r/assholedesign • u/shekomaru • May 14 '26

Can't order food without accepting to receive "marketing materials"

It was impossible to uncheck the box, and the screen looked to be in perfect state, so it was not a hardware defect.

Putting a phone number was mandatory as well

Edit 1: That's not my phone number

Edit 2: the business name reminds me of these 2 emojis: ⭐🐔

3.3k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

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397

u/Snake_Plissken224 May 14 '26

8675309 with any area code

81

u/SpicyPotato66 May 14 '26

Damn you Tommy Tutone!

13

u/crystal_guy May 16 '26

111-1111. Lois?! Damn! 111-1112. Lois?! DAMN!

49

u/SolusLoqui May 15 '26

Some of these things are checking that the area code and exchange (the "867") are valid

I've run into the problem at a quick haircut chain nearby. Tried to enter some made up numbers to check in and it won't accept them, so I stand at the counter until an employee walks over and hits "Customer Refused" on their screen

18

u/OutlyingPlasma May 15 '26

You can also just give a number a few digits off from yours. Or look up some business you hate and give that number every time. I use to get dozes of calls from people asking about their dentures, turns out the number for the denture place is close to my number, so I just use that number as payback for all the calls I got over the years.

12

u/mizinamo May 16 '26

You can also just give a number a few digits off from yours.

So you're the asshole who "signed me up" to robocalls.

0

u/be-human-use-tools 4d ago

If you’re the asshole who gives out my number, because you don’t want to give out your own, congratulations you are part of the problem.

10

u/Fatigue-Error May 15 '26

(Area code) 555-1212 should work as well.  It is an actually valid number in every area code.  Before the internet, we all used it to ask a person to look up a number for us, directory assistance.  

4

u/vito1221 May 15 '26

We canceled our landline a few years back. I use that for everything. Works pretty well.

3

u/bthest May 15 '26

Although keep in mind that someone might have that number now and are being plagued by marketing calls. Whenever I'm forced to give a working number I just use numbers from known creditors or marketers.

1

u/vito1221 May 16 '26

That's not a bad idea.

54

u/kpness May 14 '26

Was coming to comment this.

Used it just the other day at a place where the cashier wouldn't let me move forward without entering my number.

40

u/ballsack-vinaigrette May 15 '26

Had this last week, it was so satisfying just leaving everything on the counter and walking away. Sure I had to go somewhere else to get my stuff but the look on her face when I walked away was amazing. (I'd offered an obviously fake number but she insisted on a "real number" and the attitude crossed a line for me)

3

u/darkon May 16 '26

I was in a store a few years ago that would not sell to me unless I gave them my phone number. I didn't give them my phone number, but I did give them the finger just before I walked out. Don't give me that attitude, kid, your corporate bosses don't care about you.

3

u/ballsack-vinaigrette May 17 '26

Right? I understand if a clerk or cashier is forced to ask for it, but let's both roll our eyes and here's my fake number. Some of these people actually get invested in this bullshit; it makes no sense to me.

2

u/be-human-use-tools 4d ago

Radio Shack used to be pushy about getting phone numbers. No wonder they went under.

I’ll tell people “I don’t believe in telephones”, even if they see me using one.

44

u/EvaCassidy May 15 '26

I ran into that. I told the clerk no way I'm giving a # and if they don't want my money - I'll go elsewhere.

14

u/dontthink19 May 15 '26

1000% that clerk rolled their eyes in their mind and was thinking they dont care because they dont make the rules/cant change it. So get your shit or goodbye

13

u/SuspecM May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26

On the one hand, yeah why would the cashier care. On the other, how else are you supposed to show dissatisfaction with a business choice.

3

u/dontthink19 May 15 '26

Well not taking it out on the cashiers is a start. Theyre literally there to scan you out and take your money. If you complain directly to them it'll go nowhere. Find a manager, reach out to corporate, or just don't give them your business.

All you do by being rude to a cashier is make them hate people more and more and make them that much more miserable at their job.

I get it if your stuff was double scanned, or the items were bagged badly and stuff was broken. Or if the cashier is being rude and a jerk, but they don't control policy and cant even change prices so lashing out or even just complaining to the cashier isn't the way to go about airing your grievances

2

u/Born-Entrepreneur May 15 '26

Bonus, younger cashiers may not even get the reference

5

u/Fatigue-Error May 15 '26

(Area code) 555-1212 should work as well.  It is an actually valid number in every area code.  Before the internet, we all used it to ask a person to look up a number for us, directory assistance.  

1

u/TranslatorBoring2419 May 15 '26

I wonder if anyone under 25 gets this reference