The Internot

(I work for a internet retailer so all of our sales come via a website. We don’t operate any physical store locations.)

Me: “Thanks for calling [store name]. How may I help you?”

Caller: “I need to place an order.”

(I take the caller’s order, and get to the part where I need her personal information.)

Me: “…and may I have your email address, please?”

Caller: “No.”

Me: “Well, that’s how your receipt and shipping information will be given to you.”

Caller: “I don’t like giving it out. I don’t understand why you need it. Why can’t you just mail it to me?”

Me: “The receipt and shipping information are emailed to you through our store’s sales system. It’s something that happens automatically. We will not sell it or abuse it in any way.”

Caller: “Well, that’s stupid! What if I don’t have an email address? What do you do for your customers who don’t have a computer?”

Me: “Being an internet retailer, we haven’t had much of a problem with that.”