 
AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
join:2001-05-12
ß | Sears where America gets spyware that is all. | |
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FicmanS
Premium
join:2005-01-11
Brownsburg, IN
clubs: | Re: Sears where America gets spyware Looks like a Duck
Quacks like a Duck
Must be a Duck... | |
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Noah Vail
Serial Thread Killer
Premium
join:2004-12-10
Lorton, VA
 ·Verizon BroadbandA..
 ·VoicePulse
| A Platypus has a bill and webbed feet. But I don't know if it quacks. Mustbe I have a bit more to learn. I did learn this though.
..."Second, it is essential to understand that there are two groups of members in the My SHC Community, those that only fill out a profile and simply participate (the vast majority), and those that are invited and explicitly agree to have their Internet browsing tracked (a small sub-sample). The sub-sample is small by design, and the data that is collected is aggregated, anonymous and used by Sears Holdings to improve our customers' Internet experience and help guide the future development of Community.
This distinction is crucial because Mr. Googins' suggests that all members are tracked - they are not. To clarify, Mr. Googins states that "Every website visitor that joins the Sears community installs software that acts as a proxy to every web transaction made on the compromised computer." This statement is absolutely, incorrect. In actual fact, it is impossible to become a tracked member of the My SHC Community by simply joining through the website link or general e-mail. Becoming a tracked member of the My SHC Community is by invitation only. Invitations are generated randomly and kept to a minimum by design...."
There is quite a bit more at
»community.ca.com/blogs/securitya···ity.aspx
I'm not sure if this is the latest, but it appears we may not have all the facts yet.
I'm curious if Sears can redeem itself.
NV
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My children used to Speak in Tongues. But after years of Speech Therapy, English is their First Language! | |
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Beth64
Time Is An Illusion. Lunchtime Doubly So
join:2003-11-17
Brooklyn, NY
 ·Optimum Online
| Re: A Platypus has a bill and webbed feet. Hi!
You're right, there is quite a lot more at »community.ca.com/blogs/securitya···are.aspx , like this little comment from January 3rd, 2008. I quote;
"OMG. It gets worse! check out a sears site managemyhome.com. Once you register, you can look up major purchases for ANY address. All you need to do is enter a name address and phone number and if the person attached to that info has made a major purchase at sears you get that info!! They have no real controls in place -- you have to enter an onscreen code and they say that keeps your info safe, but that does not stop someone from entering other people’s contact info to see their product purchases. This brings casing someone's house to a whole new level.
I contacted the compliance e-mail listed on the site, and never got a response, which confirms that Sears does not care about the customer or customer privacy. If anyone has any ideas about how to get in contact with someone over there that might care about customer privacy, I'd welcome the ideas. That service should really be off the site. What do you have to say to that Rob?
January 3, 2008 11:09 AM "
Any brave souls who aren't afraid to clean a bit of malware from their PCs care to try this one for themselves? 
--
Cheers,
Elizabeth.
"Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." ~Douglas Adams (3/11/1952-5/11/2001 - Rest In Peace, Celestial Hitchhiker.)
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Noah Vail
Serial Thread Killer
Premium
join:2004-12-10
Lorton, VA
·Verizon BroadbandA..
·VoicePulse
| That IS a problem. Unless I'm missing something, it's a different problem.
This isn't directly connected with the spyware thing, unless they're both under an umbrella of gross incompetence.
***update
I did NOT read the blog in it's entirety as I believed I had.
Here's our major players:
1: Rob Harles, the Senior VP for Sears' SHC
2: Benjamin Googins senior researcher for CA Anti-Spyware
The history, all have read by now.
On 12/22 RH publishes a retort - I posted a portion above.
BG counters by posting screenshots that disprove all of RH's posting, point-by-point.
I find a response by RH on 12/29 at this link...
»community.ca.com/blogs/securitya···ity.aspx
RH largely restates his previous postings, but offers no evidence to any of his claims.
BG responds by illuminating said lack of evidence.
The tally as of today
CA-Blog - Benjamin Googins - 3 points
Sears SHC - Rob Harles - 1 point, but suffers 1 point penalty for unsubstantiated claims.
Rob Harles appears to have the ball, but is refusing to make a run with it or even make any plays at this point.
It's not looking good for Sears.
And - yuk - I appear to be praising CA in some minor way.
NV
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My children used to Speak in Tongues. But after years of Speech Therapy, English is their First Language! | |
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Vamp9190
join:2002-02-11
Chantilly, VA | Re: A Platypus has a bill and webbed feet. That is scary...
And the really sad part is that some thief has probably used that to break in and rob a person's house.
Sears needs to get a handle on this....fast. They are playing with fire. | |
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swhx7
Premium
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by AnonProxy  :Sears where America gets spyware
It's too bad, because it used to be where America got quality tools, appliances and household items.
Now apparently the investors' imperative for increasing profits or share value forces companies to resort to these customer-squeezing tricks, which only end up squandering the good will they've built. | |
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S_engineer
join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL
| Re: Sears where America gets spyware Remember....this is not your fathers Sears...this is KMART!
You can see it in the stores....you can see it in their service....the only thing thats missing is the blue light special. Is this the Blue Light trojan?
How SS Kressge made it to Sears is beyond me!
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Let's pluck 'im and see if he's ripe!"
- Larry (MEN IN BLACK, 1934) | |
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oldduke
join:2001-06-15
Gulf Breeze, FL
 ·AT&T Southeast
| Re: Sears where America gets spyware S_engineer: You are so right! This isn't the Sears I grew up with. The last time I shopped Sears was in 1991 for major appliances and other stuff after moving to a new state. Everything -- EVERYTHING!! -- went back, but only after I put the refrigerator in the street with a SEARS CRAP sign on it (got their attention). A colleague got even worse treatment; not only was his merchandise crap, but they tore up his floors and walls moving it in, then out of his house. Can I believe they do slippery stuff -- you bet! High pressure; bait and switch; sell and forget; incompetent everybody. No way I would buy computer stuff there, or use Sears credit, or Sears sponsored credit card. I really don't know how Sears stays in business.
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Cogito ergo sum, I think. | |
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| | | Ulmo
join:2005-09-22
San Jose, CA
·Comcast
·SONIC.NET
| I thought Sears had totally lost it corporately when they closed their mail order catalog. That was the stupidest thing any company ever did. They had a slam-dunk no-change no-implementation no-cost successful Internet business model ready to just put online with only 1 to 2 USA programmers (maybe $300K/yr) and NO investment, NO backend changes, NO anything to make it work, but instead, they just said "future, no, no way, not here at this corporation. We dona wana no Internet! Our future is Asians and Mexicans!" So, they went the way of the 2 cent store rather than keep their starting quality.
What I don't know is whether or not they had already gutted their mail order product irreperably, so that it was not able to be a successful product if they did put it online. Everything else was already in place to just put into the Internet, so even if it was irreperably damaged, they could have at least used it as a jump-start, which they didn't. | |
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AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
join:2001-05-12
ß | Sears still has some great hand tools. | |
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ARGONAUT
got ping?
join:2006-01-24
New Albany, IN | Get seared at Sears... I went to Sears and all I got was Spyware for 10% off. | |
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N3OGH
They both suck, we're so screwed
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs | Re: Get seared at Sears... And free financing if you use your Sears card! | |
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| | backness
join:2005-07-08
K2P OW2 | Re: Get seared at Sears... at a a low rate of 40% | |
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swhx7
Premium
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia
·RoadRunner Cable
| Well I got more than that.
I went to buy a wrench, and accepted a Sears card to get a discount at the register. After the main part of the application form, there was an additional, optional part about a "buyer program" or some such thing. I specifically opted out of that.
But they started billing me for it anyway. It took several calls and letters to make them understand that the bills were wrong, and no, I wasn't cancelling - I had never agreed to join in the first place, and had specifcally rejected that offer.
I cancelled the card soon after.
I think consumers would appreciate a store with simply good value and without the exploitive tricks, but corporations don't seem to "get" that. | |
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MattE
Obama '08
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC |  Ironically
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cableties
Premium
join:2005-01-27
Levittown, PA | Re: Ironically HEY! Speak for yourself! I like Craftsman tools...but they aren't getting me to install anything on my computer. | |
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dsldude08
join:2008-01-03
La Crosse, WI | Re: Ironically Hey now, nothing wrong with DUCK tape. | |
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evilghost
join:2003-11-22
Springville, AL | Another reason to use IE Three cheers for Internet Explorer users. | |
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wruckman
Ruckman.net
join:2007-10-25
Northwood, OH | Unacceptable! I will not be going to Sears ever again. Period. We not only have to worry about being spied on by our own government but now Sears! Ridiculous! | |
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AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
join:2001-05-12
ß | Re: Unacceptable! Yeah...ohhh my god, not Sears! | |
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wruckman
Ruckman.net
join:2007-10-25
Northwood, OH | Re: Unacceptable! Just my way of making them pay. I can shop anywhere. I don't need Sears for anything. They can take their spyware and drown in it. | |
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dadkins
Living on a Blu Planet
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA | CRAFTSMAN? I wonder...  | |
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| alalper
Premium
join:2000-08-20
Philadelphia, PA
| Re: CRAFTSMAN? said by dadkins :I wonder... dadkins, have you been buying tools that spy on you? | |
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newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD
·Vonage
| Bye Bye Sears I've informed Sears that I'll be canceling my Sears MasterCard immediately and that henceforth I'll be paying my outstanding balance through my bank, instead of online thru their website, since I cannot trust them to NOT install spyware or otherwise intrude on my privacy while visiting their website.
--
Ö¿Ö
The Rules of Spam | Maryland's Newest Anti-Spam Law
Where are we going? And what's with the hand basket? | |
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| whatevrzclvr
join:2005-11-16
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Re: Bye Bye Sears Then you've just punished CitiBank since Sears sold the whole credit portfoilio to them 3 years ago and has had little to do with it since.
Second thought, good for you. Citibank deserves a little punishing! | |
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Ammler
Premium
join:2005-04-19
Pittsburgh, PA | I blame K mart I blame K mart for all the ills Sears has had since the merger takeover.
Mr. Roebucks has had to be spinning in his grave ever since. | |
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Jigsaw
Stardust We Are
Premium
join:2000-10-21
Cleveland, OH
·Cox HSI
edit:
January 3rd, @01:09PM
| Re: I blame K mart said by Ammler :I blame K mart for all the ills Sears has had since the merger takeover. Mr. Roebucks has had to be spinning in his grave ever since. Yea its kind of funny how k mart files for bankruptcy washing away millions and millions of dept owed to people then comes out of bankruptcy and buys sears.IMHO that's completely wrong and why i don't shop at k mart or sears at all.
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"It's called the American dream because you have to be asleep to believe it."-George Carlin
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ROCINANTE 2112
Original Member 007
join:1999-06-29
Hartsdale, NY
clubs: | Re: I blame K mart The purchase (or merger) probably involved stock, not cash.
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CRUNCH THIS! | |
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| | Ulmo
join:2005-09-22
San Jose, CA
·Comcast
·SONIC.NET
| said by Jigsaw :Yea its kind of funny how k mart files for bankruptcy washing away millions and millions of dept owed to people then comes out of bankruptcy and buys sears. I forgot or did not know K-Mart bought Sears.
I wasted my typing on my last message then: if K-Mart owns Sears, who cares about the quality of Sears? It's a no-no to shop there now. (My family never shopped at K-Mart since it was a super-stigma to do so, and for good reason. Now, Sears must support that stigma.) | |
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| | Ammler
Premium
join:2005-04-19
Pittsburgh, PA
| I truly believe K mart just wanted to get their greedy hands on the Kenmore and Craftsman names.
Craftsman tools is all that is in my local K mart now.
I usually buy all my new tires at Sears auto centers. Now I am not so sure. The last set that I bought, back in December 2005, were not prorated because the new "policy" was they would only prorate at 2/32 or lower. My tires were at 3/32.
I will need new tires again for next winter, and I'm not so sure Sears is going to get the business at this point in time. Obviously, this is just another mark against them. | |
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patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
| hedge fund Sears is nothing but a hedge fund now according to the Washington Post. I agree, it will sell anything to make a quick buck. Keeping a store/brand alive isn't important to the corporation, it just sounds like a better business plan than "investment firm" to investors. | |
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jgkolt
Premium
join:2004-02-21
Lakewood, OH
clubs: | boo And i just purchased a microwave from them. | |
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| firewire9999
join:2004-07-11
Livonia, MI | Re: boo And now it will be sending everything back to the sears spyware site on what you cook.
Lucky you will get all kinds of emails on "mircowave recipes" and "coupons and great offers" | |
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jgkolt
Premium
join:2004-02-21
Lakewood, OH
clubs: | or you can just buy it in store like i did | |
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NightHawke
join:2002-02-28
Rockport, TX | Blocklist time. Who's got the addresses for the source IP of the 'ware? | |
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Beth64
Time Is An Illusion. Lunchtime Doubly So
join:2003-11-17
Brooklyn, NY
·Optimum Online
| Re: Blocklist time. According to Benjamin Googins,
"All of my data was actually transmitted to the domain oss-content.securestudies.com (IP address: 209.247.230.166). If you look at the figure of data captured using Wireshark, you will see a simple web transaction I made via Google. After the Google page was requested and loaded, a duplicate copy was sent to oss-content.securestudies.com. "
... and ...
"Sears makes the following statement: “The personal information that you give myshccommunity.com when you register as well as any personal information that you give during the completion of a communication is stored in a confidential database owned by myshccommunity.com and is never delivered to a client. myshccommunity.com never sells your personal information to any company for any reason.” When I registered I looked over my network traffic, and all form data (name, address, etc), is sent to 66.119.41.87. This IP address is registered to comScore. This is almost laughable (in a scary privacy violation sort of way). I enter data on a page branded Sears, saying my data is stored on a secure database owned by Sears, but when I submit the data it is sent to comScore, a third party market research company."
--
Cheers,
Elizabeth.
"Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." ~Douglas Adams (3/11/1952-5/11/2001 - Rest In Peace, Celestial Hitchhiker.)
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newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD
·Vonage
| Re: Blocklist time. said by Beth64 :According to Benjamin Googins, "All of my data was actually transmitted to the domain oss-content.securestudies.com (IP address: 209.247.230.166). If you look at the figure of data captured using Wireshark, you will see a simple web transaction I made via Google. After the Google page was requested and loaded, a duplicate copy was sent to oss-content.securestudies.com. " 01/03/08 14:03:02 whois securestudies.com@whois.geektools.com
whois -h whois.geektools.com securestudies.com ...
GeekTools Whois Proxy v5.0.4 Ready.
Registrant:
TMRG, INC.
11465 SUNSET HILLS RD
RESTON, VA 20190
US
Domain Name: SECURESTUDIES.COM
Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
TMRG, INC. domain-admin@tmrginc.com
11465 Sunset Hills Rd
Ste 200
Reston, VA 20190
US
703-438-2037 fax: 512-727-3144
Record expires on 17-Aug-2008.
Record created on 17-Aug-2005.
Database last updated on 3-Jan-2008 14:03:07 EST.
Domain servers in listed order:
DNS01.IAD.COMSCORE.COM 66.119.41.13
DNS01.ORD.COMSCORE.COM 4.79.208.231
DNS02.IAD.COMSCORE.COM 66.119.41.25
DNS02.ORD.COMSCORE.COM 4.79.208.232
--
Ö¿Ö
The Rules of Spam | Maryland's Newest Anti-Spam Law
Where are we going? And what's with the hand basket? | |
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Beth64
Time Is An Illusion. Lunchtime Doubly So
join:2003-11-17
Brooklyn, NY
·Optimum Online
edit:
January 3rd, @01:43PM
| Ugh Why can't they simply stick to selling good products at a fair price.
This is a stupid, no win situation for Sears. The execs who went for this and are actually defending it are idiots.
We're not living in the mid 90's anymore. Computers are in every home. I challenge the contention that the average person will be oblivious to this. In my experience, almost every family has someone who's computer literate. They find out and tell their folks, who tell their friends and so on.
If K-Mart wishes to destroy the Sears brand name and trademark, far be it from me to say otherwise.
--
Cheers,
Elizabeth.
"Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." ~Douglas Adams (3/11/1952-5/11/2001 - Rest In Peace, Celestial Hitchhiker.)
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GlobalMind
Domino Dude, POWER Systems Guy
Premium
join:2001-10-29
Hollywood, FL
edit:
January 3rd, @02:43PM
| Yea but... is that spyware guaranteed forever?
Honestly I don't need to join their community but I'll likely still buy my Craftsman hand tools.
(edit for sp.) | |
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| patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
| Re: Yea but... said by GlobalMind :is that spyware guaranteed forever? Honestly I don't need to join their community but I'll likely still by my Craftsman hand tools. Guarantee only works on hand tools, nothing with a cord, or moves on its own. Once had a screw drivers handle shatter, it was replaced. | |
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nitecourt
join:2004-10-19
Erie, PA
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by GlobalMind :is that spyware guaranteed forever? No but if you buy a 5 year service agreement you'll be able to schedule a yearly maintenance checkup and we'll come and make sure the spyware is still working properly. | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ | $10 so is it a giftcard or cold hard cash? | |
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tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI | I have a solution Hey people.. instead of crying about it.. just don't shop at sears. Goes a lot further then installing anti spyware.  | |
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| patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
| Re: hmmm.... Funny Sears doesn't even know its own brand. "MY SHC"??? SHC=Sears Holding Company
Does ATT say on TV "ATT Knowledge Ventures"? Will Shell write on all its gas stations in huge letters "Royal Dutch Shell Public Limited Company"? Are you going to buy a "Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd." TV, or a Panasonic? Someone needs to be fired. Unless SHC truly doesn't care about its brands, and is trying to become its own personality cult now. | |
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spamd
Premium
join:2001-04-22
Rockford, IL
·Insight Communicat..
| said by La Luna : As questionable as the idea it may be, they aren't sneaking anything onto your system. No, they are just sneaking it OUT.
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When everything is coming your way, you are in the wrong lane. | |
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OceanaJones
join:2004-10-18
Suffolk, VA
| Steer clear of SEARS I am currently trying to make a purchase from Sears.com. I figured Sears being as big a outfit as they are, I was ok to make this purchase. I subsequently check them out at Reseller Ratings.com and as it turns out, they have a very shoddy record with loads of negative responses. I got the email asking did I want to join their "user input" forum to help them make their on-line experience better. I was going to sign up for it too until I read the "Terms of Service" agreement. One would have to be a absolute fool to sign up after reading this. I immediately junked my invitation and am hoping my purchase goes through as promised. ALWAYS READ before you AGREE! None of the customer forums were even up and running at the time. They were "coming soon"! | |
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capecoddah
join:2005-03-18
Yarmouth Port, MA
| Sell Sell Sell !!! Cashiers at Sears are TOLD to offer a credit card with ever purchase. At least they did a couple years ago when my MOM worked there.
I can't stand when I pay cash for something at a large retailer and they ask for my address and phone number etc. I tell them I'm homeless. The late Joeseph Ramone must get alot of junk mail at the former C.B.G.B.s club too  | |
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| Thespis
join:2004-08-03
Keller, TX | I hate when they ask for address/phone number. I usually either tell them no or give them 1313 Mockingbird Ln. (depending on my mood). | |
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| old_wiz_60
join:2005-06-03
Bedford, MA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| Lots of places offer credit cards with every purchase. However, I fail to see what legal justification they have for demanding you address and phone number for a cash transaction. I would think the best thing would be to be calm, polite, refuse, and demand to speak to a manager. After all, all U.S. paper money says "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private." I often pay with cash and I've never had anyone ask for address/phone, but I've never tried it at Sears. Some places ask for phone number and/or zip code, and if you decline they never complain. | |
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Spyware By Sears
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