Dear Tractor Supply:

[Revolver]

[QUOTE=TBROCKS;8158202]
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.[/QUOTE]

Hey, if the kid-kicking shoe fits…

I’ve also worked retail where we had very specific scripts and couldn’t deviate much even if the questions were redundant or annoying. I don’t really care for being asked for my email or phone number (but I don’t hold it against the cashier when they ask), but my zip? I may only have 400 people in my zip code but it doesn’t really feel intrusive because it doesn’t identify ME or link anything to MY purchase history.

[amb]

“No thanks” is polite and quick and usually says everything you need to say. They can hit “declined” or whatever and move on.

Here I was thinking it was going to be a thread about why the heck can’t TSC learn to leave their bales of shavings indoors so they don’t get nasty anyway?

[JustTheTicket]

[QUOTE=TBROCKS;8158202]
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.[/QUOTE]

Based this completely unnecessary response, I think I did nail it. You care enough to bitch about it here, so I’m sure you let the cashier have it too. I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with you.

[Rallycairn]

[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;8158200]
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.

…[/QUOTE]

Warning: possible thread hijack, or at least detour:

Honestly, I wish there was a script pretty much ANYWHERE that required clerks to say THANK YOU when concluding a purchase. That is a much bigger peeve to me than the zip code thing (not to take anything away from OP on that one). “HAVE A NICE DAY” is nice to say and much appreciated, and I do get wished that a lot. HOWEVER, it is NOT an expression of thanks or appreciation for my supporting your business/place of employment.

Hand me my purchases and thank me for my business, don’t just thrust the bag at me, maybe say have a nice day, and kind of expectantly wait for ME to thank YOU.

I so rarely get thanked for my custom any more it is surprising. Like I said, wishing me a good day is friendly and a nice thing to do, but really “THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TODAY” or “THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS” or even just “THANK YOU, HAVE A NICE DAY” really seems to be just basic business sense. But I rarely hear it any more from fast food cashiers to grocery store clerks to, well, pretty much anywhere. If I were in retail again, and in charge of employees, that would be what I would be harping on – did you THANK the customer at the close of the transaction?

/hijack

[TBROCKS]

[QUOTE=JustTheTicket;8158406]
Based this completely unnecessary response, I think I did nail it. You care enough to bitch about it here, so I’m sure you let the cashier have it too. I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with you.[/QUOTE]
You’re free to skip my my posts if they make you unhappy, Mary Sunshine.

[Ruth0552]

[QUOTE=Canaqua;8157633]
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”.[/QUOTE]

It’s not worth it. I was so excited when they built one in Leominster near Walmart and Lowes, but it has been a major disappointment. Every. Single. Time. I go in there for something they are out of it. Name the item- Haystretcher, gate handles, u-post tape connectors, etc. Always out. And one time I said to them, you know, I stop by here maybe once a month to pick up a bag of haystretcher because it is on my way home, and you are always out. And they said that their computer tracks their inventory and there was no way for them to make sure more was in stock. Whatevs. I’ve given up.

When I went to college in New York Tractor Supply sold Tractors.

Here, Tractor Supply sells ATV’s and stove pellets.

And where the hell do they get cashiers with western accents? Is that a requirement for working there? I’m all like oh, where are you from? And they’re all like, oh, Winchendon. Right.

[Tom_King]

I give it to them before they ask for it, and they always say thank you. Nothing secret about my zip code.

[Appsolute]

@NoSuchPerson;8157493

This. I used to work at Tractor Supply and it’s just so they can see where their shoppers are coming from. They recently built a new store in a more urban area here (not their norm) because so many people from that part of town were driving out to the closest rural/suburban store to shop.

:yes: I give my zip code - because I have to drive close to an hour one way to get to a TS, and its a really handy store! I know a BUNCH of people that make the same drive as well - maybe if we all keep giving our zip codes we will get a location closer.

I also give my phone number to the local feed store. Why? Because I get $10 off for every $100 I spend. They have NEVER called me or used my number otherwise.

[Wonders12]

[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’s a regional thing. California requires it, but Wisconsin does not. It helps prevent credit card theft since there is no cashier to check for a signature. If you don’t want to enter it, you can pay with the cashier inside. They don’t require it.

[BEARCAT]

I went in today as I had to grab a supplement, and was not asked for my zip! So much for the script theory (or is my poor cashier going to get fired??)
And if there is really a script, it needs to re-written as “May I have your zip code please?” and not “what is your zip?”
(okay, done beating a dead horse now )

[lesyl]

You missed the dog tbrocks.

[QUOTE=TBROCKS;8158202]
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.[/QUOTE]

[Couture_TB]

I just tell them no thank you any time I am asked for zip, phone, or email

[JustTheTicket]

[QUOTE=TBROCKS;8158483]
You’re free to skip my my posts if they make you unhappy, Mary Sunshine.[/QUOTE]

Same to you, sweetheart. :rolleyes:

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Ruth0552;8158534]
It’s not worth it. I was so excited when they built one in Leominster near Walmart and Lowes, but it has been a major disappointment. Every. Single. Time. I go in there for something they are out of it. Name the item- Haystretcher, gate handles, u-post tape connectors, etc. Always out. And one time I said to them, you know, I stop by here maybe once a month to pick up a bag of haystretcher because it is on my way home, and you are always out. And they said that their computer tracks their inventory and there was no way for them to make sure more was in stock. Whatevs. I’ve given up.

When I went to college in New York Tractor Supply sold Tractors.

Here, Tractor Supply sells ATV’s and stove pellets.

And where the hell do they get cashiers with western accents? Is that a requirement for working there? I’m all like oh, where are you from? And they’re all like, oh, Winchendon. Right.[/QUOTE]

I HATE THAT TRACTOR SUPPLY! They always have everything I need except ONE item… just ONE! Usually it is a small thing too, but enough that I don’t like it. As of late it has been a lot better but as a whole I hate driving into Leominster and dealing with rt.2 BS especially when I am just on my way home from work…

Also, I find the workers there a little strange. I went there often for my old job.

In Oneonta, NY, we lived 5 miles from one and they had western or southern accents too - but grew up down the road. Say what?!

[Ruth0552]

[QUOTE=beowulf;8158662]
I HATE THAT TRACTOR SUPPLY! They always have everything I need except ONE item… just ONE! Usually it is a small thing too, but enough that I don’t like it. As of late it has been a lot better but as a whole I hate driving into Leominster and dealing with rt.2 BS especially when I am just on my way home from work…

Also, I find the workers there a little strange. I went there often for my old job.

In Oneonta, NY, we lived 5 miles from one and they had western or southern accents too - but grew up down the road. Say what?![/QUOTE]

cue the small world music… I went to college in oneonta and the tractor supply I was thinking of was on rt 7 in otego!

[Canaqua]

[QUOTE=Ruth0552;8158534]
It’s not worth it. I was so excited when they built one in Leominster near Walmart and Lowes, but it has been a major disappointment. Every. Single. Time. I go in there for something they are out of it. Name the item- Haystretcher, gate handles, u-post tape connectors, etc. Always out. And one time I said to them, you know, I stop by here maybe once a month to pick up a bag of haystretcher because it is on my way home, and you are always out. And they said that their computer tracks their inventory and there was no way for them to make sure more was in stock. Whatevs. I’ve given up.

When I went to college in New York Tractor Supply sold Tractors.

Here, Tractor Supply sells ATV’s and stove pellets.

And where the hell do they get cashiers with western accents? Is that a requirement for working there? I’m all like oh, where are you from? And they’re all like, oh, Winchendon. Right.[/QUOTE]

Ha! I’ve been to that one out near you, I have friends in Winchendon, I know what you mean ;).

I like the one in Merrimac, NH the best. They do not sell tractors, just riding lawn mowers, but out back in the “yard” they do have 3 point hitch equipment, relatively cheap. Last time I went up there, I found a drag harrow and a boom pole I wanted… they had some actual PTO driven stuff too. The old guy in the yard helped us cram those things into an aging Caddy, because we didn’t expect to actually find it and didn’t bring a truck ;).

I’ve bought grass seed and fly spray at the one in Plaistow, but they didn’t have as much actual tractor related stuff.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Ruth0552;8158677]
cue the small world music… I went to college in oneonta and the tractor supply I was thinking of was on rt 7 in otego![/QUOTE]

AHHH!! did you go to SUNY? that’s the tractor supply I’m talking about! Small world indeed… I didn’t like that one for horse stuff but it did always have what I needed.

[laskiblue]

I’ve never been asked for my zip code at any of the 3 Tractor Supply stores I’ve used around here. Huh.

[Mo_s_Mom]

TSC employee here. We are prompted for zipcodes after a credit card, and phone number after a cash receipt for demographics only. It is always OK if you don’t want to give it. Because we are “graded” on our percentage of completed zipcodes and phone numbers we are allowed to put in the local zip code or phone number. So, there should never be any pressure. Please feel free at anytime to just say no…no problem.

The the wonderful suggestion to specifically add “Thank you” to our closing comments is a great one. Thank you. I am one of the cashiers and that is my job to make you really want to come back. I will make a point to do that and pass that on to my manager and district.

[runNjump86]

[QUOTE=NoSuchPerson;8157493]
This. I used to work at Tractor Supply and it’s just so they can see where their shoppers are coming from. They recently built a new store in a more urban area here (not their norm) because so many people from that part of town were driving out to the closest rural/suburban store to shop.

And all you have to do is say “No” when they ask for your zip code. I assure you that the cashier doesn’t care even one tiny bit whether you give it to her or not.[/QUOTE]

I STILL work at TSC, and we’re a new store. We’ve never had to ask for a ZIP for demographic reasons. They are planning on building/opening another store in our area this year because of how busy we have been. We are required by our company to collect other information for certain chemicals and if a customer is buying needles and syringes. Some people complain but the vast majority realize it’s because some idiot ingested some chemical, sued somebody, and won. It’s nothing personal (unless you’re cooking meth).

If you’re so worried about your ZIP being “personal information” then perhaps you should google yourself. I will bet your address and a photo of your home come up on Google maps. Allot your “worries” to the correct place and stop grouching at a retailer who is trying to build their stores in areas that need them. It’s just a damn ZIP code.