Local area code + 8675309. Used it since the early 00's. As an added bonus, many places have discounts set up for that number.

Smug achually-voice

"It's pronounced Yawn"

I think Target does that also. They simply gather info about a theft until the dollar value is up to a certain amount and then they detain you.

Are you an advertiser? Because if so, yes, I agree, I am in fact Rick.

In all likelihood, her boss gripes at her for not getting name and number from every customer, and his boss gives him shit for the same thing.

I worked at AutoZone for 8 years and our DM and up would hound us constantly about getting people's phone numbers and emails and act like their weren't people who were never going to give that information.

The worst part was that there was no incentive to annoy people like that for the cashier other than avoiding getting bitched out by the manager.

I give you the money. You give me the donut. End of transaction!

It's not for advertisements. It's for...uhh...checks notes personalizing your experience. Pinky promise

WTF

I’ve told people “I don’t have a phone number” on autopilot because that’s what I always say when they ask for me email address. I’m sure no one believes I don’t have an email but I KNOW they don’t believe me when I say I don’t even have a phone number. No one has ever pushed back through they’re like oh… uh, ok? Then I just get on with the transaction. It’s not like they won’t sell it to you if you don’t have an email or phone number. I’ve never felt the need to fully decline giving a name I just give them a random name if need be. I think you handled it just fine, if you don’t have to and you don’t want to, don’t! Exercise your agency!

If only there was a book on the topic of the dangers of mass surveillance...

Any recommendations?

Why do places have discounts for that number? Guessing you're american, I have no clue what that number is.

Its Jenny's number

I use simple names for coffee. Friends do the same. Something easy to hear and understand like Jay, Fay, Lee, etc. They never ask for spelling or ask you to repeat it and it's easy to hear when crowded.

It was a popular song in the 80's.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/867-5309/Jenny

??

Thanks. Why would that give a discount, though?

Elwood Blues, 1060 W. Addison St.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/867-5309/Jenny

So, after that song rose in popularity, phone companies de-registered it entirely. Because it's a number that no-one has, my guess is that some stores/businesses use it as shorthand to put a discount under for something like employee discount or for "we messed up, here's a discount" discounts.

Oooh, not the store you're giving the number to, but you can buy that number from a carrier as a dummy number for a discount because no one wants it due to prank calls?

oh, that makes sense

Lots of places have Reward Points for handing over your phone number. I've used Jenny's number for years to get discounted gas. Usually only $0.03 but one time I got $0.40 off per gallon.. been chasing that dragon ever since, lol.

I local plumber chain uses that number. YEARS ago they used to run a spot where they recited it with the same cadence of the song, but w/o the notes.

Agreed. As I said in another comment, I was just having a bad day and may have been a bit confrontational. My bad

That's part of the system, though. Corporate doesn't telegraph that they'll do that as you walk into the store because that gives you a chance to take your business elsewhere, and they're banking on basic human decency during the checkout phase to get that sweet, sweet fraction of a penny a fake name and phone number will gain them. I've read the stories about people being fired for not signing enough shoppers up for credit cards, so I don't put anything past the corporations.

All good. A reminder for myself as much as others.

Interesting.

Apparently it's been used for other promotional things like a cancer helpline. I think that's pretty cool.

picking up pool filters and other supplies

They may have one of those magic regulations nobody talks about where they have to report that kind of thing. Some pool chemicals are pretty reactive and are purchased in large quantities.

I once went into a chase bank to get a $50 bill broken into 3 tens and 1 twenty, and they would not do it unless I showed them id.

I just left and got it broken elsewhere.

Never provide information you do not have to.

Order for Nunya Bizniss, phone# 123 456 7890

You can give them a fake name, or you can dead ass stare at them until they feel awkward and continue the transaction. But there's definitely no reason they need that info.

Companies want you to associate your transactions with a phone number so they have data on who is buying what. For instance if you go to Safeway it's common that the price of ice cream will be twice as expensive if you haven't registered a phone number with them. But you can give someone else's phone number that has already been registered and that will also work, or register a fake number, a number lots of people would have thought of is likely to have already been registered. At least that was how it worked last time I checked, that was a long time ago.

Because so many people use it that it racks up tons of loyalty points.

I hate that's where the hyphen is, my brain is strongly telling me it should be 8675-309

Mr Tube Acker

I just flat out say no thank you - most clerks couldn’t care less

All the major chain stores have loyalty programs. They're really for tracking and marketing purposes, but they give discounts to incentivize participation. Most people just use the fake number for the regular discount.

But, these programs they also give rewards after a certain amount of spending. Rewards like 10c of per gallon of gasoline, or a free candy bar. With enough people using the same number for the discount, there are often a lot of rewards built up just waiting to be claimed.

You as a matter of course pronounce the last digit “ni-e-yine”, do you not? De rigueur, I would think.

That's such a cop-out. Low-level oppressors throughout history have just been "doing their jobs" too, but that doesn't make them any less complicit.

this is scrubs inspired. isn't it.

If that were the case then they'd be demanding actual ID, not taking your word for it.

Double espresso for Dr Tube Acula!

I now use 8675309 because I'm old and the people taking my "info" don't catch on or don't give a fuck.

I also give the name "Nünya" and tell them its French

Tommy Tutone had a hit in the '80s called 8-6-7-5-3-0-9, "Jenny".

Any gen-x can sing it with no effort.

I'm not American; just gen-x.

I used to say ridiculous names to acknowledge their policy and politely rebel against it. It's fun when the hostess calls out "Batman, party of 4"

Can you go with Jean-Luc Picard? captain@enterprise.sf

I use the same name that I use here.

... Some of the comments here are ridiculous. People, I get this is annoying, but some of you are acting like there salespeople are "in on it." Just make up a name.

it's the Jenny discount