Don't give your ZIP code out.....
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
March 20, 2013 10:48am CST
EVer been to a store and asked by the cashier for your zip code? Happens ALL the time to me! I tell them no just cause I don't want to be bothered giving out more info about me...and others in line can hear and all that. They tell you it is for info to see where customers live to open new stores but still....I just don't do it. And they ask every time you check out.
Well, here's why you shouldn't do it. Granted, just junk mail and solicitation, but still..all that could lead to other things, so why take the chance, when "no" is all that you need to say to stop it all before it starts. If you want their mailer, go get on their mailing list. Just to much personal information is being asked and you are the only one that can stop it. You dont' think it is that big a deal or that maybe your transaction requires it, but neither are the case...how hard is it to say no and no, it is not a required transaction issue.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-shouldnt-retailers-zip-code-190045821.html
2 people like this
6 responses
@AmbiePam (85496)
• United States
25 Mar 13
There is only one store that has ever asked me for it, and I don't really like it. They send me coupons and stuff. But they always ask me no matter how many times I've been. I just want to say, I'm in your system already! You don't need to look me up.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
26 Mar 13
For awhile there EVERY store I went to, even the Dollar Tree, asked for my zip. If you want my info, give me a store card with discounts and you can have it!
@Angelpink (4035)
• Philippines
21 Mar 13
Oh this thing happen ? I haven't experienced such , no one have ever asked my code number , if ever someone will asked and he look suspicious , i will give him the wrong code number. People who got bad intention doesn't deserved an honest and sincere answer.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Mar 13
They ask for all kinds of things! And hackers...know their job! But I don't give it out anyway. I know they want to know things for the stores sake, but still...just TMI!!!!
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
28 Mar 13
I would think unless you are having to give them your whole name or phone number, then there is no harm giving anyone your zip code. I often wonder what they use these for, and some places they say they cannot complete the order without it, but when you are traveling on vacation what good does giving them your out of area zip code do?
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
20 Mar 13
Sometimes it's their way of tracking where customers are coming from...not to use but to see who and where their products have been distributed.....I have given out my zip code and never gotten unwanted mail....seriously....they use it to track where their products have ended up.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Mar 13
Oh, I'm sure they probably do. I have given it before, but still..my main concern is...I just don't want to be bothered. Customer service is so terrible in most stores today and they don't have enough lines open so you stand for to long and the cashiers don't know how to deal with coupons, or the item is ringing up different that the price tag...etc...so by the time I'm at the register, I just want out of there!
@my52cents (569)
• United States
20 Mar 13
I don't like to give my zip code, but on the other hand when we eat at Sonic (drive-in, eating outside, ordering through a speaker) I figure that they use that information to confirm the billing address on my debit/credit card. If I were to lose that card and someone else were to try and use it, they'd have to guess at my zip code. We were just talking about that the other day, in fact. So security works in good ways in some cases. Guess it's just best to pay cash and avoid the issue in the first place!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Mar 13
I never debit/credit card places like that..or gas stations. My husband used his credit card at a gas station...local truck stop style, and few days later got a call from the credit card asking him if he had purchased $500 of gas in Baton Rouge, LA. He said no, he is in Calif..etc. Turns out the same truck stop (Pilot) he used it at is apparently nationwide as that is the station it was used at, probably by a trucker filling his tank. So unless it is in a store, I don't do it. But I hadn't thought, yeah, that could be the case in the Sonic verification of card. I just like cash!
@XtremeGaming (742)
• South Africa
21 Mar 13
They never do that here where I live they have other ways like cell number harvesting
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Mar 13
Yeah, I know about the cell phone marketing..I started a discussion on that recently..to get a coupon you have to input your cell number in order to get the coupon. I won't do that either.
