I agree 100% with the letter writer.

I don't care what Sears' excuse is but they have no right to collect this personal information from anyone. Sears doesn't work in law enforcement, in finance or for the government - the only three areas of industry I can think of that have a right to ask for and obtain this sort of data.

If this policy is challenged in court, it will be over-turned by the judge presiding over the matter. I'm pretty confident on that.

Also please see the court case published TODAY on CNN.com regarding California ordering retailers to stop asking consumers for zip codes. If that isn't legal in CA, this policy will DEFINITELY be shot down in CA as well.

If it gets shot down in CA, Sears will probably be coerced into re-doing the policy nationwide as that would be easier than having different policies state-by-state where Sears operates.