In response to my last post concerning my customer credo, someone calling himself “mark” left the following missive in my comments section.  As per my policy of not taking any crap, I think it calls for a detailed response.

Hm, ever think that the reason some companies ask for this very simple thing is to help you??  I know that in this “me first and only” world, people like to find fault with everything anyone does, but companies ask for zip codes for a special reason.

I’m perfectly aware of this.  However, it appears that you didn’t really read my post, other than to take offense after the first paragraph.  The zip code really isn’t my problem, it was just the final straw.  You may think of this as a “me first and only” thing, but I happen to value my personal privacy.  I’m not suggesting that “there ought to be a law.”  I’m just not going to participate anymore.  This is a perfectly valid free-market activity.  If the market agrees with me, then the customer profiling and surveys will go away.  If it doesn’t, then they will continue.

One is to find if there may be a valid reason to locate in the zip that you provide.  second, much advertising can be zip code specific, so by knowing the customer base zip code, advertizing (sic) can be sent there.

Many retailers are now asking for phone numbers, names, and addresses.  Given my background in the IT industry I am perhaps more sensitive to these issues because I know just how easy it is for companies to build a detailed dossier about you using information gleaned from a number of sources (although a zip code can’t be used to identify you personally).  Maybe I can’t stop them from doing this, but I can also choose not to participate or to make it easier for them.  If they want my personal data, then they’d damn sure better make the value returned worth it.  That may sound mercenary and “me first” to you, but it is simple economics.  There’s nothing wrong with demanding value in return for something of value that you’ve given, and your personal data is definitely valuable to them.

If you think that your privacy is worth the alleged benefits of giving up this information, then by all means, give ‘em everything they want.  But just because you may value it this way doesn’t mean that I do.  By the way, did you stop to consider that maybe I don’t want to be targeted by advertising?

Personally, can’t see what you are whining about…  too many whiners in the world today..  if it bothers you so much that you have to whine about it on the internet, you must not have much of a life to start with.

This is my website.  I paid for it and I can say or do anything I like on it.  However, I find it interesting that this bothers you so much that you have to whine about it on my website (using my electrons, dammit ).  What does that say about you?  If you’re concerned about whiners, maybe you should start by looking closer to home.

Update:I just got a comment about this post, complaining about the profanity.  It was something that I thought about a bit before posting, and though I’d originally decided to keep it, I’ve rethought that position.  It’s not really in keeping with my normal personality.  I’m not the kind of person who yells profanity at others, no matter what the level of provocation.  It’s not good to start now, even here, because that opens the gates for further breaches of propriety. 

One of the things that I tried to take to heart from my CHL training was to avoid being the antagonist and trying to remain calm in the face of provocation.  I will abide by that.  The inflammatory remarks have been removed.  Not so much because the commenter was put off by them, but because they aren’t really me.