The man in Halfords got very upset..

[moonloops]

So I happened to be stood in a massive queue at Halfords (don't ask!) and noticed the guy on the till was asking for people email addresses "for their guarantee".

He got to me and my part had a returnable deposit element so he says to me "can I have your email address so we can process your return"

I just said no, he became a bit flustered, edging on upset at this stage.

I pointed out that all I needed to return the item was the receipt, and that if I did happen to give him my email address and Halfords sent me marketing email, then the Information Commissioner would be very interested, and possibly trading standards.

I'm guessing that they use the soft opt-in rules under the legislation - still a bit naughty of them.

I will pay £100 to someone's nominated charity if they go to Halfords at a busy time, make a purchase, and when asked for their email address shout out the most rude/pornographic/inappropriate email account address that they can think of. Bonus if you have to say it twice and/or spell it out.



Payment will be made when a video is uploaded on the interwebs.

 

[Weller]

I bought some stuff there recently and when asked for my email I just said no and asked for a paper receipt. They were fine with this.

 

[TKvS]

E-mail.....wot's e-mail...can you buy it at the Post Office...'cos I don't have one of those.....where's mah receipt ?

 

[zipdip]

I went into Halfords today to look up batteries,they have this neat little screen to enter you reg in so I entered my w221 s320 into it and it blanked me no suggested batteries,I bet that is because Moonloops has spoilt it for all us other mercedes users,never even got to refuse my email.

 

[moonloops]

I went into Halfords today to look up batteries,they have this neat little screen to enter you reg in so I entered my w221 s320 into it and it blanked me no suggested batteries,I bet that is because Moonloops has spoilt it for all us other mercedes users,never even got to refuse my email.

Their IT systems may of gone into meltdown after I emailed the customer services team asking about their behavior at the tills. Maybe they are busy deleting evidence

I've got some AAA batteries you can borrow for a short while

 

[Iwoody]

I usually just tell people I can't remember it.... Argos are doing the same now I think too.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I'm guilty of having implemented a data capture exercise in a previous life. It's part of their marketing strategy and allows for free (almost) marketing which is impossible to ignore. It might even, dare I say it, be of benefit to some customers if special offers are targeted correctly.

It's a shame that the front-end staff feel the brunt of their customer's grumpiness but they are are a no-win situation. Their managers will be on a bonus scheme, it's been cascaded to them that in order to claim full payment they will need to hit quality measures on their scorecard and these include subjects such as data capture as well as sales.

So, the shop staff are heavily monitored in such areas and non-compliance can have financial consequences (or worse!).

I now deal with such requests in a reasonable manner, I may give my email address and tick the box for no promotional mail or, if appropriate, just refuse but quietly and politely.

I generally tell chuggers to FRO!

 

[moonloops]

I'm guilty of having implemented a data capture exercise in a previous life. It's part of their marketing strategy and allows for free (almost) marketing which is impossible to ignore. It might even, dare I say it, be of benefit to some customers if special offers are targeted correctly.

It's a shame that the front-end staff feel the brunt of their customer's grumpiness but they are are a no-win situation. Their managers will be on a bonus scheme, it's been cascaded to them that in order to claim full payment they will need to hit quality measures on their scorecard and these include subjects such as data capture as well as sales.

So, the shop staff are heavily monitored in such areas and non-compliance can have financial consequences (or worse!).

I now deal with such requests in a reasonable manner, I may give my email address and tick the box for no promotional mail or, if appropriate, just refuse but quietly and politely.

I generally tell chuggers to FRO!

It would be OK if they just asked for emails so we can keep you up to date, not lie about what they are doing

Next time I am asked I'm going to say my email address is [email protected]

 

[Deleted member 6183]

It would be OK if they just asked for emails so we can keep you up to date, not lie about what they are doing

Next time I am asked I'm going to say my email address is [email protected]

Agreed, however, their numbers would be way down if they told the truth. By dressing it up as something else their performance will improve which equals good quality scores and more bonus.

I'm not defending the practice but passing on some insight into how it works and why it isn't the poor guy at the till to blame.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Yes, this happens to us all the time now. 'Email address for the receipt Sir?' (Virtually every shop within the Gretna Outlet Village asks this.)

"No it's OK, just give me an old fashioned one from your till"

Nothing much in life boils my P**s but this is definitely one of them.

 

[StuartK]

[email protected]

 

[Deleted member 6183]

[email protected]

Ah, the old 'please provide your email address for use of the hotel free wi-fi' default address.

 

[stevesey]

I gave an e-mail address to my bank once mimicking their own systems I gave them donotuse@<mydomian> - I doubt anyone has ever noticed they keep sending e-mails to it.

 

[OldTimer66]

I just look bewildered and say "whats an email address?". Mind you I'm old enough (and look it!) to be able to get away with a comment like that.

 

[markjay]

Don't everyone have a spare free Gmail address that they check once in a blue moon, and which is given out for this type of marketing requests (online or in-store)?

 

[Ted]

I've just registered hellfrauds.com and hellfrauds.co.uk
Can't wait to buy something from there now.

 

[StuartK]

Halfords do brembo discs and pads now I wonder if they are competitive on AMG stuff

 

[Druk]

I'm not defending the practice but passing on some insight into how it works and why it isn't the poor guy at the till to blame.

Not like you to be sympathetic to some muppet. Been on the sauce?

 

[moonloops]

Don't everyone have a spare free Gmail address that they check once in a blue moon, and which is given out for this type of marketing requests (online or in-store)?

No, just us a mailinator account instead.

 

[moonloops]

Halfords do brembo discs and pads now I wonder if they are competitive on AMG stuff

They also fit light bulbs for £7 which I may get them to do on the SAAB I have.

Bumper off and headlight removal job, 4 hours labour - a bargain