[widebody911]

Why is it now that you can't simply make a purchase without the store/website trying to forcibly collect your life story?

I tried to buy something at a local shop yesterday; when I can, I like to buy local. One simple purchase of a $10 item. Cash on the barrel head. Shoulda been in and out, wham bam thank you ma'am. But no... The POS POS [sic] terminal wanted my name, phone number and mailing address. I gave him "867 5309" for the phone number, but the system wouldn't take "123 Any St" - the computer told him it wasn't valid for that ZIP code (90210). It took about 10 minutes to buy this one little thing; I was this "" close to just dropping it on the counter and walking out.

I get the same thing from web sites; I can't buy something unless I create an account. The worst is when I'm buying a gift, and I end up signing myself up for catalogs and garbage in which I will never be interested.

You would think with the retail economy being in the condition it is, shops would want to make it easier for you to spend your cash, not harder.