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

[Timesink]

He finally relented, but he clearly hated my guts (because there were other customers listening).

Radio Shack always relents if you push them. They just want your name and address so they can mail you sales circulars, but they'll never let that desire stand in the way if it will break a sale. Just stand your ground.

[Timesink]

That said, I do understand why retailers need to get and record ID for RETURNS.

I don't have any problem with having to show ID (well, not nearly as much of one, anyway), but to have it put into their computer over a cash sale? Forget it.

[Timesink]

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.

To be blunt, their internal problems with their employees is not a good enough reason to deserve MY personal information, which can then be taken by the same untrustworthy employees and used for identity fraud.

[GovernmentShrinker]

How else are they supposed to track the people who do returns over and over again, often at different stores in the same chain?

[Libertina]

A reason not to go to Half-Price books any longer. You handled it very well. About two years ago I was making a purchase at Toys-r-us and they asked me for my phone number. Just to make a purchase! I refused. It happens everytime I go to the store. I have already stopped shopping at QFC because they began to require shopper "value" cards, trouble is- all the grocery stores now but two in my area REQUIRE them. And I heard that Fred Meyer, one which doesn't is going to begin to using them this year. I haven't been back after December so I haven't found out yet.

Recollecting Bible prophecy of the mark to buy and sell - this makes me very "uncomfortable." Especially with the new little chip that will be placed IN EVERY PRODUCT so people at the store know what you are wearing, taking home with you, even where you live. Heard this dicussed on radio the other day - the technology is already developed. Proponents say it will let them "promptly refill the shelves. Uh huh.

[patton]

Phone number, please?

WE6-1212

blank stare...

[Free State Four]

Use a fake name and address for the buyer's card.

Casa Roll
123 Tamale Way
Hot Dish, Arizona?

[adakotab]

Wow, enjoyed your thought process throughout.

[packrat35]

Sorry but I would have sent you on your way. I worked in retail and I can guarantee you that employees in particular and customers also steal. Asking for ID is a way to slow it down.

When I worked at Target, that was way a way they caught many many shoplifters. At the time, there were 4 stores, and if a name showed up at all 4 stores making returns, you ould bet they were stealing. No one goes all over a city making returns to 4 different stores unless they were hiding something.

These names were then put on a "watch list" and the next time they returned something, security was alerted. Many times, they would shoplift after getting a return and finally get caught.

Your actions would mark you as a thief or a loon and I'm sure they do NOT want your business.

I am NOT accusing ou of anything, just teling you what goes on in the real world.

[Free State Four]

WE6-1212

I'm sorry. Is that a 202 area code? Or do I not get the joke? (Anyway, I missed your movie on cable yesterday afternoon because I took my kids to see the movie Drumline. But I've seen your movie ~the George C Scott version - the ONLY one~ about 20 times. )

[packrat35]

Radio Shack does NOT require this anymore. I can agree that asking for a phone number for every purchase can be really annoying.

I usually just gave out a fake phone number. Much simplier than arguing or acting crazy.

I took my phone numbers off my checks and although I rarely write them anymore (debit cards), whenever I am asked, I just give out a fake phone number.

[Timesink]

How else are they supposed to track the people who do returns over and over again, often at different stores in the same chain?

They're not. Considering the books they sell and the prices they sell them at, you'd have to be insane to try any return scams there.

Actually, though, there is a way: Institute inventory control. Have the name and ISBN of the books sold printed on all receipts. That way they could only be used to return the same book purchased. If they're too damn cheap to put THAT in their software, then they deserve whatever fraud-based losses they get. Again, their indolence does not give them the right to take my personal information and store it somewhere where employees they admit to not trusting can use it for identity fraud.

[BigDaddyTX]

Sport Clips required my name and phone number, they told me that the computer needed it. I asked if they were willing to give my son and I a number 3 quick buzz for cash without knowing my name and phone number... "no, the computer needs it". We walked out and wrote a note to their Prez, here's his reply.
_________________________
"BigDaddy_TX, thank you for bringing this to my attention. Sounds like we blew it
big-time with you and your son - my sincere apologies for the unacceptable
Client Service. I have referred your EMail to our VP-Operations, Kerin
Haney, and Kerin will take actions to ensure that our check-in process is
corrected to avoid situations like you encountered.

If you would be so kind as to give us a second chance, I would like to offer
you and your son complimentary haircuts at any of our Austin area Sport
Clips. If you will let me know your address, we can get the gift
certificates out to you tomorrow.

In any event, thank you for taking the time to let us know about your visit.
I appreciate your comments.

Gordon Logan, President"
___________________________
Since he was so cool about it I decided to let them send me
the two free haircut coupons for our next visit, yes I did
tell his VP my name and address but have not received any
junk mail from them. Next time we went in I
told them I didn't want to give them the info, they still
required it so I told them my name was Gordon Logan. They
all perked up, asked for phone number and I denied. They
tried to get my 4yr old to rat on me but he was ready for
them. Lesson learned by my son was "I thought they were
in the hair cut business, not the name and phone number
business."

[packrat35]

That is odd. I buy used movies all the time at Blockbuster (I rarely rent anymore), and I never am asked for the card just to purchase. You should have told them you didn't have it with you.

[VeniVidiVici]

Don't get me going on RadioShack.

About a year ago I get a Sprint Cellphone bill... but I didn't have Sprint.

After calling Sprint customer service to find out what the heck was going on, it turned out that somebody had used my info to open a cell acct. I asked the Sprint person if they could tell where and when the acct was opened. You guessed it: RadioShack. In Atlanta of all places.

I took the phone numbers off the bill, did reverse lookups on the net and supplied the info to the Secret Service, who probably just humored me.

[SpeakLittle_ThinkMuch]

Careful with that debit card. If it is lost or stolen and your account is cleaned out, the bank is not required to replace the money. There is no limited liability like there is with a credit card.

[Timesink]

Especially with the new little chip that will be placed IN EVERY PRODUCT so people at the store know what you are wearing, taking home with you, even where you live. Heard this dicussed on radio the other day - the technology is already developed. Proponents say it will let them "promptly refill the shelves. Uh huh.

The chips don't work unless you run some sort of scanner over them; they have no power of their own. Thus, unless you're planning on letting the Grocery Cops install detectors at your front door, these RFID tags will do nothing of the sort.

If you're that paranoid, sign up for the grocery cards with a fake name and address. They NEVER ask for any sort of ID to prove you're who you claim to be when signing up for a card. If nobody's looking, you can even just reach over and grab a new one off the stack at the cash register and start using it without signing up at all. They don't need to be "turned on" first like a credit card or anything.

[packrat35]

I don't keep that much in the account. I have had it stolen once. Called and reported it stolen and I was not charged anything.

[FreedomCalls]

I do that too! I am a 102-year old woman, from Antarctica, who lives at zip 20500 (the White House in DC).

[Dog Gone]

You certainly didn't have to give them the info, and they were under no obligation to give you a refund. Sales are final under contract law, except in very limited circumstances.

Many consumers think they have a right to return merchandise for a refund. It's not true.