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SSN Required To Buy Palm Pre
UltraOne writes "Sprint requires your Social Security number in order to run a credit check before they will allow you to open an account, according to a store manager in Silver Spring, MD. Since Sprint is the exclusive carrier for the Palm Pre, if you are not willing to provide an SSN, you can't buy this product.
I believe a full credit check for this level of consumer purchase is a clear example of overkill. I have supplied an SSN when buying a house and renting an apartment, but never for any other consumer purchase. I have purchased my cars with cash so far, so I don't have first-hand experience, but a car loan also seems to be an appropriate place to require an SSN for a credit check. At the very least, Sprint should have an alternative for people who don't want to give out their SSN. I also found the entire experience a powerful argument against exclusive license agreements." Read below for details of this reader's experience.
I was eager to purchase the Palm Pre to replace my aging Zire 72s, and also consolidate my PDA and mobile phone into a single device. Since reviews have generally been positive, I headed to my local Sprint store (8501 Fenton Street, Silver Spring, MD). My current mobile carrier is Verizon, so I also needed to set up service with Sprint.
The store had the Pre in stock, and the sale proceeded smoothly until the sales associate asked me for my Social Security number. He had already verified my identity with a driver's license. When I asked why the SSN was needed, he said it was to run a credit check. I offered a credit card instead, but he said that the SSN was required.
I asked to speak to the manager, who was a pleasant young woman, but not able to resolve the problem. She confirmed that Sprint required the SSN to run a credit check (through a credit bureau) before opening an account. I told her that I understood Sprint had an interest in making sure that I could pay for the service (I was planning to get the $70/month Everything Data 450 plan), but that I was concerned about identity theft and privacy. I offered several other options, including a check on my credit card limit, which is an order of magnitude greater than the combined price of the phone and two-year contract; placing the maximum deposit that Sprint requires from people with poor credit ($500); or pre-paying the entire two-year plan on the spot. None of these was acceptable options, so Sprint lost the sale.
I was eager to purchase the Palm Pre to replace my aging Zire 72s, and also consolidate my PDA and mobile phone into a single device. Since reviews have generally been positive, I headed to my local Sprint store (8501 Fenton Street, Silver Spring, MD). My current mobile carrier is Verizon, so I also needed to set up service with Sprint.
The store had the Pre in stock, and the sale proceeded smoothly until the sales associate asked me for my Social Security number. He had already verified my identity with a driver's license. When I asked why the SSN was needed, he said it was to run a credit check. I offered a credit card instead, but he said that the SSN was required.
I asked to speak to the manager, who was a pleasant young woman, but not able to resolve the problem. She confirmed that Sprint required the SSN to run a credit check (through a credit bureau) before opening an account. I told her that I understood Sprint had an interest in making sure that I could pay for the service (I was planning to get the $70/month Everything Data 450 plan), but that I was concerned about identity theft and privacy. I offered several other options, including a check on my credit card limit, which is an order of magnitude greater than the combined price of the phone and two-year contract; placing the maximum deposit that Sprint requires from people with poor credit ($500); or pre-paying the entire two-year plan on the spot. None of these was acceptable options, so Sprint lost the sale.
First - never call your new phone an 'iPhone killer'.
Second - if you're going to make an iPhone botherer, make sure it's easily accessible to the masses. All that marketing and hype will do you no good if you pull of a gimmick like this or simply weren't aware of it when making an exclusivity deal.
Third - don't do exclusivity deals, what is the point in that?!
Fourth - I for one would like to welcome our SSN... ah never mind.
Always proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
What a fucking Dick. Its easy for you to say they should quit and go find a job where they don't have to enforce corporate policy. Looked for a job recently? Not easy. Looked for one where YOU make your own rules? Yeah. You're a fucktard. Your plan is to hammer people who can not do anything to help you even if they want to until they hate their job so much that they quit, regardless of weather or not that job is their only source of income or not? And when they quit, do you know what is going to happen? Someone else who needs a job is going to be hired to replace them, and they will enforce company policy, or get fired or quit, and eventually, nothing will change. You will go somewhere else to get served because if you continue to harass the folks at that store, you will be removed. What, exactly does this get you above just quietly going away, calling the customer service line, and trying to get satisfaction there, or taking your business elsewhere? Yeah, it gets to make an arrogant jackass feel like he is better than someone working at a retail store, wastes your time, and wastes their time. I repeat, what a fucking dick.
Wow. What a wanker. And stupid. And immature. And unrealistic. I can't believe how much of a dirt bag you are. And a putz. And ignorant.
What do you think I'm out of line? I'm flaming you? No, I'm just making as big a stink of your stupid/unfair/wrong policy as I can.
It sounds like you want personalized, private attention with custom agreements at a mass market price point. Why don't you just spine up and pay for the personal attention rather than just whine about it? No one is required to operate their business under model that you think they should.
When a business that I attempt to patronize has a stupid/unfair/wrong policy and tries to do the "sorry, it's just corporate policy...nothing I can do" dance to shuffle me out the door, I make as big a stink and cause as much of a problem for every level of staff as I possibly legally can until the problem is resolved to my satisfaction, and make sure as many other customers as possible hear every word.
Wow. What a wanker. And stupid. And immature. And unrealistic. I can't believe how much of a dirt bag you are. And a putz. And ignorant.
What do you think I'm out of line? I'm flaming you? No, I'm just making as big a stink of your stupid/unfair/wrong policy as I can.
It sounds like you want personalized, private attention with custom agreements at a mass market price point. Why don't you just spine up and pay for the personal attention rather than just whine about it? No one is required to operate their business under model that you think they should.
If you're happy to bend over and take it up the rear and ask for more, be my guest. As long as there are sheep who will suck it up and beg for more, corporations will continue to do whatever they please.
You seem to be under the mistaken impression that customers exist to service businesses, and that they shouldn't make a fuss at being treated badly so as not to offend or trouble the employees.
WRONG!
If you choose to work for a business that abuses and/or treats their customers badly, then I have zero sympathy for you. I'm sure the employees at the MPAA/RIAA & Safenet feel the same way as do you.
Businesses exist to meet the needs and desires of the customer. Those that do not don't deserve to continue to exist.
Yes, I *have* quit jobs because they wanted me to treat people badly/unfairly. Walked right out on the spot without a ready job to go to, and had to scrimp to survive while I found another.
That's because I have something it seems you lack.
Integrity.
If more people would make a fuss and make it unpleasant for the employees to abuse them then maybe the company wouldn't be able to get or retain help and be forced to change policies or go out of business.
If you think I'm a "wanker" for standing up and not allowing myself to be abused, then I consider it an honor to be considered by people like you to be a "wanker". If you're not willing to stand up to abusive corporate policies, then you're not a "wanker". You're a spineless coward willing to abuse & mistreat others for your own personal gain, and enable & empower corporations to continue to abuse the public.
It's the same attitude that the kind of person that would work as a guard in a gulag or death camp would have, happy to beat & torture prisoners who don't cooperate as long as the paychecks are on time, and when brought to trial would claim he was just following orders.
Sheesh, grow a set for heavens' sake and have a little self-respect!
Strat
Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.