Why does Radio Shack need your address to buy batteries?

[Hydraulic]

I had to buy a lare 12 volt batery for a portable dome light today, so I went to Radio Shack.

I found the battery I needed and went to the check out. The little Radio Shack man says he needs my address, so I not thinking give it to him.

When I get home I then realse "WTH do they need my address for?" I open the battery and on the back of the package it says "Tandy Electronics"

Hmm I wonder... where did Tandy go? In the 80's they were leading the PC market, why did they just stop making them all of a sudden?

Radio Shack bought Tandy. SO now I'm thinking why would they do that? - Tandy built great database main frames, and Radia Shack has a huge data-base of names and addresses. So now I am back to - why does Radio Shack need your address?

Now my imagination is going crazy, and gonvernment consperacy pops into my head. Could Radio Shack be building a massive data-base of people who are knowlagle with electronics?

I e-mailed Radio Shack PR and about a week later I get a response saying "Radio Shack does not wish to comment on this theory at this time."

WTH???? So what does that mean? I E-mail Tandy PR and get a similar response. Ekkk.

Yesterday I called my Florida Senator and told him the story, my theory and the responses I got from the two companies, and after he thought about it a few seconds - he hung up.

???...

 

[rocmonster]

They sell off your personnal information to snail mail spammers like those bogus "pre-approved" credit cards, and other such crappola. Customer address lists are compiled and sold as a revenue booster for Radio Shack.I once was asked to give an address and phone # for a RETURN. All I know is Richard Nixon @ 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is on their books as having returned a power adapter last month.

 

[Windogg]

The rumor I heard is that it goes back to the Cold War. By having you address on file, it makes it easier to catch you when you make some clandestine transmission device to send secrets back to Mother Russia. Probably just paranoia but it doesn't seem to hurt. I've never recived any junk mailing from Radio Shack.

Windogg

 

[zippy]

They want to get your name so when the self destruction mechanism goes off on that battery they know who to pronounce dead at the scene and where this scene is. Basically, yes, you are right, it is a conspiracy!

 

[DarkManX]

I dont understand how radio shack stays in bussines, the store is usually empty and they dont sell anything big, not many people buy there electronics, such as the RCA stuff sold, and I forget the other Radio Shack brand name. They cant possibly stay in bussines by selling batteries and small parts.

 

[Wolfie]

I thought the same thing when I went in for a cat5 cable. I just told them that it was personal info. He droped it and didn't add it to the computer.

I also asked them why they asked for the info. They said it was for the parts mag they send out. I know I never recieved anything when my old addy was in the computer. I think they send it to snail mail spaming companys. No way will I ever give them my addy.

Wolf

 

[rahvin]

They collect your name and address because they are required to by federal law. Radio shack is pretty much the only retail distributer of electronics components (ie Resistors, Capacitors etc) from which you could make a circuit board to be used in a bomb. If a homemade bomb goes off and it was constructed from components all the ATF has to do it go to Radio shack and pull the records of people who have bought those components and then cross check that list.

 

[Auric]

They make money by being the easiest place to get some obscure thing or piece of junk electronic gadget. There is a Shack within minutes of most people in the USA. The stuff they sell is junk, cheap junk made by Chinese prison labor and has phat margins. Tandy is the parent company. It may be all they do now after selling off Computer City. RCA is a brand of Thomson Consumer Electronics, France. So is GE I think. People like the familiarity even if they have no idea of the history of these companies and brands. And yes they do sell that information. Maybe that is where they make most of their money. Next time try to make a trade. See if they will give you the batteries in exchange for your valuable demographic information.

 

[piku]

I think rahvens got it...

Also, I think they do it to know where their customers are coming from. If they notice that tons of people are coming from an area that doesnt have a radio shack, they know to build one there.

Toys R Us asks for your phone number too, as well as a few other companies. Im pretty sure they just do it for fliers and potential spots to open up shop.

 

[uncouth]

I think they do it so they can come to my house to sell cookies

bomb idea sounds real. Same thing applies to Toys R Us. They sell Legos...

 

[Kill_Phil]

dont laugh, it is possible to make a lego gun.
and no, that wink does not mean im joking

 

[PCAddict]

I started getting the Radio Shack flyers once I gave them my address. I've never gotten anything else from them.

Pep Boys in my area asks for my zip code whenver I go there.

 

[NesuD]

you guys may all think this is funny but you may want to be careful about info you give out to retailers. In todays local paper(midMichigan) There is a story about a man who went to a best buy to buy a computer and signed up for that no interest til 2000 credit deal. he returns a few days later to activate his free internet deal they were giving him and the clerk completely reprocesses his loan app and photocopies his drivers liscense. 4 days later he is getting calls from jcPenny credit department. turns out this BB clerk was stealing info and selling it to people who steal identities. BB fired the guy when they figured it out but they aren't doing anything to make it right for this man who's credit is a fscked up now. If you don't think they should have information then refuse to give it to them it is your right and never give out that ss# that is protected by law only the SS administration and the IRS are allowed to require that. I would never let anyone photocopy my ID for any reason.

 

[Monel Funkawitz]

They actually use it for tracking your purchase traits. It "Helps them determine which stores are more active, and what they should stock" I agree with Windogg's theory though

 

[Zorba]

Some other places do it too. I think it is mostly for returns. So you don't have to keep the receipt. rahvin's theory is pretty good, but I buy stuff like that from other places that don't ask for your name &/or address, so that kinda kills that theory.

 

[Russ]

<< They collect your name and address because they are required to by federal law. >>



Bwuahahahahahaha!!!!!!! Good one Rahvin. Apparently some people even bought it.

Russ, NCNE

 

[Mrs AntiSocial Virge]

To judge what cities/communities/areas are coming to the store, all they need is your zip code, not your full mailing address.

 

[Passions]

In the upcoming alien invasion, the US govt will need electronic knowledgable people to build them anti-ufo figthers, thats why.

 

It always pays to have at least three fake names memorized, complete with addresses, phone numbers, date of birth, and SSN.

 

[chipbgt]

Just to be safe, you can write or call the Direct Marketing Association and kindly ask them to remove you name and any other pertinent info from there records and they will do so (supposedly they are some sort of company that handles all sorts of mailing lists). At least thats what we tell the people who call into where I work. I will try to find the address in a sec.

 

[ForeverSilky]

I always put my name as Ed Sullivan on surveys.

 

[Lorax]

&quot;we have to look everywhere a sick demented person would hide&quot;

lisa: &quot;i'll check radio shack&quot;

simpsons, one of the treehouse of horrors where bart has an evil twin. (the quote is probably not accurate)

 

[Panther]

<< never give out that ss# that is protected by law only the SS administration and the IRS are allowed to require that. I would never let anyone photocopy my ID for any reason. >>



Well then I'm screwed because I just sent out about 9 college apps with both my SS# and a copy of my green card...