Did you ask them why? Whenever I get asked I ask back. I encourage everyone to do the same.
::rant on::
I was making a return at Kmart, set it up online, brought the paperwork to the store, and they wanted some personal information. I asked them back ...why? After a few 'empty' responses, I told the clerk that ...well lets keep this short... after challenging them (meaning the manager showed up, etc) it came down to that they did not really require the information, and I did not give it to them either, and we conducted the return without anyone being insulted or abused, and my information remaining safe with me only -- as it should be.
Just saying, I recommend folks don't go blindly along with being pressed for their personal information. It happens a lot now, and often times store employees AND managers don't realize that although they are being asked (more and more) to gather personal information, the customers aren't necessarily required to give it.
If you do not stand up and ask questions and simply blindly follow, you are empowering corporations to take more and more advantage of us. I don't want our kids thinking they have to go along with all the sh-t coming at us from these corporations. You don't have to be angry, upset, or impolite... you simply need to "show up" / "be present" ...and question.
Sorry... an aspect of my business is in security, and I don't like seeing my family, kids, neighbors, community members etc simply going along with b.s. like this. The pressure is "constantly on" these days. And everytime they see someone "simply going along", they are getting it in their heads that "that's the way it is and they simply have to follow suit". And that's the b.s. I'm talkin' about.
::rant off::
#############ON ANOTHER (positive) NOTE... I was recently contacted by a Harbor Freight representative concerning reviews I left that reported on the process they followed for shipping alternative items to what I ordered (on over 7 occasions)... items having very different specifications to what I ordered. It seems HF takes consumer reflections seriously and is interested in making things right. I am going to be posting followup details
in a different thread where I posted about how HF handles online vending and consumer experience.
THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR US HF CUSTOMERS...
1) If the corporate cares what the customer's experience is, and customers can prompt the corporation toward more appropriate care, then the local franchiser's will be subject to this prompting as well (i.e., it follows that it will trickle down if consumers bring these experiences to the Corp attention).
I read a lot of varying experiences here regarding futile attempts to use coupons at HF stores. Seems wrong to me...
2) If I can use a coupon online, and then I hear about someone going into a store with the same coupon and being questioned/pressed for, say, coupon pictures or snips... this makes no sense. Why can I use a simple code online without any "paper proof", but if I go into the local store I am subject to challenge (I am obviously not talking about certain coupons that explicitly state you have to show them).
...I say, petition HF Corporate about this incongruity. Since they obviously care about their consumers' experience (who knew), it logically follows ...you should see results if you bring these concerns to them.
Of course, I would not bother "threatening" my local franchise with "going to the corp" ("I'm telling daddy!" [sic]). You'll just end up with bad relationship, and wondering if there's spit in your sandwich. Simply call/write HF corp about the experience. Post your experiences in the comments section for some of the products you're purchasing -- like I did. If customers start doing this I bet it will make a difference.
HF is sending me some replacement tools because I simply spoke up (in the HF comments section for those tools). I received a freaking phone call from a corporate representative about my comments, concerned about my experience! And they want to make it right. Shocking really - never expected that. Its so cool to see a large corporate like this take consumer feedback seriously. They had pretty much lost most of my future business until this happened.
I'll be updating my other thread within a couple days with more details (relevant to what I posted about there).
