Posted on 08/26/2012 3:34:53 PM PDT by ConservativeInPA
I decided to do some local sporting goods shopping this afternoon before I headed to the gun club. I went to Bass Pro to look for a sling and rifle case for the AR-15A3 that I built Saturday evening. I found the rifle case that I wanted, but no luck finding a sling. As I checked out at Bass Pro, the cashier asked me for my phone number. I firmly said, "No thank you." The cashier typed in a bogus phone number and then asked if wanted to give $2.00 to some charity. Again, a firm, "No thank you." Lastly I was asked if I had a rewards card, "No". Followed by, "Do you want one?" Again, I firmly replied, "No thank you".
I go to Bass Pro a couple times a month. I know the drill. I don't like the questions. I am not going give the cashier a hard time, it's not her fault. But I am not going to appear to be happy, because I want them to know my shopping experience was less than perfect.
Since I didn't find the sling at Bass Pro I went to Dick's Sporting Goods as it was almost on the way to the range. Dick's had an adequate sling with price. It wasn't worth burning time and gas to look elsewhere or to pay extra for shipping for a purchase on the Internet.
So after waiting entirely too long to check out, the cashier asked me for my birthdate. I said, "No". There wasn't a thank you associated with my reply. She said, "You purchase is age restricted." I replied, "I am old enough to be your father." The cashier insisted by saying, "If you don't provide a birthdate, I can not approve your purchase." I retorted, allowing others in line to hear my dismay, "It's a gun sling, there's no law that requires me to provide you with my age." She was stunned that I stood up to protect my privacy and didn't say a thing. I then provided a false birthdate, "4-1-1912" and said "Dick's just lost a customer." My purchase was approved, and some other customers that were swift enough to figure out I wasn't 100 years old and born on April Fools Day had a bit of a laugh. The cashier was completely astonished. Note: I noticed a month or so ago that Dick's started recording birthdates for ammo purchases. There's a law associated with that, but it does not required Dick's to enter your birthday into their computers. I wasn't happy with that and I don't like the law either. I think my children of driving age should be able to buy ammo and go shooting when they want without dad tagging along. They know what they are doing. They have been around guns their entire lives, and are safer than many people on the range.
And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. ~1 Samuel 18:7
“...instead of writing your stuff down honestly with quill and ink well.”
A century or so ago, my Uncle Fred, in school, dipped the pigtail of the girl sitting in front of him in the ink well on his desk. Guess it was ok though, he went on to become Vice President and head of the Mortgage Loan Dept of a national bank in my hometown.
That and most of today’s kids just don’t see our concern for privacy. They’re wired into Facebook, their smartphones, etc. They put all their stuff oput there and can’t understand why we don’t want to.
In California I believe you have to give your thumbprint to buy ammo, as well as have your license recorded.
Nope I bought 40 S&W ammo yesterday at a local Wally and all they did was answer the question on the register that I was over 21. The guy looked at me and never even asked me.
In California I believe you have to give your thumbprint to buy ammo, as well as have your license recorded.
Nope I bought 40 S&W ammo yesterday at a local Wally and all they did was answer the question on the register that I was over 21. The guy looked at me and never even asked me.
Go sell crazy somewhere else.
What if I don't want to give my birth date? As a customer I don't like it. It is not required by law. If there was a law that I had to give my birth date to buy a gun sling, I would make my own. I already build my own weapons, so the government has no idea of how I am armed. But a gun sling? They don't ask for your age when you buy a t-shirt at Dick's. So it isn't gathering demographic information for Dick's business purposes. I would gladly give an age range to a business, but not my actual birth date. If they want to know where I live, I'll give a zip code, but not my actual address or phone number.
One of the most effective attack vectors for hackers is to combine pieces of private information from multiple sources to steal your identity. Don't ever allow your credit card number, driver's license, SSN, phone number, or birth date be stored in a computer that you do not control or trust. Just think about the information that you need to put on a credit application. Any of the difficult pieces of information, like those not in the phone book (mine is unlisted) make it easy for your identity to be stolen.
“For the record, I DO provide phone # for a vendor who has a legitimate interest...”
We have an agricultural sales tax exemption status established with several appropriate businesses and I do provide phone number to them, as it is the way they can easily verify the exemption status.
I'm not that old, but I remember in grade school we had flip-top metal desks with wooden tops, and inside this sort of desk was a round bracket to hold an inkwell. Older grade school and high school kids at the time were using those newfangled "cartridge" fountain pens. With these pens you had a little plastic ink cartridge you popped in, instead of having to dip the pen into a bottle of ink.
I protest the use of rewards cards by carrying a big wad of them rubber banded together. When asked if I have one for that store I pull out the wad and go through it painfully slowly. When I get to the end I say I must have missed it and start through the pack again. By then the clerk gives up and offers to use the in store card they have which I gladly accept.
>>>I’ve been on this planet now for 62 years and I’m amazed at what people will allow themselves to get pissed off at.
You’re no hero in my book, you’re just that jerk that caused me to have to wait<<<
Gee Grampa how can I learn to be as sweet and patient and self-effacing as you when I grow up?
LOL
I’d like to see everyone Give Bogus information whenever asked.....screw up all their Data bases....
More than That...IMHO....We need a National Day of Gun Exchanging....
Buy Your Gun and then exchange it with someone else....
then the next Year have a National Gun Give away...Just walk up to a stranger and Hand Him or her Your Gun....
that will really screw up their Power....Theyll have a stroke!
I would have just tossed the sling to the cashier, said “have a nice day”, and walked out.
They’re not going to stop this nonsense until it starts costing them money.
“I beg the cashiers at the convenience stores to card me...”
In 1977 I was flying to California from Cleveland for my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. There was a problem with my coach seat and I was moved to first class. The isle seat beside me was empty. A stewardess sat down beside me...and in the conversation she guessed my age as somewhat less than what it was. I said, ‘I could kiss you’...and she obliged me the kiss. :)
I went to a Dollar Store the other day to let my daughter get something she needed. At the checkout I saw one of those lighters with the long nozzle, for lighting the fireplace or wood stove, and I grabbed it on impulse.
The cashier said I had to show an ID. I said in a loud voice, “an ID ofr a lighter? You gotta be kidding me.” THis started an impromptu disscusion in the line of customers and the manager came over and said it was a company policy.
I told I would buy one at Menards instead, they don’t card.
Please post your home phone number here so hundreds of telemarketers can contact you directly.
The only “scene” was from the femme-boy next in line. I just politely asked the teller why they needed it. She said for my ‘rewards points’. I told her I was not interested in alleged reward points and that I hadn’t been in a Sears store in over 5 years. She then tried to get me to sign up for a credit card. No thanks.
I know that she was instructed to ask these questions and I was anything but rude. Just firm in that I didn’t want to give out our phone number to Sears and everyone else within earshot.
Wanting to keep your personal info private is not having a “bug up your ass”. In fact, I think it is you that should see your proctologist first thing in the morning
Wake up! This ain’t your mommy’s America anymore.
We anxiously await the posting of your home phone.
Check AR15.com in a day or so. I will PM you when I have pics up. I have lurked there for a long time, and I am going to take the plunge and create an account since I have become addicted to building weapons. I feel somewhat qualified to offer some advice there. There are so many knowledgeable people on AR15.com. It is time that I share the little knowledge I have.
This year I have built a M4gery and a A3 clone. The next build that I am researching is an M24 clone. After that is a M10. I want to be able and reach out and touch someone first though, and I found a 1000 yard range relatively close to where I live.
Great pic by the way. Big John Wayne fan here.
I’m confused. I didn’t post to you.
why am I included on this string? Don’t have a problem with it but want know why I’m special
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.