I thought I'd relate an experience I had today. I called best buy to ask if they had an item in stock. I called the best buy number to the local store. Apparently they have all thier store phones on forwarding mode, because I was transfered to some regional customer service center. The first words of the mouth of the rep was a demand for my phone number. I refused and said I wanted to be transfered to the local store. She said this was procedure for me to give her my personal information. I again refused and asked her if she could just transfer me eto the local store. She then asks me my name and says she can't transfer me unless I give her my name and phone number. So I hung up. This is obviously some marketing tactic best buy is using to send out mailers or do demographics of some sort. If Best Buy is going to refuse me service because I won't give up my personal info which can be used for all sorts of things (telemarketing, mass junk mail, etc,, then I'll just take my business to curcuit city or another electronics store that doesn't hassle me. Just an FYI
I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT HAPPEN...just the usual press one for computers...press two for CD'S...press three for telephones...press four for auto install...press five for cell phones...ETC...ETC NUMBERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE...FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY...
Well I did call back and got the menu this time. Transferred me, and the guy did ask me for my #, but I said I didn't give that out, so he just asked for my first name.. made one up and he helped me out. This is in California, so it may be a trial basis thing they're doing.....
Best Buy is Household Finance, and they will try a number of tactics to obtain personal info so they can bombard you with all kinds of offers--credit cards, refis etc. Beware with these companies....you did the right thing. I think we consumers are becoming more savvy and so some lenders are becoming more creative.
Best Buy does that in the store here in town also, regardless of your method of purchasing. They lways ask for your number, ocassionally they ask for your name if you have a warranty coming with the product. I always give out an obvious fake # (555-1234) or tell them they don't need my #. I also give out an obvious fake name also (I was Magic Johnson last week)
they dont want to give out real prices to competitors so they try to make sure you are who you say you are. also, marketing. i always give them an old phone number when i buy things from them (which is rare due to how crappy their service is) www.bestbuysux.org -mark
I wonder how many of Best Buy's customers are named "Homer Simpson" and how many live at "1313 Mockingbird Lane" (home of the Addams Family).
That is odd...we just called Best Buy today infact...on Sunday it rang into the store. We had to push certain touchtone numbers and go thru the menu but it did get to the store we directly wanted to call.
Just give them a cell phone number and sue them if they ever use it... Who cares if they claim it as the only number to reach you. Can they prove they have permission to use it? The courts are such a great place to punish the uneducated.
I am guessing the local number was OVER-WORKED or on forward for some reason...IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN OUT OF ORDER AT THE LOCAL LEVEL... We have a STORE-TO-STORE "TIE" LINE...maybe that is what they were using... Do a PFB and tell them you didn't like what happened.
you know its funny I have had a similar problem where they want to know my number, so i give them the number to the base that I am stationed (I do this with a lot of places...especially gateway and aol), but when they type it in they have a few thousand names that pop up and can never seem to find me or my name which is fine i guess. if you ever want to use it the number is 760 430 4500 its in southern california. d
1313 Mockingbird Ln, is the home of the Munsters, not the Adams Family btw...I've used that address for years. PolarisA3
TJ Maxx does that and I gave my number the first time, and not any other time. I get some junk mail now from them so it is for marketing reasons. They can get the closest 2nd from zip codes in my opinion. Linens and Things did that to me tonite, and I refused and the clerk balked so I started out the door without buying, she quickly said "oh I can make up a number, no problem. " Yeah, that was a quick save!! It's our God given right to refuse to give out personal information, if the shear reason is for making a simple purchase. Radio Shack stopped the practice of name, address and phone when you bought ANYTHING in there, about a year or two ago, I think.
Correct--we are not required to give out any personal information unless you are paying by personal check and they have to verify your ID. The smart thing was to walk away from the sale. Notice how quickly things changed. Stores will sometimes ask for zip codes but I believe these are for help in determining what branches people from different areas are patronizing what branch. But only the zip--nothing else. Radio Shack was a real pain. You would buy a pack of batteries and have to give them all your personal info just to get out of the store. Good thing they wised up!
