Why!

I made a cash purchase today. The cashier asked for my member card. When I told her I didn’t have one, she wanted my phone number and or address. I said why? What do you need it for?

I interrupted her reply. “I’m paying cash. You don’t even need so much as need to know who I am.”

A short time later, I was gone, purchase in hand. Some time later it occurred to me, businesses and organizations get far too much from us.

It is true, if I am going to buy a house or car, I do need to identify myself. If all I’m buying is an extension cord, no, not at all. Moreover, I am beginning to think I need to make more and more anonymous purchases. They don’t need to know me. They don’t need to know what I buy or where.

I just might start carrying more cash and stop using my debit card as much. Some things, I’ll especially go out of my way to conceal what and where I buy. The fact that that they want my phone number irritates me.

They don’t need it or my address. Maybe if all of us went back to paying cash, we’d all be better off, in as much as possible, anyway.

The cashier was only following instructions. However, for what purpose were the instructions? Who benefits from the info? How?