by withholding data you are increasing the likelihood of a Big Box in your area, since all areas need one, and the people from your area aren’t traveling to the nearby one. By gum, that’s Unmet Demand! We can Grow Market Share over there! ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/66 "2005-03-07T19:47:54Z")
As someone who sifts through mounds of data each day normalizing and validating it, I can tell you that those who use fake data aren’t mucking up the system nearly as much as you think. Unless you are using really, really realistic fake data(like your neighbor’s address and number) then those data points are so far out of the normal range that they get flagged as abberations and dropped. If your goal is to muck up the works then you should try to use data which is pretty close to the real data. Unfortunately this means that often times it will be good enough to target you and/or your neighborhood anyway. Also please note that it is kind of silly to give the fake data to the cashier and then use your credit card(which has your address data attached to it for any vendor to view during charging cycles). I munge the hell out of my data when I am asked for it, but I do so in ways that are either undetectable or are likely not detected for. If I visit the Best Buy one zip code west of me and they ask for my zip code I tell them the zip code even further west or where the store itself is. This really only works for for cash transactions though because a simple pass comparing the billing address for the credit card to what was given to the cashier will get it flagged and thrown out. Basically it is very hard to nearly impossible to successfully contaminate the data. A couple passes over the data set with a tool written by a good statistician will weed out almost all the munged data. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/67 "2005-03-07T19:59:01Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > … > Also please note that it is kind of silly to give the fake data to the cashier and then use your credit card(which has your address data attached to it for any vendor to view during charging cycles). > > I munge the hell out of my data when I am asked for it, but I do so in ways that are either undetectable or are likely not detected for. If I visit the Best Buy one zip code west of me and they ask for my zip code I tell them the zip code even further west or where the store itself is. This really only works for for cash transactions though because a simple pass comparing the billing address for the credit card to what was given to the cashier will get it flagged and thrown out. So, I’m using a credit card that already has my address information attached to it **AND** the cashier has to ask me for my ZipCode. Other than to piss off the customer, why? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/68 "2005-03-07T20:11:34Z")
Next time Best Buy asks for your phone number, try giving them 612-292-4000. That’s their media relations department. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/69 "2005-03-07T20:21:40Z")
> [@Merhouse](#): > > So, I’m using a credit card that already has my address information attached to it **AND** the cashier has to ask me for my ZipCode. Other than to piss off the customer, why? You mispronounced “in order to serve you better”. ---
**Author:** ![wheelie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b4bc9f/32.png) [@wheelie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheelie)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/70 "2005-03-07T20:24:07Z")
I usually tell them I don’t have a phone. Especially when my cell phone is clipped to my belt in plain sight. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/71 "2005-03-07T20:28:45Z")
I suspect (big WAG here) they are not allowed to use credit card user information for marketing purposes. If they could, using your CC to buy stuff would put you in line to get TONS of junk mail. I don’t think it does. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/72 "2005-03-07T20:45:29Z")
Hey, **KCSuze** , I’m sorry if you were offended. I wasn’t referring to you specifically. FTR, we have an account with Sears, and I worked there for two years. Yes, retail is hell. If we have an account with a store, I have no problem giving them my details. But if I’m just going into somewhere to pay cash for something, I don’t see where it’s any of the store’s business what my address or phone number are. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/73 "2005-03-07T21:43:20Z")
> [@wheelie](#): > > I usually tell them I don’t have a phone. Especially when my cell phone is clipped to my belt in plain sight. 😃 My brother-in-law once got a telemarketing call trying to sell carpet. Him: We don’t have any. Them: You don’t have carpet? Well, great, because we’re running a special… Him: No, we don’t have any floors. Them: _Silence_ CLICK ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/74 "2005-03-07T23:42:47Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > You mispronounced “in order to serve you better”. Oh, right! I forgot! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/75 "2005-03-08T02:29:12Z")
> [@Brainiac4](#): > > One point to offer on this… You don’t actually know the effect of contaminating the data… Yeah, you may be right. In short, the only real solution is open rioting and revolt. ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852/76 "2005-03-08T05:13:07Z")
No harm done, **fishbicycle**. It just touched a nerve, I guess. Too many memories of being called stupid, ugly and/or worthless by bad customers. Two years in retail, huh? You have my sympathy. 🙂 For what it’s worth, asking for a phone number for a cash purchase does seem odd. I personally have no problem with giving it out since anyone can find it in the phone book, but I can understand others not wanting to give it out. It’s those who take it out on the hapless cashier who get my blood boiling. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-buy-asked-me-for-my-fuckin-phone-number-the-balls/292852.md?page=3)