When I go shopping at the mall and some outlet stores, I hear from the sales clerk, “What is your email address?”
And I am like, “Huh? Why?”
“So you can be updated with new items from the store?” is the response I most commonly hear from the sales clerk.
I do understand why companies are jumping on the bandwagon to snag email addresses, but when I get tons of spam, even outside my server’s Spam Assassin and all the filters I have placed, it gets to be tiresome.
SO… I stopped giving out my email address at the stores.
And if you notice, a lot of stores, especially in the United States (usually within the mall and some select stores), they even ask for zip code. I am sure it has to do with how the company can gauge where they should be advertising, and also alert the main headquarters statistics on where their customers are coming from.
However, I am a bit leery of beign asked for my email address. I already spend enough time online that if I really wanted to know about what is new in a store, I would subscribe directly from the store’s website, rather than ask clerks to type in an extra field and make people wait a little longer. Give them a break.
I think if companies truly want to reach their shoppers, especially since there are so many people online, even on Facebook – invest in advertising to attract fans to subscribe. Use the power of social media, rather than make store sales clerks feel like they are encouraging spam. I feel sorry for them. The one time I worked for a retailer I refused to ask for email addresses and gave the general manager a logical response. It just cheapens the experience and really, all people want to do is buy what they took off the rack or shelf and go on to the next thing they want to do.
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6 Comments to 'Everyone Wants My Email Address!!!'
November 13, 2010
RT @MommyBloggernet Everyone Wants My Email Address!!! http://bit.ly/cWtQJ3
November 13, 2010
Everyone Wants My Email Address!!! http://bit.ly/cWtQJ3
November 13, 2010
Great article and I follow every word. I used to give my email address thinking it’s harmless but after spending a couple of hours unsubscribing to tons of emails I did not sign up for keeps me from doing it again. My customers can opt in to subscribe and unsubscribe anytime they wish no hassles.
November 13, 2010
Yeah… I’ve gotten to the point where I’m just like, “Oh, it’s already in your system” and if they push the issue, “Actually, I lied. It’s not in your system, and I don’t want it to be there, either!”
What’s really irritating are the companies like Build-a-Bear, who threaten to delete your user discount/points card if you dare to unsubscribe from their emails. True story.
November 21, 2010
That is something I have noticed as of late, that a lot of stores are asking for my e-mail address. I rarely, if ever, give the address out due to the massive amounts of spam mail I receive. If I do give my e-mail address out, it is almost always one of my free e-mail addresses that I rarely check.
My best friend’s mom doesn’t give hers to anyone and she even got upset at the store the other day when they asked for her zip code. She refused to give it telling them they don’t need her zip code. It took me about 3 hours to convince her that it was strictly for the store to gauge advertising and whether or not they needed to build another store in the area.
January 6, 2011
I enjoyed reading your post.
http://mothersofbrothersblog.blogspot.com
MOV
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