Why is being honest such a pain?

corona · 11-07-2010, 04:37 PM

A few months ago, I bought some used car parts online. The dealer -- a big outfit -- gave me two choices. Either register as a customer, with promises of lots of good things -- or just fill in my name, address, and basic credit card info. And get my darned car parts. Minimum fuss and bother, maximum customer satisfaction.

Yesterday somebody recommended a book to me, "The Windup Girl." The author's got it available online, for just a few bucks, so do the right thing and everybody's happy, with no top-hatted, stogie-smoking, corporate middleman.

Great. Then I go to the site, which is webscription.net. I'm sick of having to "register" every time I turn around on the internet. Answer a whole bunch of questions, miss some, fill some in in the wrong format or something, do it over a bunch of times and have the machinery forget each time what I've already filled in, pick a username that's already taken and have to start all over again, get the "capcha" wrong and have to start all over again... and anyway why do they all need to know so much about me?

Why can't I just take out my credit card, or call forth my PayPal account, and be done with it? If a junkyard can do it, why can't other online retailers?

Anyway, I didn't buy the book. Too much bother, and the weather's still nice enough to go out and work on my car.

desertgrandma · 11-07-2010, 04:47 PM

Exactly.

Monique · 11-07-2010, 04:55 PM

Yeah, I'm nearly done with registering for things that want anything more than name and email.

The urge to father info for marketing is a powerful one. The more you know about your customers/prospects the more targeted your advertising/marketing can be. But, I, for one, have just about hit overload on it. At least, make all of that stuff optional.

I just want my stuff.

FatDog · 11-07-2010, 05:10 PM

I have had to install a password-manager as every job-search engine, many text-based story sites, etc., all want me to create an account with a username and password. I have over 50 separate accounts.

It IS annoying, but it is like television. Many of these websites are free, but the owners make money on the advertising (called "impressions"). But the unique visitor count is something they have to provide each month to the advertisers to prove thousands of different people saw the ad.

It IS annoying to have so many signups - but running a website that is 'free' to you and me means someone is paying for something somewhere.

I dont like it, but I do understand it.

Xanthe · 11-07-2010, 05:23 PM

If website requires registration, and I know that they don't need my name or address because I'm not buying anything or having them mail me anything, I give them a false name, a false address, and a throw-away email address. If I was walking into a store to look around, I don't have to provide personal information, and I don't see why I should have to do that for a website.

If I absolutely have to provide personal information on a website (again, one in which I'm not using a credit card where correct information is necessary) I immediately go back in and either change or delete as much information as possible. If a site asks for a DOB, I make one up. There is no way that I am giving my real name and real date of birth out to various and sundry websites.

To me, it's not a question of being honest or dishonest on my part. It's an issue of being imposed on by others; of information about me being sold off for profit without any benefit to me. I view my actions as self-protection.

corona · 11-07-2010, 05:27 PM

When you're forced to reply to an e-mail to sign up: http://10minutemail.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatDog

It IS annoying to have so many signups - but running a website that is 'free' to you and me means someone is paying for something somewhere.

Yeah, but I paid for those car parts. Still no torrents for those!

foreverjuly · 11-07-2010, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corona

When you're forced to reply to an e-mail to sign up: http://10minutemail.com

Yeah, but I paid for those car parts. Still no torrents for those!

Wow, that's really interesting. I'm so glad I found that. Thanks!

kcmay · 11-07-2010, 07:06 PM

The worst part about registering at sites is that you never know who's going to sell your info to spammers. I've been using a service called sneakemail* for several years now. I started getting porn spam directed to the email address I'd created specifically for one online vendor. I contacted that vendor and SHAMED him royally all up and down for letting my personal information fall into the hands of a spammer. The best part was being able to turn off that email address and never get email there again.

*I'm just a happy customer; I have no affiliation with sneakemail or any of its employees.

JeremyR · 11-07-2010, 07:12 PM

What I always hate is brick & mortar retailers that ask for a phone number or zip code. Radio Shack, Circuit City, even Best Buy do it sometimes.

Anyway, yeah, I know what you mean. But in ebookstores case, it's pretty useful because you can always go back and download your books (if you remember your username/password anyway).

desertgrandma · 11-07-2010, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

What I always hate is brick & mortar retailers that ask for a phone number or zip code. Radio Shack, Circuit City, even Best Buy do it sometimes.

Anyway, yeah, I know what you mean. But in ebookstores case, it's pretty useful because you can always go back and download your books (if you remember your username/password anyway).

Office max asks for zip code. I just say "no".......the sales clerks look at me as tho I"m being totally unreasonable.

RDaneel54 · 11-07-2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Office max asks for zip code. I just say "no".......the sales clerks look at me as tho I"m being totally unreasonable.

I know what you mean. There are a lot of retailers that ask for my phone number or zip code. I used to give it out, then I thought, why? So now I say "no" with a smile.

I wonder if most people think they have to give the information to buy items.

Blue Tyson · 11-07-2010, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Office max asks for zip code. I just say "no".......the sales clerks look at me as tho I"m being totally unreasonable.

Should see what happens if you give them one from the UK or Australia for example.

jgaiser · 11-07-2010, 08:31 PM

I understand and I mostly agree (I refuse to get involved with store loyalty cards), but sometimes setting up an account can be a good thing. In Baen's case, it gets you access to books you've purchased in *all* the formats that are available (Switch ereaders, download new format. Hard disk crash, download a new copy). And in all the time I've purchased books from Baen, I've never received unsolicited email from Baen or from anybody else with my Baen specific username/email address.

You're willing to hand over your credit card information, but not willing to setup a username. (And yes, I know you mentioned Paypal, but there's problems with that path also). Neither path is totally secure in all cases. Setting up accounts (MobileRead for instance) provides additional privileges/benefits that can be worthwhile.

I've learned to be cautious, but not anal about my personal information. I've been online too long to worry about my email address being on some spammers list.

toddos · 11-07-2010, 10:49 PM

Nothing wrong with store loyalty cards, if you do it right. I've got cards at QFC, Safeway, and Albertsons, and none of them have my proper information. Of course, I don't remember what phone # I gave so if I lose the card I can't get discounts, but if that ever happened I'd just fill out an app for a new card with a new fake name, address, and phone #.

SameOldStory · 11-07-2010, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corona

Why can't I just take out my credit card, or call forth my PayPal account, and be done with it? If a junkyard can do it, why can't other online retailers?

And if I had your credit card info and ordered a $2,000 car sterio with 8 inch GPS overnighted to an address where I was waiting, would you wonder how the on-line company could be so stupid?

If I downloaded hundreds of dollars worth of iTunes without registration, would you complain?

If I have to register for a web site just to see what music is on there I usually don't. But if they have something that I want then, yes, I do it.

11-07-2010, 04:37 PM	#1
corona Addict Posts: 324 Karma: 25168 Join Date: May 2010 Device: kobo	Why is being honest such a pain? A few months ago, I bought some used car parts online. The dealer -- a big outfit -- gave me two choices. Either register as a customer, with promises of lots of good things -- or just fill in my name, address, and basic credit card info. And get my darned car parts. Minimum fuss and bother, maximum customer satisfaction. Yesterday somebody recommended a book to me, "The Windup Girl." The author's got it available online, for just a few bucks, so do the right thing and everybody's happy, with no top-hatted, stogie-smoking, corporate middleman. Great. Then I go to the site, which is webscription.net. I'm sick of having to "register" every time I turn around on the internet. Answer a whole bunch of questions, miss some, fill some in in the wrong format or something, do it over a bunch of times and have the machinery forget each time what I've already filled in, pick a username that's already taken and have to start all over again, get the "capcha" wrong and have to start all over again... and anyway why do they all need to know so much about me? Why can't I just take out my credit card, or call forth my PayPal account, and be done with it? If a junkyard can do it, why can't other online retailers? Anyway, I didn't buy the book. Too much bother, and the weather's still nice enough to go out and work on my car.

11-07-2010, 05:23 PM	#5
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	If website requires registration, and I know that they don't need my name or address because I'm not buying anything or having them mail me anything, I give them a false name, a false address, and a throw-away email address. If I was walking into a store to look around, I don't have to provide personal information, and I don't see why I should have to do that for a website. If I absolutely have to provide personal information on a website (again, one in which I'm not using a credit card where correct information is necessary) I immediately go back in and either change or delete as much information as possible. If a site asks for a DOB, I make one up. There is no way that I am giving my real name and real date of birth out to various and sundry websites. To me, it's not a question of being honest or dishonest on my part. It's an issue of being imposed on by others; of information about me being sold off for profit without any benefit to me. I view my actions as self-protection. Last edited by Xanthe; 11-07-2010 at 05:26 PM.

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11-07-2010, 04:47 PM	#2
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Exactly.

11-07-2010, 04:55 PM	#3
Monique Member Posts: 24 Karma: 7198 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: none	Yeah, I'm nearly done with registering for things that want anything more than name and email. The urge to father info for marketing is a powerful one. The more you know about your customers/prospects the more targeted your advertising/marketing can be. But, I, for one, have just about hit overload on it. At least, make all of that stuff optional. I just want my stuff.

11-07-2010, 05:10 PM	#4
FatDog Witless protection Agent Posts: 290 Karma: 1002898 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	I have had to install a password-manager as every job-search engine, many text-based story sites, etc., all want me to create an account with a username and password. I have over 50 separate accounts. It IS annoying, but it is like television. Many of these websites are free, but the owners make money on the advertising (called "impressions"). But the unique visitor count is something they have to provide each month to the advertisers to prove thousands of different people saw the ad. It IS annoying to have so many signups - but running a website that is 'free' to you and me means someone is paying for something somewhere. I dont like it, but I do understand it.

11-07-2010, 07:06 PM	#8
kcmay Addict Posts: 363 Karma: 500001 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Kindle2	The worst part about registering at sites is that you never know who's going to sell your info to spammers. I've been using a service called sneakemail* for several years now. I started getting porn spam directed to the email address I'd created specifically for one online vendor. I contacted that vendor and SHAMED him royally all up and down for letting my personal information fall into the hands of a spammer. The best part was being able to turn off that email address and never get email there again. *I'm just a happy customer; I have no affiliation with sneakemail or any of its employees.

11-07-2010, 07:12 PM	#9
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	What I always hate is brick & mortar retailers that ask for a phone number or zip code. Radio Shack, Circuit City, even Best Buy do it sometimes. Anyway, yeah, I know what you mean. But in ebookstores case, it's pretty useful because you can always go back and download your books (if you remember your username/password anyway).

11-07-2010, 08:31 PM	#13
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	I understand and I mostly agree (I refuse to get involved with store loyalty cards), but sometimes setting up an account can be a good thing. In Baen's case, it gets you access to books you've purchased in all the formats that are available (Switch ereaders, download new format. Hard disk crash, download a new copy). And in all the time I've purchased books from Baen, I've never received unsolicited email from Baen or from anybody else with my Baen specific username/email address. You're willing to hand over your credit card information, but not willing to setup a username. (And yes, I know you mentioned Paypal, but there's problems with that path also). Neither path is totally secure in all cases. Setting up accounts (MobileRead for instance) provides additional privileges/benefits that can be worthwhile. I've learned to be cautious, but not anal about my personal information. I've been online too long to worry about my email address being on some spammers list.

11-07-2010, 10:49 PM	#14
toddos Guru Posts: 695 Karma: 822675 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo Aura, Nokia Lumia 920 (Freda)	Nothing wrong with store loyalty cards, if you do it right. I've got cards at QFC, Safeway, and Albertsons, and none of them have my proper information. Of course, I don't remember what phone # I gave so if I lose the card I can't get discounts, but if that ever happened I'd just fill out an app for a new card with a new fake name, address, and phone #.