Anybody Else Have This Happen - Half Price Books (First Vanity Ever)

Self ^ | Self

[Boonie Rat]

I had an interesting experience at Half Price Books today. Two weeks ago I went to Half Price Books and purchased a book with cash. After determining that the book was not going to be needed I went back today to return the book. I took with me the book, in unopened condition, and the receipt, clearly indicating the cost of the purchase, the amount tendered, and the change given. The clerk asked for my name, a drivers license or equivilant, and my phone number to make the return. I told her no, that cash was used for the purchase, as clearly indicated by the receipt.

After my refusal the clerk called her manager, who again said they needed identification to make the return "because the software required it".The manager said the software had just been rewritten to require a name, identification, drivers license or equivalent, and phone number before a return could be made, even a cash return. I suggested the manager use her personal information to satisfy the software's "requirement". The manager was reluctant to do that and she called her manager, a second tier manager. After she spoke with her manager and described the issue I spoke with the second level manager. I asked her why they needed the information and she replied that it was for a company database.

I told her that I had no desire to be in their database. The second level manager said Half Price Books would not release my personal information, but used it internally to track customers who made returns. I asked her if I provided my personal information was she willing to provide me her name, address, and drivers license information for my database so that if Half Price Books did sell or otherwise release my personal information I could hold her personally and financially responsible for damages. At that time she said she would not discuss it further and asked to speak to the local manager.

After the second level manager spoke with the local manager, the local manager gave me a name and phone number at corporate to contact regarding the issue.

Now. If I had provided Half Price Books with the information "required", that data would be totally owned by Half Price Books, Corporation, as I had provided it "voluntarily", to do with as they please. Half Price Books could sell that data to anyone they desire, and make a profit for the data, to my detriment. Half Price Books appears to believe that they have the right to my personal information, by writing their software to "require" indentification for refunds. I disagree.

The purpose of my post:

Has anyone else seen this attitude in their transactions with Half Price Books or other merchants?

What kind of response did/would you give

Is Half Price Book's requirement reasonable?

BTW - I used a card from a large wholesale discount club and got the money while the "managers" trying to decide what to do.

Boonie Rat

MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66

[MarkL]

Radio Shack... You've got questions, we've got blank stares...

Mark

[TightSqueeze]

companies like will = companies like this will

[Boonie Rat]

Yea, but HOW did you get it back? Please explain.

The ID I provided was a "BJs Discount Club" card!!! It has my picture on it, no address, no phone number!!

Boonie Rat

MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Loss prevention. This prevents their employees from using left or found reciepts to get money from the register by plucking an item off of the shelf and filling out a return for it.

By requiring a name and phone number, they can check up on their employees to see if you returned the item, or if the employee did.

You would be shocked at the creativity of employees these days.

BTW: Those managers now think of you as a looney toon, or paranoid, and not without reason.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

They prolly had you on file. Once you provided a name, the rest of the info came up. Otherwise, a name and a license plate number is enough to get the other info if needed.

[Jolly Green]

Radio Shack clerks can be almost as obnoxious. When I wanted to make a cash purchase, the clerk started by loudly asking (in the presence of others): "Phone number?"

Radio Shack discontinued the practice company-wide about 3-weeks ago. I can't say if the word has trickled down to all of the stores yet.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Has anyone else seen this attitude in their transactions with Half Price Books or other merchants?

YES and in many other places as well hey ask for the information up front when you make the purchase i was asked during buying for christmas my personal information several times and refused as many as asked toy stores are notorious for this as well as computer software stores toys -r- us almost lost a customer over me not telling them my phone number

After 10 minutes of arguing my wife looked the manager straight in the eye and said as loud as she could [my personal buisness is not yours to fiddle with take the cash or we will buy elswhere] .....after that they gladly took the cash and bagged our things very red faced and happy to see us leave my wife made me proud [as she usually does] but this past christmas eve i will always remember as will several people standing in line behind us maybe not for the same reasons as i but just the same remembered

[Tall_Texan]

How would they have reacted if you simply wanted to exchange the purchase for something else? This *is* Christmas gift return season. I did this at a store recently and they just wanted my signature. I went and bought another item and used the in-store credit. Worked just fine.

I realize this isn't quite the same situation but I find businesses are generally much more friendly towards an in-store credit than they are a cash refund. That way, they have no money at stake.

[Free State Four]

I could almost understand why a company would want this for a return. Almost, mind you. Because with returns, you can get into people trying to scam the business.

But I took my kids to a Blockbuster the other day to buy, for cash, a PS2 game. They wanted my Blockbuster card for a cash purchase transaction by my kids who were buying this game with the money they had saved from their allowances. We had to dump all the money out of the "piggy bank" on the counter to count it. I wanted to object, but my kids are embarrassed enough by my behavior anyway. I submitted. But if it had been only me, I would have fought all the way. I still shop at the only grocery store in the neighborhood that doesn't require a "tracking card" in order to get special discounts. I don't want to do my grocer's marketing free of charge. And I don't want some bean counter knowing what I buy at the grocery store each week.

I'm such a right-wing radical nut case.

[jackbill]

I'll remember to ask them for their information when they ask me for mine next time. Like Radio Shack.

When I'm paying cash for a small purchase at Radio Shack and they ask me for personal information, I just tell them that I just want to buy a cable (or whatever), not start a personal relationship.

Works every time.

[Boonie Rat]

Those managers now think of you as a looney toon, or paranoid, and not without reason

Do you give everyone who "requires" your personal information that information?

Boonie Rat

MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66

[Larry Lucido]

Half Price Books on Northwest Highway in Dallas was one of my favorite hang-outs. The prices were so low (I still hav lots of books I got there for under $1.00) that I couldn't imagine asking for a full refund on a return - I'd have just sold it back and let them resell it for another profit. Sorry, I can't sympathise with you on this one.

[AppyPappy]

Use a fake name and address for the buyer's card. We actually get some really good coupons from the Kroger because they track our shopping.

[Larry Lucido]

BTW, I don't give anyone personal information when making a cash purchase - Radio Shack or anyone else. But, this was a return. Many retailers (Home Depot comes to mind) ask for such info on returns, and I don't blame them. Technically, a sale is final. If a store wants to give refunds, they have every right to attach conditions. This is private enterprise, after all.

[AppyPappy]

You are a looney if you don't give me your credit card number.

[Free State Four]

it is unlisted and my name is Johnny Cash,

I love it. Whenever the Washington Post or NY Times wants to know my profile before looking at any of their articles, I always indicate that I am a male, 100 years old, who has a government job and has the last name "Thurmond". Works every time it's tried.

[SauronOfMordor]

Radio Shack clerks can be almost as obnoxious. When I wanted to make a cash purchase, the clerk started by loudly asking (in the presence of others): "Phone number?"

With Radio Shack and others, I've found that saying "I prefer remaining a man of mystery" works (Of course, the fact that I'm very large and giving them my "I'm not in the mood to be f---'ed with" look might contribute to it)

[goodnesswins]

HA....only dummies give their phone number to Radio Shack, and other's who ask....I just told Radio Shack "No" politely, and they said, "OK"......and for others if they persist or I'm not in the mood for a confrontation, and provide a number....anyone's number...LOL

[kitkat]

The switch at Radio Shack happened a couple of years ago. They no longer ask for phone numbers.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Radio Shack had been doing this for decades, and I heard they very recently stopped. Back in the 1970s, in the Washington D.C. area, there was a heavily publicized case of a Radio Shack based bruglary ring, run by RS employees using this information. They'd go through the records for the addresses of people who bought expensive electronic equipment, and then go to the home and steal it, and fence it. It always amazed me that RS continued to ask for this information (even for tiny cash purchases!) after this scam was publicized. I always flatly refused to give them any info whatsoever, and they never pushed me for it.

That said, I do understand why retailers need to get and record ID for RETURNS. There are many, many professional scammers who shoplift merchandise and return it for cash, and this is one way the retailers can slow them down a bit. Remember all the dirt on the Irish Travellers after Madelyne Toogood beat the crap out of her little girl? Forging receipts and using randon receipts from the trash is easy for people who are making a career of it.