Dear Tractor Supply:

[Canaqua]

You don’t have to give it to them. I think they use it to figure out where there might be an opportunity to open a new store. Since there is no Tractor Supply less than 45 minutes from me, I do give it to them…hoping they’ll bring one closer.

The cashiers at the Shopkos I shop at out in Wisconsin are always sorry they asked. Their system cannot accommodate the leading zeros that New England zip codes have, I tell them they don’t want my zip code, but if they try to insist at all, I’ll give it to them, then they get frustrated because they can’t enter it without it transforming into 4 digits and being too short and getting rejected.

I never give any retail stores my phone number…if they ask for it, I just say “No”.

[Epona142]

Yup…demographics. I’m glad. I got sick of only getting to stop by a TSC when I was 40 miles away in the city.

Now there is one in our little town. A delight to have.

[Rallycairn]

[QUOTE=GypsyQ;8157603]
If it’s a store I had to travel to, I give them a different zip. I don’t want them getting the idea that we need more stores in my area.

Southern States asks for a phone # because that is how they look up customers’ Farm Plan accounts. I just reply with, “I don’t have an account.”[/QUOTE]

Absolutely, I am glad someone else already pointed that out. It’s a different animal entirely – at Southern States the phone number is for calling up your account (for customers with an account), which I guess most customers have because so many of the cashiers ask for your phone number right off the bat, though some say, “Do you have an account with us?” first and then ask for the phone number.

Back to TSC, I also find the zip code query irritating, actually, so I always just say, “no thanks” and move on. Agree that the cashiers don’t really care and certainly have never insisted or anything, at TSC or any other store that asks for zip code.

P.S.: What Bearcat said. They do ask forcefully/as though there is no option. Would be better if they said, “Would you like to provide your zip code?” or some such. Love the answer, “here.”

[Ambitious_Kate]

I;ve had stores ask me this. “Zip code?” and I say “None.” That gets their attention and they look over at me “No zip code?” and I say “Not for you. I’m sure you don’t mind.” And they shrug, “Fine”. Others have pointed out, though, and its very true - they are trying to get a demographic of where people are driving from for future planning.

And it really does help with future store planning. Here’s an example.

Walmart decides they will put a superhuge store in a small town, outside of New Haven, CT, called branford. The place they choose to put it is right on the highway. Good, we all thinki, they will get people from New Haven, and then also from the other diretion down the shoreline. Except there is no way to get off the highway going west direction from the towns down the shoreline. They have to travel a mile or more past that exit, get off, cross the highway and get back on and come back to the easterly exit to get off and come to walmart. Initially, Walmart had promised the town they would enlarge intersections and put a new exit in for the west-coming traffic. Originally there was not exit there because it was a spot where years ago there were tolls, so no way to get off the highway there.

Today, Walmart used its demographics and decided they don’t serve enough of the people from down the shoreline to justify re-working the exit. There is no entrance onto the highway, either from this walmart, for people going back home down the shoreline. YOu must travel 2 miles down route 1 to get on the highway again, which on weekends is nasty traffic.

So people really don’t come there from the shoreline. But walmart doesn’t care, because they cut the shoreline people out of their demographic. The get those numbers from folks who supply them with zip codes, as well as by doing traffic counts and that sort of thing.

Zip codes ain’t no big deal. I just hate being asked them, it feels personal and I feel like its no one’s business. but I understand it.

[saultgirl]

Here in Ontario I’m required to provide my address and phone number to purchase livestock feed. They say it’s because they need to be able to contact me in case of a recall.

[SmartAlex]

[QUOTE=BEARCAT;8157619]
I just tell them “here” and let them figure it out.[/QUOTE]

Some of them may not be able to. :lol:

Hey I say we organize a CoTH experiment. Let’s all give them the zip for Guam and see if we can get one built there.

[Dr_Doolittle]

A bit OT, but why does every gas station I stop at insist that I punch in my zip code before they will turn the pump on? This is always after I’ve swiped my CC or DC.

I can see (based on the above responses to the OP) why TSC–or other retail stores–might use this information, but gas stations???

Doesn’t make sense, and always annoys me since A) it’s just another thing I have to do which delays me from “getting on my way”, and B) it’s not “optional.”

[arabhorse2]

Never had to do that, DD. Maybe it’s the area in which you live?

[GoForAGallop]

[QUOTE=Dr. Doolittle;8157834]
A bit OT, but why does every gas station I stop at insist that I punch in my zip code before they will turn the pump on? This is always after I’ve swiped my CC or DC.

I can see (based on the above responses to the OP) why TSC–or other retail stores–might use this information, but gas stations???

Doesn’t make sense, and always annoys me since A) it’s just another thing I have to do which delays me from “getting on my way”, and B) it’s not “optional.”[/QUOTE]

It is to validate your credit card.

That is not a zip code I’d fake, because it will 1) decline your purchase and 2) likely send a flag to your credit card company.

I cannot imagine being upset about a fraud-reducing method, since ultimately everyone pays for credit card fraud. It also helps to keep your own specific accounts safe, since nobody can pull your zip code when they are scamming credit card numbers in a whole variety of ways.

[charismaryllis]

i give the cashiers the zip of the local PO–it’s different than mine, but gives them roughly the same info.

[ReSomething]

They are still asking at mine and they’ve saturated the local markets, each one has a TSC - but wait, maybe they are thinking about the Lexington market now.

I just start to rattle off my phone number because it is attached to my tax free farm account and I really do like not to have to pay taxes on the hardscape items that serve for the small stock and other business.

[JustTheTicket]

I don’t work at Tractor Supply, but I do work in retail, and we have to ask for phone number and email. For us, its so we can tie your information to your credit card. I agree, its obnoxious, but I have to do it or I will lose my job. I live in a no call state though, so we won’t/can’t call you, and the email gets you lots of coupons. If it bothers people, they can decline to give any info.

I’m going to venture that you’re one of the people I hate dealing with, you gets super defensive/mean when I ask (nicely!) for that info. The screen always pops up regardless of how you pay. We have to ask. It takes 3 seconds for you to say “no, not today.”

[Luseride]

I just tell them no. The cashier is required to ask.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

Well, damn. I wish they’d told me it was for demographics. I always assumed it was to validate my credit card, the way online retailers and gas pumps do. My zip for my card is my PO Box, which is in the same town as the TSC store. My home zip is a 45 minute drive away. I’d love to have a closer TSC! Although I kind of doubt they’ll put one way out in the swamp where I live, no matter what their demographics say.

[gaitedincali]

[QUOTE=BEARCAT;8157619]
I agree that I don’t like the way they ask as it is a bit forceful. I too would prefer if they phrased it different, instead of “what is your zip code.”
I just tell them “here” and let them figure it out. (And yes, I live 5 minutes away from a brand new TSC.)[/QUOTE]

I had someone do the “here” trick when I was filling out their address for a new account.

I was subbing in at a store 60 miles away from my house in a county I’ve only set foot in once in my life. No, I didn’t know what the zip code for “here” was. I asked for clarification and he gave me all the information very loudly and s l o w l y like I was a mentally impaired toddler.

This post just reminded me of how annoyed I was by that guy.

[BEARCAT]

Except in the case of TSC, it wouldn’t matter since the info is not mandatory
Again, the question “What is your zip?” does not readily offer the choice of declining to answer.
Also, I almost always have the same cashier, who is very nice and has helped me load pallets on my truck, done rain checks for me etc, etc, so I do sorta expect him to recognize me as we’ve had conversations about me living just behind where the store is located. I have also ridden my horse to the store, which I am pretty sure not many people do.

[TBROCKS]

[QUOTE=Dr. Doolittle;8157834]
A bit OT, but why does every gas station I stop at insist that I punch in my zip code before they will turn the pump on? This is always after I’ve swiped my CC or DC.

I can see (based on the above responses to the OP) why TSC–or other retail stores–might use this information, but gas stations???

Doesn’t make sense, and always annoys me since A) it’s just another thing I have to do which delays me from “getting on my way”, and B) it’s not “optional.”[/QUOTE]

They do that here when you pay at the pump with credit vs debit. I think it’s a theft deterrent.

[GoForAGallop]

[QUOTE=BEARCAT;8158183]
Except in the case of TSC, it wouldn’t matter since the info is not mandatory
Again, the question “What is your zip?” does not readily offer the choice of declining to answer.
Also, I almost always have the same cashier, who is very nice and has helped me load pallets on my truck, done rain checks for me etc, etc, so I do sorta expect him to recognize me as we’ve had conversations about me living just behind where the store is located. I have also ridden my horse to the store, which I am pretty sure not many people do.[/QUOTE]

He may remember you, but that still doesn’t mean that his job doesn’t depend on him asking for your zip code.

I don’t know how much corporate retail work you’ve done, but there is a script that cashiers are REQUIRED to stick to, and if you are caught not doing so, you get a warning. Multiple warnings is a firing. And the managers really don’t care about the “but she’s a regular!” excuse.

I dunno. First world problem to be kvetching about having to say “no thanks” to a cashier every few weeks. I think the cashiers at mine usually just say “Can I get your zip?” And not in a particularly forceful or demanding way…

My farmer’s co-op asks “Can I get your last name?” as the first question, since 85% of the folks who walk through the doors have accounts. Can only imagine how much that might freak out some of the folks on this thread. :lol:

[TBROCKS]

[QUOTE=JustTheTicket;8157913]

I’m going to venture that you’re one of the people I hate dealing with, you gets super defensive/mean when I ask (nicely!) for that info. The screen always pops up regardless of how you pay. We have to ask. It takes 3 seconds for you to say “no, not today.”[/QUOTE]

Yes that’s me. I go in with an angry attitude, and I let everyone know it. If there’s a small child in the way, I kick 'em. When the cashier asks me for that zip code, I throw my purchases at them (even though I paid for them, who cares I’M MAD!) and storm out. You totally nailed it.

[roseymare]

I suspect they can also tie it into inventory for those of you who think that the area is swamped with TSC. The stores are relativley small so if they can stock what people in their store buy than that is a better use of retail space.

So in other words they can throw out the “foreign” zip codes and keep the local ones to see what the store sells locally.