The society part is tough and frustrating. I get so tired of arguing with clerks that want my email, zip code, phone #, etc. I don't want to give everyone that, and it really slows down the checkout process in general. Just take my damn money.
A few weeks ago, I walked away from a purchase because the store wanted to take my photo at POS. This was my first encounter with the store, I probably would not be a repeat customer, I just wanted to do a single purchase. Just take my damn money.
The stupid part is, I typically use the same credit card for every purchase. I know they could use that to query info product and know everything about me - and, I don't really care about that (I've given in to it). It's the constant asking for info by companies that I have no ongoing relationship with that I really hate.
Edit: Also, it makes me feel like some weirdo freak when I don't want to participate. It starts to cause a scene. Other customers are staring. My wife is embarrassed. Everyone is thinking, "just let them take the photo" or "the clerk is just doing their job".
Wow, this is the first I've heard of photos being taken at a register. Do you mind sharing what store this was, or if it was triggered by the purchase of a specific item?
I realize this request to reveal where you shopped, or what item you bought, is in response to your objection to being tracked, so I understand if you'd rather not say :)
WTF store wants to take your photo just to sell you something? I can't possibly imagine submitting to that unless it was for something amazing or something where the photography was obviously necessary to use the product.
It was just a local business. Clothing boutique. Seemed like the thought was build me a profile, they would send curated picks that fit my style. And of course people with profile pics are more engaged!
The in store onboarding was actually a smart idea. Things like that are applauded by HN folks like us. Increasing LTV,... However, the clerk told me a pic was mandatory. I even said something like "take a picture of the wall then" and he said no like he was offended I asked him to cheat the system. I just turned around and walked out of the shop.
I was just trying to buy a tshirt. I didn't want to establish and ongoing relationship with this place photo or not.
>Everyone is thinking, "just let them take the photo" or "the clerk is just doing their job".
Maybe, or maybe you made them second guess their own personal policy of what they are comfortable sharing. So long as you are confident I don't think a reasonable person would look down on you for protecting your privacy. I usually just say something like "I don't do that" when asked to share email/phone/zip with stores, never had a clerk get weird about it.
I usually do that too. 99% not an issue. But as it gets more pervasive and they ask for more and more. I have encountered at least a dozen places that the clerks workflow can not proceed until I comply. So usually it's a "I don't do that" followed by "it's required" to which I reply "no it's not" and it's down hill from there. Sometimes they're smart enough to feed the machine dummy data and not argue with me. Usually it makes me mad so I don't exactly handle it with grace either (stubbornness I don't get rude or abusive)
A few weeks ago, I walked away from a purchase because the store wanted to take my photo at POS. This was my first encounter with the store, I probably would not be a repeat customer, I just wanted to do a single purchase. Just take my damn money.
The stupid part is, I typically use the same credit card for every purchase. I know they could use that to query info product and know everything about me - and, I don't really care about that (I've given in to it). It's the constant asking for info by companies that I have no ongoing relationship with that I really hate.
Edit: Also, it makes me feel like some weirdo freak when I don't want to participate. It starts to cause a scene. Other customers are staring. My wife is embarrassed. Everyone is thinking, "just let them take the photo" or "the clerk is just doing their job".