Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: stuart on August 15, 2005, 10:02:29 pm

Title: Giving your info...
Post by: stuart on August 15, 2005, 10:02:29 pm: I was just browsing some of the spa manufactures sites out there and noticed that some of them ask for your name, address, phone number, email, buying cycle and other things before they will even give you dealer information!

I find this practice invasive and even a bit stupid on their part...What do they have to lose by pointing someone to their dealer without knowing who they are?

How do you as a customer feel about it...Would it make you just keep shopping? What about on other products? If you where looking at a new car and they did this would you give the info or would you just fill in the page with made up stuff to find out who the dealer is?

Think about this…What if you had to give your phone # and address to someone before you could get a phone # out of the yellow pages? ???
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: Vinny on August 15, 2005, 10:50:33 pm: Stuart,

I agree! It is a PITA but I wouldn't give out a phone number or e-mail address, at least not my home email address. I guess in the world of DVDs being sent out, they want to make you jump through hoops to get it.

One of the "top 4" does that and When the dealer didn't show me the lower series tub I wanted more info from the company and they had the dealer contact me - I didn't like that. I had 1 manufacturer refuse to give me any sales literature without going to the dealer - well I wrote that tub off my list!

I also have a problem with having only 1 local dealer given to me - not to play games but because suppose I don't like the dealer but like the tub. I don't know if dealers have to do anything to get listed but one manufacturer actually gave me to a dealer that was further away than another dealer.

I certainly liked the friendlier web sites, I could put my zip or another zip into the finder and up popped the nearest dealer!

Vinny
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: Dr. Spa™ Ret. on August 16, 2005, 12:38:45 am: Any web sites in general that require me to give personal information in order to receive their information, I move on to their competitor.
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: Brewman on August 16, 2005, 08:25:55 am: Ditto.

Brewman
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: wmccall on August 16, 2005, 08:33:32 am: Quote
Any web sites in general that require me to give personal information in order to receive their information, I move on to their competitor.

Same here, its a marketing person putting that stipulation in place. If I want the DVD, sure I have to give up personal info, which in Thermospas case, is so they can keep calling monthly after you get it.

But if I was a dealer, I would be pissed if they weren't giving out dealer info to whomever asked. So far there was only one major brand that I can remember who did this.
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: JcDenton on August 16, 2005, 08:50:47 am: I am very uncomfortable with this. In fact, it is often enough for me to move onto the next store. For example, I went to get a couple of batteries for my wireless mouse at Radio Shack a while back. Two batteries - that's it. But the salesmen wanted WAY too much information! Where I live, phone number, favourite colour etc. I haven't purchased anything from them since. For larger ticket items that have a warrenty, I can see this information being relevant for after the sale, but not for a couple of batteries.

Jc
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: windsurfdog on August 16, 2005, 08:50:56 am: MasterSpas is guilty of this and I think it hurts'em in the long run. I don't like the practice and I would think dealers wouldn't like it as well. One of the best features of the net is instant and anonymous gratification and giving out personal info on an unsecured site is yet another chink in the armor.....as if we need more.....
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: jsimo7 on August 16, 2005, 09:48:48 am: I will not give personal info either until I feel it is needed by the company. When I want to be contacted I will let them know.
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: Spatech_tuo on August 16, 2005, 11:20:29 am: I think these guys lose potential customers to the sites that simply ask for a zip code but let's not tell them.
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: HotTubMan on August 16, 2005, 02:39:22 pm: Quote
I was just browsing some of the spa manufactures sites out there and noticed that some of them ask for your name, address, phone number, email, buying cycle and other things before they will even give you dealer information!

I find this practice invasive and even a bit stupid on their part...What do they have to lose by pointing someone to their dealer without knowing who they are?

How do you as a customer feel about it...Would it make you just keep shopping? What about on other products? If you where looking at a new car and they did this would you give the info or would you just fill in the page with made up stuff to find out who the dealer is?

Think about this…What if you had to give your phone # and address to someone before you could get a phone # out of the yellow pages? ???

I am amazed at how many times I filled these out to receive info on a competitor and get nothing!

Personally I like the idea because it saves me a trip to the store to get info on a competitor, I just wish they would follow through. Maybe I am on a DO NOT MAIL list ???
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: stuart on August 17, 2005, 12:04:26 am: Quote
I am amazed at how many times I filled these out to receive info on a competitor and get nothing!

Personally I like the idea because it saves me a trip to the store to get info on a competitor, I just wish they would follow through. Maybe I am on a DO NOT MAIL list ???

Seee...? and you thought it was just me in that ignored you! ;) ;) 8)
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: fatman on August 17, 2005, 08:06:40 am: In an age of identity theft, do not call lists, computer hacking and telemarketers I can't see why any hot tub company thinks it would be appealing to the average consumer to give away personal info just for a dealer location. A zipcode locator and an 800 number is enough.
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: stuart on August 17, 2005, 05:11:24 pm: Quote
In an age of identity theft, do not call lists, computer hacking and telemarketers I can't see why any hot tub company thinks it would be appealing to the average consumer to give away personal info just for a dealer location. A zipcode locator and an 800 number is enough.

Next thing will be a 900 pay number to get the dealer name!
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: r100rs on August 18, 2005, 01:04:51 pm: Quote
For example, I went to get a couple of batteries for my wireless mouse at Radio Shack a while back. Two batteries - that's it. But the salesmen wanted WAY too much information! Where I live, phone number, favourite colour etc. I haven't purchased anything from them since. For larger ticket items that have a warrenty, I can see this information being relevant for after the sale, but not for a couple of batteries.

Jc

As for RadioShack - I shop there quite a bit. The reason they want where you live and phone number is not to track your purchases but it is try and understand why you didn't use the store closest to you. Was it because they didn't have the item, lousy customer service, etc... I even wrote them wayback when to verify this and that is the response I was given. Now I don't know if that is still true today. If the data they collected can actually make my store better, I generally don't have a problem with it. But then how can I tell if my store improved? I don't know.

r100rs
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: wmccall on August 18, 2005, 01:15:59 pm: Quote

As for RadioShack - I shop there quite a bit. The reason they want where you live and phone number is not to track your purchases but it is try and understand why you didn't use the store closest to you. Was it because they didn't have the item, lousy customer service, etc... I even wrote them wayback when to verify this and that is the response I was given. Now I don't know if that is still true today. If the data they collected can actually make my store better, I generally don't have a problem with it. But then how can I tell if my store improved? I don't know.

r100rs

Plus its how you get on their mailing list and if you stay on it. In this case for me its a good thing, A local computer store keeps me on thier mailing list so I see their specials, which I buy a lot.
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: HotTubMan on August 18, 2005, 01:16:39 pm: Quote

As for RadioShack - I shop there quite a bit. The reason they want where you live and phone number is not to track your purchases but it is try and understand why you didn't use the store closest to you. Was it because they didn't have the item, lousy customer service, etc... I even wrote them wayback when to verify this and that is the response I was given. Now I don't know if that is still true today. If the data they collected can actually make my store better, I generally don't have a problem with it. But then how can I tell if my store improved? I don't know.

r100rs

Around here they would also send you flyers, personally addressed.

We'll see what happens now that they are Circuit City.
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: Dr. Spa™ Ret. on August 18, 2005, 02:14:07 pm: Radio Shack wants the info solely to put you on their mailing list. NO OTHER reason. The sales people actually get a bonus based on the percentage of sales they ring up that give the info. If you don't want to give the info, when they ask simply say "C.R." It stands for customer refused and is what they used to write when a customer refused to give the info. Usually the sales person will look at you with a questioning look and say nothing more. a longgggggggggggggggggggggg time ago, I worked there. Of course back then it was named Smoke Signal Shack.
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: leesweet on August 18, 2005, 03:48:30 pm: Hm, I haven't had an RS ask me for anything for *years*. I know back when they gave you the third degree, but recently, nada. I think I even read somewhere where they dumped it because surveys said people weren't coming in because of negative response from always having to tell the cashiers 'no'. Some people were really torn beween hating to say 'no' and hating to give up the info... :)

On the subject of 'shopping patterns', for a while my Best Buy went from asking for zip code (okay...) to phone number (are you *crazy*?!). I told them "drop dead", they said "gotta have it", I told them "override" (I knew someone that worked in a BB, and knew it was one key press) and they said "don't know how". People either are dumber and dumber or are trained less and less...

On the original post: yeah, web sites should just ask for zip code and cough up the dealer info.
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: Dr. Spa™ Ret. on August 18, 2005, 04:43:58 pm: I love the asking for a phone number.......

My number? "111-1111". they give me a blank stare and I add, "prove it's otherwise"

I'm considering changing my pat answer to 382-5968 (pm me if you figure it out :-)
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: Chris_H on August 18, 2005, 04:56:46 pm: Quote
I love the asking for a phone number.......

My number? "111-1111". they give me a blank stare and I add, "prove it's otherwise"

I'm considering changing my pat answer to 382-5968 (pm me if you figure it out :-)

Is it the Playboy Mansion's phone number?
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: stuart on August 18, 2005, 09:05:09 pm: Quote
I love the asking for a phone number.......

My number? "111-1111". they give me a blank stare and I add, "prove it's otherwise"

I'm considering changing my pat answer to 382-5968 (pm me if you figure it out :-)

Only you buddy...Only you :o 8)
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: Brewman on August 19, 2005, 08:55:00 am: Good one, Doc. I'll have to use it. I doubt that anyone punching a cash register will get it, though.

Another, but far less creative suggestion, is to use the old standby 867-5309. Wonder if some of the cashiers at best buy would even get that.

Brewman
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: georgiapeach on August 19, 2005, 09:07:29 am: Quote
I love the asking for a phone number.......

My number? "111-1111". they give me a blank stare and I add, "prove it's otherwise"

I'm considering changing my pat answer to 382-5968 (pm me if you figure it out :-)

LMAO...I loved it!!!!!!!!!!!

Peachy
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: windsurfdog on August 19, 2005, 09:22:29 am: Quote
I love the asking for a phone number.......

My number? "111-1111". they give me a blank stare and I add, "prove it's otherwise"

I'm considering changing my pat answer to 382-5968 (pm me if you figure it out :-)

I LIKE IT! I LIKE IT![/red][/b][/i]
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: wmccall on August 19, 2005, 09:45:17 am: Quote
I LIKE IT! I LIKE IT![/red][/b][/i]

Years ago, merchants use to make you write your phone number down when you signed a credit card receipt. When instant verification came along they still kept asking for it, so I started giving the number for the city morque, or sometimes an adult book store. Every now and then I would give them their own store number.
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: stuart on August 19, 2005, 10:27:55 am: Quote

Every now and then I would give them their own store number.

That's my favorite! I love the fact that it gets by so many people with an uncontrollable urge to think with no capability to follow through with the urge! 8)
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: Chris_H on August 19, 2005, 10:55:31 am: Quote
I love the asking for a phone number.......

My number? "111-1111". they give me a blank stare and I add, "prove it's otherwise"

I'm considering changing my pat answer to 382-5968 (pm me if you figure it out :-)

Took me a day but I figured it out. Good one Doc.
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: Duffman on August 19, 2005, 11:06:22 pm: I also ran into this irritating process with ThermaSpa, Bullfrog, and Master. I've gotten used typing the following info everywhere I run into this:

Name: John Doe

Address: 1234 Nowhere Rd
Someplace Alaska
<enter proper zipcode> ;D

Phone: 121-121-1212
Title: Re: Giving your info...
Post by: Lori on August 20, 2005, 10:16:51 am: Quote
Good one, Doc. I'll have to use it. I doubt that anyone punching a cash register will get it, though.

Another, but far less creative suggestion, is to use the old standby 867-5309. Wonder if some of the cashiers at best buy would even get that.

Brewman

That is what I use, Brewman. Very few people get it!!! ;)

I am in agreement with most here, I do not fill out those forms with personal information. That is a big reason I didn't know I had a Master Spa dealer in my area until it was too late!