We’ll soon pick up a new puppy, so we decided to see what types of bedding and toys were available at Petco. We selected a small bed and chew toy that were on sale. They should have totaled less than $17 including tax. When I declined to share our phone number, the total shot up to over $25! As a result, no money changed hands.

Like magic, Petco’s strategy turned us into Amazon fans. YMMV

Stupid isn’t it? To this day I don’t shop at grocery stores that use the membership cards. I shop at Publix or Aldi and that’s it.

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:
Stupid isn’t it? To this day I don’t shop at grocery stores that use the membership cards. I shop at Publix or Aldi and that’s it.

I know how you feel. HEB is our go to grocery store now. Sorry Kroger.

(Local area code) 555-1212

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
(Local area code) 555-1212

True! You don't have to use your real phone number.

BR 549 works just fine. Tell them you live where there are only five digits in the phone number.

Pennsylvania Six Five Thousand

Or maybe (858) 453-7845 (Petco's HQ number)

No, wait -- how about (623) 580-6100? (PetSmart's HQ number)

quote:

Petco’s strategy turned us into Amazon fans

Did Amazon require any of your contact information? They didn't ask for your e-mail or home address did they?

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

Did Amazon require any of your contact information? They didn't ask for your e-mail or home address did they?

Amazon has my email address, I certainly want them to be able to communicate with me in the event that there is a problem with an order. Not the same thing as buying something at a counter, where there is no need to communicate.

Home address? Nope. Amazon does not have that. Orders go to the nearby locker, or to my account at The UPS Store.

As far as a telephone number, if a store asks for it (demands it), I simply tell them that I am hearing impaired and have no use for a telephone.

quote:

Home address? Nope. Amazon does not have that.

You underestimate Amazon.

They have all of your information and use it in the exact same way Petco does (but on a much larger scale). They are simply tracking your behavior and either using that information themselves or selling it to others who do.

If one were to Google my company there's an address that comes up at a warehouse that we rent. I have never used that address with anybody, but somehow Google knows. Welcome to the new age, where everything we do is monitored, tracked, and sold to whomever is willing to pay.

I have two email addresses. One for friends and family, and trusted others, and the other address is for the rest of the world.

And I have a google phone number I use when I don't want to give out my personal number. It's free, and you can set it up to email any voicemails left at that number.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
(Local area code) 555-1212

True! You don't have to use your real phone number.

867-5309...speak to Jenny ...I've had a couple of store employees look at me and grin.

quote:

Originally posted by ridgerat:
And I have a google phone number I use when I don't want to give out my personal number. It's free, and you can set it up to email any voicemails left at that number.

I use this method as well, especially for online purchases. Also for the store cards. For local businesses, and especially health care providers, I give them my cell phone number (which is the only "real" number I have). I get very few voicemails from the Google Voice number, and almost all are spam anyway, which goes to show that the businesses I give it to don't prefer the phone, but rather email for communications.

When necessary like online grocery ordering I will use my correct email address but most times when it is required to get thru an order process that asks for my phone number, I've given out the same number with an incorrect last digit. I only do this when I feel that they really don't need to contact me other than thru email.

I also have my phone settings that sends unknown numbers directly to my voicemail. If they're important enough other than just phishing they can leave a voicemail and I will return the call.

If possible please support your locally owned businesses.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Yarchin:
If possible please support your locally owned businesses.

I heard of this really awesome one in NC, it's called The Pet Place.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Yarchin:
If possible please support your locally owned businesses.

I heard of this really awesome one in NC, it's called The Pet Place.

Thanks Jesse. I did mean locally for him.

When I fill out contact information and only want e-mail, I just change the last digit on the phone number. Not like they'l figure it out because my phone number is from a different state.

Just use the phone number to the Petco store that you are currently at, or make one up. Same for email.

I'm sure the poor guy back in the day, who registered the email address "123@AOL.com" or similar, got so much spam from people using it for such, it's permanently unusable.

That's how they get ya-tracking your dog food and Doritos purchases. As I see it, you have no privacy left anyway. Might as well save a few bucks. Your phone and car tracks your location. Every move you make outside is on camera, and inside most public buildings. Your computer, smart tv, and even refrigerator may spy on you. NSA monitors every electronic communication. I'm gonna sweat Petco or Kroger?