Web design 'n' stuff

[JLSleather]

I can't be the only one left ....

I'm always irritated by someone wanting me to log in, or sign up, or subscribe, whatever... for the simplest tasks.  So I don't ask people to do that unless it's necessary.  When you make a purchase, I assume you WANT it verified that it's you using your card.  But if I'm really giving you something free, WHY would you need to "subscribe" for that?  Yeah, I know a thousand of you just said to yourself "oh, that's normal- no big deal".  And THAT is the problem.  It's so common people don't notice it.  But I have never thought that 'common' equals acceptable. No need for graphic examples.

Yesterday, I took one of the boys for a hair cut.  I generally don't do that, so I wasn't prepared to hear that yes, they have an opening but they didn't see where we had registered on line.  Wait... WHAT?@!  You cut hair.  For money.  And I have a boy who needs a hair cut.  And I have money. Seems simple.  SO I'll see you in 10 minutes, thank you no - I think I'll not 'register'.   When we got there, they want my phone number.  For what?  You gonna call me when you're ready for him?  We'll be sitting right over there   They need our full name.  How's that?  You can't cut the boy's hair without knowing the correct spelling of his full name and his phone number? OUT of control.  When I told them I was pretty sure SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE could cut hair acceptably without needing any of that information at all - and grabbed my jacket - suddenly one of the other girls thought that was not a problem, her scissors apparently work just fine without talking at all  She cut his hair, got the store paid and a decent tip to boot.

A couple people there looked at their shoes a bit.  That was a "why don't the guy just tell em a phone number' look if ever there was one.  Some reading this SHOULD BE rolling their eyes by now.  Here's an idea - if I don't give you the number, that's kind of an indication that I don't want a call. No flyers.  No sales pitch or notice of discounts.  If she wants to date me, she should just say that, right? And then my number wouldn't be going in your computer anyway ...

Now, this is not even tip of the iceberg view of how out of control it has become.  Think you aren't being "tracked"?  We replaced windows at the house -- and less than a month later we got "sale" flyers from "window treatment" vendors.  (HINT:  building permits are public record).

The kid looks good - that girl has cut hair more than once before.  But if they call, tweet, text, or tango either of us, they won't have to worry about doing it again.  Oh, yeah -- you don't need his name or phone number to get it

On my site you can download patterns and information and never even tell me you were there, much less your name, phone number, child's name and age, ... any of that.  Can't remember what you did with it?  No trouble - go download it again. And you can purchase something as 'guest'.  Even if you do decide to create an account, you're never contacted.  You get a notice that your payment was completed, you get another later with a tracking number.  If we talk again after that, it's because YOU CHOSE to contact us.

Edited January 14, 2019 by JLSleather

[YinTx]

5 hours ago, JLSleather said:

When we got there, they want my phone number.  For what? 

Yeah, no.  Miffs me too.  I buy something at the store, they want my number.  Why?  I tell the cashier I don't have one.  Confuses the crap out of them.  "You don't have a phone??!"  Seriously, I need a phone to buy a screwdriver?  Are you kidding me?  And yeah, everyone just hands it over like no problem.  What no one gets is the store buys info from the credit card company crossed with info from the cell phone, and use it for "targeted advertising" along with other things.  No thanks, my info is not for you to buy and sell.  Enough folks do it to me already without my consent.

Get to the tax office to register a car title after moving.  They want a phone number, the form says "optional."  So I leave it.  Person at the computer doesn't know what to do, has to get a manager, who insists.  I say, hey, it says optional, I don't have a number for you.  She says "You don't have a friend's number you can give me?"  I'm like, really?  I should just be giving out my friend's phone numbers without their permission to random places?  She says "How are we supposed to contact you if there's a problem?" and "we can't take a check with out a phone number."  Uhm, you had no problem sending this bill to me in the mail, right? Contact me that way.  And here's some cash.  They finally relented, but decided they needed to see the original wedding certificate.  Are you kidding.

YinTx

[bermudahwin]

6 hours ago, JLSleather said:

I can't be the only one left ....

There's one here in the UK too...

[JLSleather]

1 hour ago, YinTx said:

 Seriously, I need a phone to buy a screwdriver?  Are you kidding me?  And yeah, everyone just hands it over like no problem.

Since you like a bit o' humor.. this actually happened.  Been prolly 15 years ago.. still remember.  I got a bill for an hospital visit for my son.  It was marked something like "pay this now or we'll send two big guys with ball bats.. final final notice..." But i had never got a FIRST notice, so I called em.  Interesting that this hospital is about 4 hours away.  WHY nobody call me at the phone number on the bill, make sure I'm getting it?

So the gal says it was months ago, and we're a bit mad you haven't paid it.  Says she been sending me bills for months.  So I said well my address aint changed, so why i git THIS one but no others? ANYWAY, that IS my name and address, and that IS my son, so just tell me what its for and we'll just do this.  Says it's for emergency room visit.  SO now I'm REALLY confused, cuz if it's an emergency, WHY would I go to a hospital 4 hours away?@!

But she don't wanna tell me what the bill is FOR, what they actually DID.  So I give her a VISA number, hear her entering it in.  She says ok- that went through... thanks, blahblah.. SO I said agin now tell me what that's for.  ANd she re-starts her "privacy laws".. kaint tell you ... hippa poopa... spiel. And how she can't give that out over the phone cuz she has no way of verifying that it's really me.  So I SAID.. if you can't verify yer talkin ta Jeff, then you need to put that charge BACK ON JEFFS CARD until you verify it was him authorizing it.

She decided there really was no trouble giving me the information.

[YinTx]

9 minutes ago, JLSleather said:

But she don't wanna tell me what the bill is FOR, what they actually DID.

This day and age, I'd be figuring it was a fishing call looking for details to make false charges.  Unless I was really sure that was the hospital's phone number that I had just called, and I knew already what the service was for.

No one has problems charging money, but when the situation is reversed... they can't say nuthin cuz of company policy etc.  Bogus.

Personally, pay me check, cash or paypal.  I don't want the liability of having your personal info, thanks.  If I need your number to call when your item is done, that's about all I'll ask for.

YinTx

[bermudahwin]

Its contagious.

I have just phoned a photography shop 25 minutes away, and asked if they still had a used camera body that was online.  Yes, they did, I asked that they hold it for me to look at, I'd be ther in 30 minutes.

Full Name, Full Address, Telephone number...

I have just cut off my nose to spite my face, as after pointing out that their main competitor in town held a similar body for 2 days, on just my first name, explained that without the detail they could not hold it.

Why?   They would set up an account, and hold it against the account.

No, they will not, I wished them luck selling it, and told them not to bother.  Shame because it had the two attributes that the one across town did not have and was only a few buck more expensive.

Back to looking, or going in with cash and getting it to the stage they have to refuse the sale as I wont give my address.  Its crazy, as my name is near unique in the UK, since my Dad, Senior passed in 1993, I am one of two with the same name, and the other lives 220 miles away (yup, we are related).

I never give out unnecessary detail, I know how it is used. When I said about the database it would be going on, the shop guy said it was not going on any database... and got baffled when I explained that in-store data, was covered by our great GDPR rules too.

[JLSleather]

18 hours ago, YinTx said:

Personally, pay me check, cash or paypal.

I don't do checks.  When I changed banks recently, they asked what kind of checks I want.  Uh.. none. Would't know what to do with 'em - haven't WRITTEN a check in a long time. Nor do I wish to pay for the "service" of processing OTHER people's checks... If they can carry a check, they can carry money.  If you have money to cover the check, then get your money and then show up.  If you don't have the money to cover the check, then I don't know why I should pay to verify that.

Since moving here, I have found TWO places where they don't take cards of any kind, which I think is more than I found in the last decade.  One gal said they don't want the fees involved.  Personally, I'd gladly pay the 3% to not have to have cash! 

Other hand, I remember that day a couple of years ago, my buddy was stompin' mad.  Energy company told him they wouldn't REFUSE cash, but they add a service charge if you pay cash since they have to pay someone to make change!

[YinTx]

2 hours ago, hwinbermuda said:

Its contagious.

 

Agreed.  annoyed.  But as Roland says... "the world has moved on.  We have forgotten the face of our fathers."

YinTx