Policies and procedures

Um, then wouldn't that involve you supplying your PERSONAL
INFORMATION??

You say you understand the need to prevent fraud, so I guess that I
DON'T understand why you're refusing.

I mean, I'd rather have my $106 back!

well it looks like you lost $106.99 then. if everyone else complies to
the policies and procedures that keep the store from taking a loss,
what is it that makes you so special?

Sometimes you have to show ID with a return. I know Target's return
policy, for example, clearly states that an ID MAY be required for ANY
return, even if you are not doing anything out of the ordinary.
Returning items to a store is not an automatic, if you choose not to
abide by a company's return policy, than that is your right. Just as
the company has a right to set their own return policy. As others
have said, the alternative is a "no return, period" policy.

In the future, if you are very selective about your personal
information, I suggest you familiarize yourself with a company's
return policy BEFORE you make a purchase, and specifically ask a
manager if and when you might be required to show ID. Then choose to
shop at those stores that do not require IDs for returns. It is your
responsibility to be an informed consumer.

Good for you! Its time we start standing up and challenging big
businesses and their motives. As the person below said, Law
Enforcement, Finance, and Gov't Agencies are the only groups that
should be taking your information.

Its starting to get annoying that WE are subject to THEIR terms and
conditions. Its as if WE dont matter.

Perhaps they do have honest motives like preventing fraud, but, if
their data systems become compromised and your information is stolen
and used to commit fraud against you, thats not exactly fair.

As far as im concerned, sears can have two pieces of information- My
full name, and my zip code. No DL numbers, SSN's phone numbers or full
addresses, too many opportunites for ID theft and or unwanted mailings
or phone calls from the advertising department.

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.

"I want a refund check sent to my address of the full purchase price,
$106.99. Sears may have my name & address and nothing else."

Well, then apparently you may have NO REFUND!

The information is collected so that if they need to they can verify
that you actually returned the merchandise and it's not an employee
doing fake returns.
It has nothing to do with selling your

"It is MY policy not to have personal info entered into anyone's
database, for any reason."

Then get rid of your drivers license and your Social Security card,
for starters, because having those things puts your personal info in a
database.

If you don't want to return the items to Sears and get a refund, then
you can try selling the Garmin on Ebay or Craig'slist. You can even
try giving it to someone else as a gift.

Most stores ask for your name and address when returns are made. This
is to keep track of who is making returns.

Another option for you is to ask the person who you were going to give
it to, to return it for you. That way their information is given and
not yours.

$100+ gift and the person didn't want it? Yowza.

From what I"ve read, stores keep track of this information and share
it -- through a couple of different clearinghouses -- and then they
use that info to identify people who do too many returns (then those
people are denied the ability to return at some stores, even at stores
they've never shopped at before).

I'll echo what the others have said. Sounds like you were wanting to
return outside of the normal window. Therefore, you're asking them
for special consideration. You're asking for a favor.

They aren't the ones asking for special consideration, therefore, they
don't have to play by your policies.

Sorry, if you want the refund which seems to be outside the normal
return period, you need to supply the information. There is no
"thinking outside the box" involved here. You want them to do
something "outside the box" so you need to abide by their policy,

I'm with Pepper and Nicole on this.

Two choices:
Give the information requested and get the refund.
or
Not give the information and figure out what to do with the goods.

Much the same that they can ask what they want you have the right to
not play along, refuse to answer and not get the results you desire.

BillR.

You are not providing the full story.

The only time they do get your DL number (regarding returns) is
because you either do NOT have the receipt or it is over the 90/30 day
return policy. You say it is from electronics? 30 day return policy,
which would make the last day you could return it around 1/23.

So, you are over the 30 days and they were going to do a courtesy
return/refund for you. This means you have to play by their rules,
sorry.

Also, they don't sell your information. I'm "in the system" both with
my address and DL number. I have never received any junk mail that I
can tie to Sears. What could they do with your DL number? They could
get more information from your name and address, anyway. The most they
could pull from your DL number is your birthdate, maybe.

the reason information is stored into the database is most likely to
ensure a customer isn't a "serial returner'

aka someone who buys an item to use it for a few days and then returns
it ... like they were "renting" it.



as for your personal data being in a database... um it already is.
seriously. it's public information.

http://www.spokeo.com/ ... www.zabasearch.com ... and those are just
two sites. i've seen others too.