Posted on 08/26/2012 3:34:53 PM PDT by ConservativeInPA
I decided to do some local sporting goods shopping this afternoon before I headed to the gun club. I went to Bass Pro to look for a sling and rifle case for the AR-15A3 that I built Saturday evening. I found the rifle case that I wanted, but no luck finding a sling. As I checked out at Bass Pro, the cashier asked me for my phone number. I firmly said, "No thank you." The cashier typed in a bogus phone number and then asked if wanted to give $2.00 to some charity. Again, a firm, "No thank you." Lastly I was asked if I had a rewards card, "No". Followed by, "Do you want one?" Again, I firmly replied, "No thank you".
I go to Bass Pro a couple times a month. I know the drill. I don't like the questions. I am not going give the cashier a hard time, it's not her fault. But I am not going to appear to be happy, because I want them to know my shopping experience was less than perfect.
Since I didn't find the sling at Bass Pro I went to Dick's Sporting Goods as it was almost on the way to the range. Dick's had an adequate sling with price. It wasn't worth burning time and gas to look elsewhere or to pay extra for shipping for a purchase on the Internet.
So after waiting entirely too long to check out, the cashier asked me for my birthdate. I said, "No". There wasn't a thank you associated with my reply. She said, "You purchase is age restricted." I replied, "I am old enough to be your father." The cashier insisted by saying, "If you don't provide a birthdate, I can not approve your purchase." I retorted, allowing others in line to hear my dismay, "It's a gun sling, there's no law that requires me to provide you with my age." She was stunned that I stood up to protect my privacy and didn't say a thing. I then provided a false birthdate, "4-1-1912" and said "Dick's just lost a customer." My purchase was approved, and some other customers that were swift enough to figure out I wasn't 100 years old and born on April Fools Day had a bit of a laugh. The cashier was completely astonished. Note: I noticed a month or so ago that Dick's started recording birthdates for ammo purchases. There's a law associated with that, but it does not required Dick's to enter your birthday into their computers. I wasn't happy with that and I don't like the law either. I think my children of driving age should be able to buy ammo and go shooting when they want without dad tagging along. They know what they are doing. They have been around guns their entire lives, and are safer than many people on the range.
You can thank the Clintons for that nasty little bit. They sold it as a way to deny hunting and fishing to fathers who were late in their child support payments.
Your drivers license is only acceptable because it has your Socialist Insecurity number on it.
When you buy alcohol at Target, they ask for your driver’s license, then swipe it into their computer. I don’t like that they track me. There is a lot of info on that metal strip that I don’t think is Targets business.
I give them my military ID (Retired) that has no metal strip with information. I had one check out girl tell me she needed a valid CA license. I told her, no, you need a valid ID. The military ID is a valid federal ID. She had to get her manager to over ride the computer.
I apologized and told her it was my policy and there was nothing I could do.
My wife LOL’s every time and tells me I’m an a**.
Don’t you know that when you attach a sling to something, it automatically becomes an assault-something.
Put it to a gun, it is an assault-weapon. Put it to a spoon, it is an assault-silverware. Put it to a pen, it is an assault-writing instrument. Put it to a block of cheddar and it is an assault-fromage.
You hit the right answer the second time, just make up a date. I do that with all those annoying check inquired. Random phone number, random zip, random birthday. The questions are silly, but getting all indignant about it takes time, random answers get me on my with my product which is what I want, and gives them crap info for the demographics.
When I first moved to Houston, I didn’t have a TX driver’s License and tried to by beer using my Military ID. Most of the time there was no problem but 2 times they would not accept it. I showed them my OK Driver’s License and they would not take that either.
I was a pretty pissed off 40 year old. Oh yeah, on top of that, the woman that did this once to me could barely tell me why the US Military ID wasn’t good enough in English.
Goliath would disagree with that statement. :)
I would have done the exact same thing. I flat out refuse to show ID for so called “Age restricted” purchases, since I am 46 and look old enough to buy anything I please.
No, they cant see my id, or swipe my id, NO I don’t care if some 17 year old buys a pack of smokes, its my privacy and I don’t like being databased.
A while back I remember reading an article that stated how easy it was to track down an exact person with only a zip code and birthday, now stores get neither.
You shoulda filmed it and put it on youtube like that Chick-fil-a guy.
Do not try to purchase alcohol or tobacco products in Walgreens or other related stores - they scan your driver’s license and share the information with the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation.
I have no problem producing ID proving my age for age restricted purchases - I have a serious problem with the store retaining my information for payment from another entity seeking to deny me my rights to purchase said products.
Back in the day when restaurants asked you to write your phone number on the credit card slip, I always put 123-456-7890.
No cashier ever looked at it.
I beg the cashiers at the convenience stores to “card me” every time I buy Marlboros. Most just smile and do it; at 62, it makes my day. Yes, I still buy green banannas, too. LOL.
I once went to Dick’s to buy binoculars that were advertised in a circular in that morning’s paper. I asked for two pair and was told by the surly clerk that he didn’t have any. They had been open about ten minutes that day so I asked if they had sold out. I was told, loudly, that the units never arrived. I observed that someone hadn’t done his job. The clerk told me he didn’t need a smart ass customer.
I looked at him and said, loud enough to be overheard, “Now I know why they call this place, ‘Dick’s’”
The laughter around me was clearly audible
I’m a privacy freak myself. To the phone number question, “unlisted.”
Depending on how much I wanted the item or service versus how much they insisted, I’ve stood firm til they gave in, walked away w/out handing over my money, or gave Dominos Pizza (sorry fellas) or some other number where nobody else would be sleeping during business hours. What, they’re gonna call to check for lying?
But age to buy a sling - no, I wouldn’t go back either. Too many other outdoor sports retailers both locally and online. You’d think a brick-and-mortar would be falling all over itself to enhance interactions with costomers.
That happened to my wife about 10 or so years ago in a wallgreens in Ca. We were buying a pack of smokes, and they asked me for my ID. I had seen them swipe the previous persons ID so no way was I going to give them mine. I made a stink and my wife gave in and let them swipe hers.
For the next six months she got boat loads of junk mail for her to “quit smoking”
Now, unless the cops want to see my ID or I am buying a gun from an FFL, My id stays well hidden in my wallet.
If asked for a Zip, I always provide them with an APO number that used to be mine in Germany. It as changed since I lived there but I always laugh a little after doing it.
Wrap it around your adversaries throat and tighten it quickly with force.
A toothbrush slung with dental floss ... Assault-dental-entrenchment tool.
Radio Shack asked for my name and address on a cash purchase. This was back in the ‘90s. I said it was William Clinton, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. There cashier didn’t react at all, just wrote it it down.
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