giving address for refund?

vyle

I'll break it down for you:

You said:

libertysurf wrote: »

Tell me, who are people to complain to if it isn't the person in front of them making the demands?

By saying that you're complaining to the person making the 'demands' it implies that you assume them to have some choice as to whether they ask, and that your complaint will make a difference. It won't.

You then said:

Are people supposed to roll over and take it just because the person asking hasn't the wit to realise it is unreasonable?

By saying this, you are assuming, again, that the person has a choice in whether they are asking.

Your use of the phrase,

the person asking hasn't the wit to realise it is unreasonable?

indicates that you think that if the person IS asking, they have a low intellect, as they don't understand basic social graces, or they knowingly ignore them so as to purposely cause offence while gathering mountains of personal information which they will gleefully misuse.

How are management ever going to know, if someone doesn't say something.

I agree with this, but telling a frontline worker something that they already know isn't going to do anything. If the company is a large chain, nothing short of a direct letter to head office will make any difference as the branches won't have the autonomy to decide their own policies.

We then move onto your most recent post:

garethgas wrote: »

What a ludicrous argument.
It has absolutely nothing to do with being high & mighty.

If you're making assumptions about somebody's intelligence based on whether they wish to comply with the terms of their employment, it is. You're deeming them stupid for wishing to remain in employment during tough economic times.

Its also a sad state of affairs where (by your logic) the option is to either comply or assistant loses his job.

I didn't say YOU needed to comply, but the assistant does, and to comply, they must ask.

If the store treats asking for details as a fraud prevention measure, as most do, you'll find that they take it VERY seriously. If a member of staff is regularly returning items and they have no valid customer details on them, the BEST they can hope for is to be put on probation. They'll most likely be dismissed without question under the assumption that they're pocketing the money.

Frankly, I think if you need to resort to this level of debate, I think you've already lost the arguement.

The debate is whether the assistant has a choice. If you accept that the cashier may be as uncomfortable asking you as you are being asked, but it's a procedure that they have to follow, then it'll save you the need to look down on every cashier as rude, and you can direct your complaints to their head office, rather than to them, where you may make a difference.

I just politely but firmly refuse to do it and suggest they put their own post code in.

That's fine, except they'll NEVER put their post code in, because that WILL lead to dismissal and a possible criminal investigation. Many stores now link till numbers to personal details. If they check that till number 1234 has given a refund and find it's to their own post code, that's immediately going to set alarm bells ringing.

All I ask is that you remember that shop staff are people, too. People who are put under a lot of pressure to comply with policies that they may not agree with.

You might have a job, and you might have to sometimes do something you don't agree with, or you think is silly. But whereas in some jobs, it's filling in a ridiculous time sheet format (which you have to fill in, it's not an option) the difference is that the silly things you have to do probably don't result in people shouting at you, and assuming you're an idiot, because they've forgotten that humans do still do these jobs (for now).

Of course, if you're just returning an item because youve changed your mind, you have every right to refuse to give details, but they also have every right to refuse you a refund.

garethgas

Thanks for your reply.
I fully understand what you're saying but you seem to be making some kind of assumption that just because some people (including me) feel its intrusive to have some kid demanding my personal details that we're going to be rude and confrontational about it.
It would only escalate if the assistand dug their heels in surely?
You have no way of knowing this (obviously) but whenever I have dealings with anyone in any walk of life, I'm the most polite, pleasant chap you could imagine.
However, that also lulls many into a false sense that they're going to win and I suppose your right in the sense that the assistant can't change the rules.
But personal data has a lot of value. Many times I read on these forums of people asking 'Where did they get my number?'
I'm a very private person, I don't feel comfortable with giving my private details when its not necessary and I hate making a fuss but sometimes I have to make a stand. And if confronting the assistand is what it takes, so be it. I fail to see how trying to give me a guilt trip over his/her sacking makes any sense.
Some years ago, I stood next to a very pretty young girl who quite happily gave her name address AND phone number to the assistant. Had I been some kind of pervert or stalker, I could have made that poor girls life hell.
I will, however, concede that far too many people abuse their position as a customer as they can use any language, threats, tantrums or lies they want but the assistant has to remain calm and professional or they'll be accused of all sorts.

vyle

It kinda came off that way because it sounded like you were denigrating the individual for asking the question, and indeed, the assumption that it would be a kid, when some of my colleagues who also ask for such info are in their sixties.

If you're polite, then that's fine. I'm so used to seeing replies by the lady at the top of the page who seem to delight in snapping at the smallest thing (madam) that it's a rarity to get somebody who doesn't already have it in for shop staff the second they step into the premises.

ikati5

This post seems to have incited ranting and venting from most posters. It is all speculative, should we be asked or our postcode at the till all situations will be different, the type of weather, the time of day, the assistant, the store.. You are much more likely to conform when the sun is shining on your day off after lunch with a friend, shopping for holiday items or an outfit for a hot date than you are on a friday after the school run in the rain buying some overpriced necessity you don't want!

I am sure we can't all be cantankerous all the time!

Dave_C_2

I'm of the opinion that my personal information valuable to me. If I go into a shop and buy stuff I give them money and in exchange I get something of value in the form of goods and services.

This works both ways. If the shop wants something of value from me like my postcode then I expect to be paid for it. If the shop offered a discount on the price...

Dave

libertysurf

Where to begin Vyle – and the moniker fits because you are rude yet think other posters are. Or perhaps you were just having a joke. Just 3 examples.

Quote "You don't quite seem to grasp the difference between frontline staff and management." Lol
Quote ".. but seeing as youre so high and mighty"
Quote "If they ask a customer, the customer will be a total c### about it."

I was going to explain but frankly – what would be the point?

popadom

amandada wrote: »

According to my Matalan "membership" card, my name is minnie mouse and I live in Disneyland

i dont know why matalan insist on a card, i never present one and i get day membership. its quite odd as you are giving them money to buy stuff but they want to ask for a card. I dont think you get points either. I suppose its only for marketting.