# Why does(did) Radio Shack always take your phone number?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-did-radio-shack-always-take-your-phone-number/55296>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 21, 2001, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-did-radio-shack-always-take-your-phone-number/55296 "2001-02-21T03:00:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-did-radio-shack-always-take-your-phone-number/55296/21 "2001-02-23T19:16:00Z")

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Actually, I don’t mind getting _one_ Radio Shack flyer. I don’t even mind getting _several_ of the same flyer. I **do** mind having to recite my address every time I buy $2 in parts (it seems like I’m always visiting a different Radio Shack, each of which doesn’t have my info already).

It was worse back in the days when they had to write it by hand, as you dictated to them. Often the address form took longer than the rest of the transaction- especially irritating with a long line of customers.

Arjuna34

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**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2001, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-did-radio-shack-always-take-your-phone-number/55296/22 "2001-02-23T20:19:12Z")

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Here’s another interesting facet of mailing lists. Some 20 years ago, my uncle gave his name, but changed his middle initial. The result? To this day, he still receives tons of junk addressed to the wrong middle initial. _THIS_ is why people don’t like mailing lists; yeah, you may like getting Radio Shack circulars, but what’s to stop them from selling your name and address around?

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**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2001, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-did-radio-shack-always-take-your-phone-number/55296/23 "2001-02-24T01:20:08Z")

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You can be a passive non-sheep or a belligerent one 😃 My personal favorite is when the Dorkio Shack clerks says “your phone number” with an implied question mark. I say nothing. If they repeat it I say, “what about my phone number?” or “are you asking a question?” By then they give up or ask a question that is a complete sentance, my reply is always no.

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**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2001, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-did-radio-shack-always-take-your-phone-number/55296/24 "2001-02-24T05:16:35Z")

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A little off-topic, but about Radio Shack. Be careful when buying from a non-mall store. I witnessed the following exchange here in my hometown’s “Radio Shack”…

“This stereo tape deck you sold me eats my tapes. I’d like my money back!”

“Yes, sir, you will need to fill out this form and Radio Shack will send you a check in the mail.”

“Wait a minute! _This_ is Radio Shack, here’s the tape deck, and I want a refund. What’s this about a form?”

“Well, sir, we are only _doing business_ as Radio Shack. Actually this is “Joe Blow’s Electronics”,but Radio Shack lets us sell their products and display their sign. All refunds must come from the home office.”

I didn’t wait around to hear the rest. I was just there for some mike cords, but it gave me pause just the same.  
Quasi

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