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Comment by nso | Hacker News Reader

I had to get upper management involved once when trying to buy an Airport Express, because they wouldn't allow me to make a purchase at the Apple store without leaving my name and contact details.

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It's ethically OK to lie in these situations. You think I gave Radio Shack my real PII whenever I wanted to buy a battery?

I've given out 212-555-1234 as my phone number to so many random places, that I've accidentally given it out when I didn't need to hide my real number.

Also just about everywhere... (xxx) 867-5309 works for rewards cards and things like that. Also at Walgreens, you can use (420) 420-4204. That was the number the cashier gave me there since I told them I didn’t have a rewards card.

Just about everywhere: (local area code)-123-4567. 10 years ago I was almost always the only entry, if you're ever in the Cleveland feel free to use Aaaron ;-) If they don't like 123, use the store phone # prefix

I shouldn't have to lie. They didn't accept my "No.", nor that my full legal name was "Donald Fauntleroy Duck", until the case got escalated.

they wouldn't allow me to make a purchase at the Apple store without leaving my name and contact details

Was this recent? I was able to buy a new Mac just a few weeks ago without giving any information.

It was some years ago, I haven't been back since.

There's a privacy carve-out for stores and selling items because you effectively have to provide this information when paying with card for fraud prevention (both online and for in-store loss prevention).

I was paying cash. In my country you do not give any details when paying with card, you simply pay and you are on your way.

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