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RadioShack Puts Customer Data Up For Sale In Bankruptcy Auction

itwbennett writes For years, RadioShack made a habit of collecting customers' contact information at checkout. Now, the bankrupt retailer is putting that data on the auction block. A list of RadioShack assets for sale includes more than 65 million customer names and physical addresses, and 13 million email addresses. Bloomberg reports that the asset sale may include phone numbers and information on shopping habits as well. New York's Attorney General says his office will take 'appropriate action' if the data is handed over.

33 of 262 comments (clear)

  1. I feel better now... by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 4, Interesting

    For having either refused to give them my information, or giving them made up info. And they've just guaranteed that I do this with all other stores from which I make cash purchases.

  2. This is why I don't join rewards programs. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Because the reward is they SHIT ON YOUR PRIVACY..

    1. Re:This is why I don't join rewards programs. by Thud457 · · Score: 4, Funny

      but... but... free batteries!
      #ohgodhowdidIgetthisold

      --

      the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    2. Re:This is why I don't join rewards programs. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Free shitty batteries.

  3. 80's data by jfdavis668 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't worry, it's all from the 1980's.

    1. Re:80's data by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 4, Funny

      CSAVE "CSTDAT.TXT",A

      hang on, folks. this is gonna take some time.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
  4. Re:Hmmm by twitnutttt · · Score: 2

    Worse was how they would always ask for your phone number every time you bought anything!
    (I remember a comedian joking about this once... "Why does Radio Shack need your phone number to sell you batteries?")
    Luckily, I too would make up a fake number.

  5. I am not worried by ctrl-alt-canc · · Score: 2

    I bought only an item by them many years ago, and I paid cash :-)

  6. A lot of it about. by auric_dude · · Score: 2

    Despite privacy policy, RadioShack customer data up for sale in auction Data includes names, phone numbers, mailing and e-mail addresses, and purchases. http://arstechnica.com/tech-po...

    1. Re:A lot of it about. by HiThere · · Score: 4, Insightful

      IIUC, bankruptcy laws require them to sell anything they can make money on unless it's illegal. And the people managing the bankruptcy aren't the people who were running the company before. (Usually, maybe they are in this case.)

      Keep this in mind whenever a business asks you for information.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
  7. Fuckedcompany by SumDog · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Man this reminds me of news from the old fuckedcompany.com and internal memos days; companies selling all their hardware and forgetting they had customer data on hard drives.

  8. Some of the top customers from my RadioShack years by Electrawn · · Score: 2

    Johnny Cash
    123 Anywhere St
    Frankfort, IL

    Dagwood Blues
    1060 West Addison Street
    Chicago, IL 60613

    (Elwood was too obvious to store managers)

    George Bush
    1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
    Chicago, IL 60611

    (Address verification on SCO Unix 3? HA!)

  9. Re:Hmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Back in the days of COCOTs, buying a number pad dialer and a certain other electronic item would cause the local rat shack to deny the sale, refusing to help anyone trying to make a red box. Assuming you were dumb enough to give them a phone number for both transactions.

  10. Re:Hmmm by TWX · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Don't bother to make up a number. Say no, or tell them that it's unlisted. Retailers will either put in the store number, gobbledygook, or have a means to bypass that.

    I don't give out personal information for no benefit to myself. I don't show my receipt at the door unless it's at a membership store where I could lose my account if I fail to do so (like Costco). I'm there to exchange cash for goods. I don't care about their attempts to do more.

    --
    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
  11. Same problem applies to law and regulation by DutchUncle · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is why regulations, especially security and privacy and security-theater issues, must be monitored constantly and addressed immediately. Even if you trust the current management (including government), all it takes is a small management change (or government change) to bring in management that you cannot trust - or, worse, that you can be absolutely sure will do the opposite of what the previous management promised.

  12. Re:Hmmm by kuzb · · Score: 2

    I just say "no, you don't need that" when they ask. If they insist I ask them if they really want the sale or not. Usually at that point they cave and process the transaction.

    --
    BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
  13. Re:Appropriate action ? by kuzb · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "Sorry to see the Shack gone"

    I'm not. Radioshack was fucking horrible in the last 20 years. High pressure commission sales staff, shitty products, questionable sales practices all the while shutting down the sale of all the items that made the store a treasure for its electronics parts. They deserved to go under, and most of us are just wondering how the hell it didn't happen sooner.

    --
    BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
  14. Re:Hmmm by omnichad · · Score: 4, Funny

    (yourareacode) 867-5309. Chances are, it's already in the system too.

  15. Re:Hmmm by omnichad · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I don't show my receipt at the door unless it's at a membership store where I could lose my account

    I hate to say it, but I personally love walking out of Best Buy while their "security guard" yells at me but then does nothing about me not stopping. It's not stolen, and I'm not going to be treated like it is.

  16. Canadian Tire by ArcadeMan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If you return an item to Canadian Tire (for a refund, maybe exchanges too) they also ask for your phone number. I've learned that they do this to limit the number of returns you can do (which I think is probably illegal) so I always say I don't have a phone, only Internet. The cashier always end up using the store's own phone number instead.

    1. Re:Canadian Tire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Not illegal if they informed you that last time they did a refund that you were now an exception to the policy. There's nothing in Canadian law requiring a company to provide a refund, assuming they didn't defraud you in some fashion.

  17. Re:Hmmm by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 2

    I don't show my receipt at the door unless it's at a membership store where I could lose my account if I fail to do so (like Costco).

    I do the same. At Costco I've agreed to it in becoming a member. Anywhere else I just keep walking and say "I didn't steal anything".

  18. Re:Hmmm by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 3, Funny

    867-5309. Chances are, it's already in the system too.

    They don't say "You don't look like a Jenny" ?

  19. Re:Hmmm by PRMan · · Score: 4, Informative

    Nope. I paid for the products and they have no right to search me.

    Even at Costco, if the line is too long, I just walk out without letting them search me.

    --
    Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
  20. Re:Hmmm by BronsCon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Ever since the checker at Fry's caught that one of my items (the smallest yet most expensive item on my ticket) was not in my bag, I'm more than happy to let them check. It's not always a loss-prevention, treat you like a criminal, measure. In fact, having talked to the checkers quite a bit when the store is slow, I've learned that they catch people leaving without what they paid for much more often than the other way round. At least at Fry's, it truly is a customer service initiative. And yes, cashiers do face consequences for not making sure the customer leaves their register with all of their purchases.

    --
    APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
  21. Re:Hmmm by spudnic · · Score: 2

    I take offence to this. I have not been able to fit in a locker during all of the years I was in school no matter how hard you shoved me!

    --
    load "linux",8,1
  22. Re:Hmmm by JohnFen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You may not have a signed a contract, but it's implied when you walk into a store that they have the right to protect their stuff (security cameras or whatever else).

    But they don't have the legal, moral, or ethical right to search me.

    You're just being a dick and making the security guard's job more difficult

    It's hard to believe that the guard's life more difficult to hear "no thank you" as I stroll by, but if it does... then tough. They're being dicks by asking me to submit to a search. Fair's fair.

  23. Re:Hmmm by duke_cheetah2003 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Just to add to this.. door checks of receipts also catch cashier error, most commonly cases of charging for the same item twice accidently.

    I'm not overly fond of door checking of receipts but enh, there's much better things to worry about. If you don't like stores that have this policy, don't shop there.

  24. Re:I always just declined when they asked by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 2

    Same.

    Clerk: "Phone Number?"
    Me: "Cash Customer"
    Clerk. "OK." They skip entering any more info in.

  25. That is not "Stand Your Ground" by drnb · · Score: 5, Informative

    Many states, including my home state of WV, have "stand your ground" laws where the bar to use deadly force is very low.

    My understanding of the concept of "Stand Your Ground" is that it does not define the conditions upon which deadly force may be used. Different concepts, for example the "Castle Doctrine", define such conditions. Under the "Castle Doctrine" a person is by law considered to be in danger of death or severe bodily injury if a stranger forces his way into their home. That forcible entry into the home enables the use of deadly force. What "Stand Your Ground" adds to such concepts is whether the person is obligated to flee. Does the person enabled to use deadly force under the "Castle Doctrine" have to attempt to flee if possible to do so. "Stand Your Ground" merely say that they have no such obligation to flee.

    Be aware that "Stand Your Ground" is being grossly misrepresented in the media. Partly through the normal day to day ignorance of the media (*) and partly through politics.

    (*) Consider the media's abysmal coverage and discussion of anything computer related. What makes you think they do any better on any other subject matter?

  26. Re:Hmmm by SecurityGuy · · Score: 2

    Ever check your bag as you walk out to make sure you have all your goods?

    Yes, I check MY bag. I check MY wallet to make sure I put my credit card back. I don't go rummage through the store's storeroom to make sure my stuff isn't there.

    It's implied when you walk into a store that they have the right to protect their stuff (security cameras or whatever else)

    No, you think it's implied. I don't, and I never steal and hate being treated like I might have. It's also not their stuff once I've purchased it, and I don't like being asked to prove that my stuff is really mine.

  27. Re: Does it come with free batteries? by BeaverCleaver · · Score: 2

    The only thing better than not being on a database is polluting that database with so much false information that it becomes useless.

  28. Re:Hmmm by zippthorne · · Score: 2

    It sounds like he's saying that the way to get service is to pretend to be a shoplifter?

    --
    Can you be Even More Awesome?!