I once thought being a “Geek” would be an okay job, and then I decided I could earn more money freelancing without having to deal with corporate bullshit or feeling like I sold my soul. As it is, the only computers I work on are my own home-built and the non-Macs (the youngest of which is 8 years old) in the lab. I don’t have any certification myself, but at least I’m not going to say you need to spend $100 on anti-virus and anti-spyware software (I’d load on the freeware I use if needed) and say that a format and reinstall is the first thing to try, even when it’s obviously a hardware problem. As I’ve said, I often do a format and reinstall on my home computer, but that’s because I know my setup and the OS lives on it’s own happy little hard drive. Also, as soon as I have the cash, all the important, non-recoverable files (documents, financial data, most of my music collection for the sake of time, and so on) will be placed on a two-drive RAID on my computer. As it is, it’s all backed up onto CD-R, but I’d prefer hard magnetic media. I think if I took my homebrew to Best Buy, it’d probably blow their minds, especially once I get the RAID in. Two hard drives using IDEE. Two hard drives using SATA and set up as a RAID. And I can see them trying, first thing, to backup and wipe all FOUR hard drives.
I must be showing my age, because I’ve never even heard of the Cosmac Super Elf.
And if you ever ask me for my address and phone number to buy something with my bank card, I’ll leave it right there at the register and go buy my stuff somewhere that they don’t hassle me.
Your job is to make sure the signature on the paper matches the signature on the card, not to play identity police and demand to know where I live.
You’re required by law to demand my phone number and home address in order for me to make a purchase with a credit card? Well, I’d like to see chapter and verse on that, and also to make sure I never shop in your store.
Automated self check-out is the best invention ever. I don’t have to be bothered with anybody needling me. I swipe the card, sign the electronic signature pad, and I’m done.
You’ve nailed the reason that I don’t shop at BB or CompuUSA anymore. Too many times I’ve been assumed to be a dumbass female who doesn’t know her ass from a router, and had to say ‘No, thank you’ to clerks who wouldn’t give up.
I buy online now, and not from either of those retailers. This means all the parts I buy for myself, and everything for my customers is not bought from BB. So in order to get ‘Jill’ who buys a cheapo DVD player and a few PS2 games on Black Friday, they lost me, who typically buys thousands of dollars worth of stuff for each client.
Exactly. Having been on the other side of the counter, I don’t give the guy running the register a hassle, but I keep getting urges to report these companies to MasterCard for violations of the merchant agreement.
I do report them. That, and I complain in a very loud voice while standing at the register. Then, if the manager doesn’t zip me through immediately, I leave the stuff on the counter, announce in a loud voice that I am going down the street to their competitor, and walk out. I don’t care what the store policy is. If I am paying cash, they get nothing in the way of personal info, even a zip code. If I am paying by credit card, they will adhere to the merchant agreement to the letter.
Okay, here’s one I ran across in another big chain store (starts with a K and ends with -Mart) near me – to use my debit card, the card reader requires me to put in a zip code even before I put in my PIN!
So does anyone know if they track the zip code to the card billing zip code for verification, or should I just start putting in 90210 and the heck with it?
Eh, it’s probably because they’re so used to having to work with the lowest common denominator. There probably ARE idiots who come in and insist that iAudio is an iPod or who wouldn’t know a video card if it bit them in the ass. NEVER underestimate the stupidity of customers. Not all, but a big percentage of them. It’s nothing personal.
I didn’t say there was anything wrong with refusing, but do so politely. Explain that you understand they have to ask, but you’d prefer not to give it out. Honestly, they hate asking as much as you hate them doing it.
I think it’s a security measure. I pay with my debit card at the pump. The first time it asked for my zip code I said, “Yeah, right” and punched in a fake number. It came back with an error and wouldn’t let me pump. I was miffed and went someplace else.
Now, it doesn’t bother me. When I call the automated line for my balance it also asks for my zip code. I guess they figure if the card is stolen, there’s a chance the thief won’t know where you live and will key in the wrong zip code.
Kit computer from the late 70’s. You had to solder the keyboard keys onto the circuit board individually. The case was made of wood. Later I got a TRS-80. That was the big time baby!
Can I ask how exactly asking for a phone number helps prevent people from using a stolen card? I can’t imagine someone using a stolen card would be dumb enough to give their real phone number, and given the number of people who say they use made-up phone numbers with their own card, it can’t be a very effective security measure.
Well, I’m going to have to go back into the lion’s den. I swear I’m going to get my second fan to work, and all it has is a three-pin connector that I can’t use with the power supply controlled fan. I’d use a motherboard header but I’m all out. I’ll report back with the results of trying to get a simple part.
They can have my ZIP code. Won’t hurt anything but it’s still annoying. But my phone number, no way. Here’s an idea: memorize the phone number of your local Better Business Bureau and give them that. Or Circuit City, hehe!
And fuck the Best Buys that ask for your recepit as you leave the store.
Unfortunately, that’s what you’re gonna end up getting alot of times. It’s not company policy for sales associates to act that way, and it’s ridiculous since we don’t work on any commission at all. Most are just trying to offer “the complete solution” because it’s our job, but don’t know how to present it the right way. Rest assured that the service and replacement plans are not a scam; they really do work.
Jill isn’t only identified as having breasts: she’s time starved, and has kids. That’s why we try to help her out as much as we can. She’ll do research on the internet, but she’s overwhelmed, so she needs us as her “smart friend”.
Barry: they did a survey of the most affluent males in the country (top ten percent of wealth) and found that “Barry” was the most common name. That’s exactly what Barry is-the big spender, the guy that comes in and wants the biggest and best of everything. BB has four segments: Barry, Jill, Ray, and Buzz. Ray’s the family guy. Buzz is me. The twenty something year old that shops there alot and wants the latest and greatest.
And, another thing. Gender and phone number capture are there so that we have a better idea of who shops with us. Like I said, I was a cashier before, so I know all about this, and it is a pain to ask for a phone number everytime. We’re supposed to do it…it’s part of the reason the cashiers are hired in the first place. If you don’t want to give your phone number, then don’t. Just be polite about it. Every. Single. Time. I ring someone up, I have to ask for a phone number, and I’ve certainly been told no alot of the times.
If you have a problem with it, take it up with corporate. The cashiers are not the ones making those rules, and if they’re being pushy about it, then take that up with management. If you decline to give the information, we’re not supposed to push the issue.
Again, you shouldn’t blame the retailer. Blame your fellow shoppers who apply the ten finger discount with regularity. The retailer’s choices are to charge you more to cover their loss, or put processes in place to minimize their loss. Which would you rather do, have your receipt checked, or spend more money because someone else is “taking it for free?”
And if your choice is the first, you can shop at higher priced, higher service retailers - if you can find them.
I used to work with this data all the time and I encourage people to use 90210 or 12345 because they were always the most common abberations. I knew that if 90210 generated over $10,000,000 in sales while all of the surrounding ZIPs generated only $100,000, there was a lot of shit data in there. I’d just do a basic radius around 90210 and look at those ZIP Codes’ total sales. Then I’d just prorate the sales in that ZIP meet the approximate average. The only real victims here are the poor folks in Beverly Hills who won’t get the fantastic bargains that you and I take for granted
Great that will save time for both of us. I suggest more of that on line shopping. You can avoid people altogether, and by fortunate coincidence, they can avoid you as well.
Honest, I want shopping to be quick easy and for you the customer and me the salesperson both. I am often a consumer myself so I get it. I really don 't want to play identity police and I don’t care to know any personal info about you. I’m just pointing out that CC fraud is a very serious problem for stores and consumers alike. If it’s never happened to you or anyone you know great. It’s still real. Matching signitures is fine. Sometimes it’s very easy and sometimes it’s not. It’s far from perfect and I predict some changes are coming.
As I said, most customers thank me for checking ID when making a credit card purchase because they at least realize what a serious problem it is and that it helps the consumer as much as it does the business owner. The people who were saved the hassle of bogus charges by a little extra effort on my part were likely grateful.
That’s not what I said or even suggested. My request for suggestions was not sarcastic. I’d love all credit cards to have pictures and signatures on them. If the electronics get better and prevent fraud I’m all for it. We don’t live in a void. Occasionally it’s nice to have a little consideration for people trying to run a decent business, the person at the check out trying to do their job, and the wide spread problem of CC fraud that effects thousands upon thousands of consumers and businesses. Of course if that consideration is to bothersome for you, on line shopping is the way to go.
And I love debit cards because the pin number makes it much more difficult to make a bogus purchase. It’s quick and easy for bof’us. I’m not sure how automated check out works for major purchases. Pin numbers work great for a $4.00 pack of strings to $1000 guitars.
