I got asked this the other day by a gamestop employee. Mind you, I was reserving a certain game about monsters that's set to launch on Sunday at the time, so I thought nothing of it.
GameStop Sued Over Privacy Violations
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
wow I can't help thinking he's ever tried saying "no" before. I've had this issue as well with gamestop. I went in to buy a 3 games none of which were rated "M" so they didn't need to see any ID. I tried to pay with my credit card and when they asked for some idenification I said no. Then there was a discussion about how they can't process the purchase even though the law states that they have too. After I told them what the law states the employee said I was wrong and that there was no such thing. I laughed and asked for a manager but he said he wasn't there and even if he was its gamestops "policy". I said screw it and left the store. About 4 days, a filed complaint, and a talk with gamestops regional manager later I was given an apology. The manager assured me he would inform his empolyees about california state laws and it wouldn't happen again. This is an issue that needs to be dealt with. Now before anyone says why didn't you do this or that, its simply about knowing one's rights and using them.Andy Chalk said:
That depends on why GameStop wants the information and what they plan to do with it. If that use -- whatever it is -- is of great financial value to them (which I suspect it is or they wouldn't be doing it the first place), then the financial penalty for their wrongdoing needs to be greater than their financial gain from the wrongdoing or there's no incentive for them to cease doing wrong. They'll do the cost-benefit analysis and conclude that even with the slap on the wrist, there's still financial gain in continuing their illegal conduct.danpascooch said:
If I steal $100 and get caught and fined $75, why should I stop stealing? I'm still $25 ahead of the game (no pun intended).
Why are they suing over such a trivial thing? It's like facebook. If you really don't want your information being released. Shut up and just don't give it out. You miss out on some shit, maybe, but who cares? Deal with it.
I wouldn't worry about that, they could be harvesting and selling the blood of each customer and they wouldn't come anywhere near $1000 a person.JDKJ said:
How much do you think a name and phone number is worth anyway? They obviously aren't selling the credit card information to criminals otherwise this headline would look more like Angry Customers With Stolen Identities Burn Down Gamestop
I think they deserve some sort of penalty, but $1000 a person? Absolutely insane.
Yeah, that's pretty much it. Admittedly, it makes more sense for them to hold on to the credit card number, since that's the most relevant piece of info to them and it allows the customer to be easily identified.Irridium said:
Their practices have always weireded me out. Not when you're pre-order, when you're selling games. I can't remember whether it's your address or phone number that they ask for (it has been a while since I've sold a game) but they always want some kind of info like that, and it's creepy. What are they using it for?
Was she trading in a game? If that's the case--or reserving one--I'm pretty sure her case just got shot in the head. If they just asked for all that stuff, then well, don't give it out if it bothers you. I get annoyed with Barns & Noble because every time I go in there, they get on the very edge of demanding my e-mail address. It's gotten to the point where I don't shop there anymore because I don't want to give it to them...
Um...where was I going with this?
Um...where was I going with this?
In-store transactions do not need personal information, however, they need all card digits to complete the transaction, whether swiped or manually imputed. When a card is swiped or entered they need all digits because:JDKJ said:
The first digit is the system number.
(Visa/MC) Digits two through six are the bank number, The digits after the bank number up through digit 15 are the account number, and digit 16 is a check digit (used with the CVV2 number).
(AmEx) Digits three and four are type and currency, digits five through 11 are the account number, digits 12 through 14 are the card number within the account and digit 15 is a check digit.
Also, the mag stripe carries the name, address and telephone number of the holder to verify information with the issuing bank. This is why some transactions require a person to enter their zip code or telephone number.
This GameStop person was an idiot to ask. A person does not need to vocalize their private information for a transaction, but the plaintiff is even more of an idiot for giving it. And if California law says
, then all online retailers are violating said law. Therefore, as an online retailer, I should stop selling to California.JDKJ said:
How do they have proof that the Gamestop actually did this? Something is missing in this article. And aren't all things done through the POS? I mean, the register is hooked to it, but you might as well sue the POS company for doing it. They don't actually process sales through their computer system, they only use it to track purchases as far as I can tell.
Gamestops everywhere ask your name, address and phone number. They asked her for it, and then she gave it to them. She could have declined or asked them what it was for first. This is not their fault. I get asked the same thing every time I buy something at Best Buy, at which time I decline to give them the information simply because I barely shop at their overpriced stores. Amazon probably has her personal information as well as any other place she may have shopped at online.
Gamestops everywhere ask your name, address and phone number. They asked her for it, and then she gave it to them. She could have declined or asked them what it was for first. This is not their fault. I get asked the same thing every time I buy something at Best Buy, at which time I decline to give them the information simply because I barely shop at their overpriced stores. Amazon probably has her personal information as well as any other place she may have shopped at online.
I dunno about that. If they're using the information to compile mailing lists and then selling or trading those mailing lists to or with other companies (which many businesses do), the financial benefit from that (either in terms of sales generated by mailing list campaigns or from the outright sale of lists) could be worth well in excess of $1000 a pop. A mailing list of consumers with credit cards who have been positively identified as willing to plop down their cards on a particular product or service can be worth its weight in gold.danpascooch said:
What makes you think that an online retailer records the personal information provided for any longer than it takes to effect the transaction? And the analogy is a bit off, if you ask me. It's kinda difficult to purchase and receive something online without giving a name, mailing address, and some contact information (e.g., e-mail address or phone number, etc.). A brick and mortar store doesn't need to know where I live in order to sell me something. I'm standing right in front of them, willing to walk my purchase out of their store on my own.gimmly22 said:
I've never used a credit card at Gamestop, although my dad has, and they have never asked my dad for his personal information. The only time I have even been asked for personal information is if I was preordering a game/picking up my preorder, trading in a game, or buying an M-rated game. And the only time I see the employees store that information is for the former two options. Honestly, I've learned to not care because as long as I'm not getting spam mail or phonecalls, I feel they're being responsible with the information they're being given. Any business that accepts trade-ins keeps your information close at hand because they want to ensure they aren't reselling stolen goods. And I get the feeling with such low margins for new games, they also want to make sure no one is committing credit card fraud. It's a lot easier to spoof a signature than it is to spoof a photo ID. After a certain threshold, even at Starbucks we're supposed to ask for photo ID to confirm the card holder's identity.
On that note, I have no idea how this woman would be able to tell whether or not Gamestop was indeed hanging onto her credit card number after the transaction. What did she do, lean over the counter for the next 8 hours and watch the cashier's every move? Does she know whether or not the system itself automatically purges credit card numbers after verifying the sale? Did she base her hypothesis after repeat visits and finding out that her personal information is kept so Gamestop can easily track preorders and holds for the customer?
I hate sue-happy people.
On that note, I have no idea how this woman would be able to tell whether or not Gamestop was indeed hanging onto her credit card number after the transaction. What did she do, lean over the counter for the next 8 hours and watch the cashier's every move? Does she know whether or not the system itself automatically purges credit card numbers after verifying the sale? Did she base her hypothesis after repeat visits and finding out that her personal information is kept so Gamestop can easily track preorders and holds for the customer?
I hate sue-happy people.
You do not remember the TJMax.com incident three years ago. The online portion of the retailer stored the credit card and personal information on their servers, as part of their PCI DSS 1.0 compliance. Their servers were hacked and millions of people had their information stolen. Do you frequent an online store that asks to store your billing information to speed up your transaction? How about completing your car loan payment online?JDKJ said:
No mailing list in the history of the world has ever been worth $1000 a person for a name and phone number, ever. It's clear they aren't selling the credit card numbers or else identity theft would be rampant among their customers.JDKJ said:
If you can show any evidence otherwise I'll eat my own face.
Look you ask for the most you can in this situation to give yourself negotiation room. Thats all it is you don't start negotiating from what your willing to get out of it you start from the most you can and work your way down. Gamestop obviously would rather not pay anything and so thats their starting point fro negotiation.
In the end the only real winners are the bloody lawyers again.
In the end the only real winners are the bloody lawyers again.
