Earlier this week I looked at an out-doorman's site for shoes for an upcoming hiking trip. I put a pair of boots in the shopping cart for a few minutes then changed my mind. I fill out nothing else. The next day I got an email from them. How did they get my email? Technology is getting very invasive.

I think it's normal procedure to take your license information to drive the car, but finding a number to text you seems to be stepping over the line. Had you spoken to him by phone (the number he texted)? I probably would just answer no and be done with it and hopefully he takes no for an answer.

I know whenever I looked something up, it usually shows up as an ad. I was looking for information for Phosphorus levels in dogs and the next day I was seeing ads for Phosphorus Dog Food, like that was a brand. Crazy!!!

Interesting. I haven't shopped for a car or truck in years! I do have some stories tho. Hiram Walker used to own this Land Rover....yeah really!? Salesmen say the dumbest things. Hiram Walker died in 1899, when I pointed that out to the salesperson, he said grandson. lol

i do put things in my online cart all the time, then look around for a better price. They send me emails, saying "you left something in your cart", as a pushy reminder. lol

It is Big Brother.

I agree...I didn't think twice when he asked for my license...but no, I didn't call or text anyone about seeing the car, just showed up to see it after seeing it online.

Looks like you're more naked than ya thot, one step from lookin' at yer behind, even when lookin' for a replacement car, huh?

o j

This organization will probably continue to do that unless you speak with a supervisor (or the supervisor's supervisor) and voice you displeasure at being contacted this way. Infringement of privacy and all that.

End of January, I was looking for a smaller occasional/accent cabinet for my mothers smaller apartment. Something with some storage or display that I could sit her TV on. One of the places I looked online was Lamps Plus. I bought nothing, asked nothing, put no items in a shopping cart...and, I clear my browsing history and cookies every night that I've had this desk top turned on. I've rec'd an email from Lamps Plus announcing specials, ads for products every. single. day. since.

But I don't know what to say about your car experience. It wouldn't be questionable here in my smaller community, no surprises at being known and while my cell phone wouldn't be easy to obtain, my home phone is listed. Sounds pushy to me. If someone were to ask for my license going forward, I might ask if they intended to use any information from it.

I would register my negative reaction, diplomatically but firmly, to not only the "sales"person involved, but to other(s) further up the chain of command/responsibility.

Complaints to neighbours, whether face to face, online, or wherever, almost always produce minimal to nil desired changes.

Sort of like planting seeds on the street and expecting a fruitful harvest.

By the way, I'm pleased now on May 1 with the '07 Grand Prix with 177,000 km., about 111,000 m., that I bought for $2,500 last Sept. - it was on "nine eleven", actually.

The selling lady, who attends a church where I do, said that she thought that it was the first time in her life that she had held $2,500. in her hand.

ole joyful

You may have done business with them before, maybe a service call for your or your husband's car, or oil change, etc., and so they have your info on file. I believe salesmen are required to make a certain number of followup calls/texts to you after you've been to the dealership, depending on how their management works.

I would answer, no thank you and then block his number.

I think I'd just flat out ask him how he got your number.

We bought a Kia Sorento 2.5 years ago. Love it! About a week later, the salesman called to see how we liked it.

Then about 6 months later, I started getting calls asking if we "needed" anything. Another car? Service? NO.

They kept calling... I asked them twice to take us off the list. The last time, I told them if they called again we would never set foot in their dealership again. So far, that has worked.

Anywhere they take a copy of my license, when I'm finished with my business with them I ask for the copy back.

Depending on the state law it may be required to take a copy of the license or it may be a dealership practice to prevent someone from simply driving off with the car. A professional thief who does drive offs would have several false licenses. If I was test driving without someone from the dealership in the car I would expect them to at least keep some record rather than just memory of who took the car.

I have been looking for something smaller so far only one idiot car sales person who when I asked the bottom clearance stuck his foot under the edge. He knew he had lost that sale when he saw my face. Unlike in the past only one has asked for my information and when I told him that I wanted no phone calls I have not received any from him. He asked one question on email and that was all.

"What do you think about this?"

I think it's normal. It's the business's policy, not the salesman's. If you contact his boss to let him know you got this message, the salesman will probably get a pat on the back for following the prescribed procedures. Or, it may be automatic and done for all who take a test drive.

Salespeople are paid for selling, and only for selling. Today's techniques and tools are more sophisticated than yesterday's. I wouldn't let it bother you.

Earlier today, I was making a large purchase at a store. The salesperson told me I could get $100 taken off my purchase if I put it on the store's credit card, which I didn't have. I thought sure, why not, no need to use it again. They needed my license to run the credit check, I didn't give it a second thought.

"every night that I've had this desk top turned on. I've rec'd an email from Lamps Plus announcing specials, ads for products every. single. day. since."

Click on Unsubscribe at the bottom of the message and you won't receive another.

I would not count on that Elmer.

I've bought stuff from Lamps Plus and haven't had that problem. But it's been a few years, practices certainly could have changed.

If Unsubscribe doesn't work, contact Customer Service. It's a legit business, they don't want to be annoying.

Olychick - One year went into the Mercedes dealership to test drive a new car. I asked for the copy of my license back after the test drive. Low and behold, the next year I go into a another dealership owned by the same dealer. (Yes, I know it takes me a long time to make a decision. I didn't really need new car and the prices were shocking!) When I asked "don't you need my license?" the salesperson stated, no I've got a copy in our system when you test drove the Mercedes last year." WTH

Lol, I guess I'm of the generation that still thinks the only copies are paper. Makes sense (from their standpoint) that they'd photocopy it into their system.

That is fine they copy my license..its not fine that they somehow got my info from somewhere else to contact me off of my license. If I wanted to hear from him I would have given him my info. Maybe that is a new practice but I don't appreciate it even if that is their business "sales". And NO I've never ever been to this dealership so there was no way they had any of my info from previous dealings.

I wonder what would happen if you refused to give them your license to copy. I had always assumed it was insurance issue in case you wrecked a car on a test drive.

I'll bet half of the people who say they aren't looking to buy something, buy something.

Put yourself in the position of someone who earns their income as a sales person. What would you do with a potential customer who says that? Ignore them and lose the sale? Get in trouble with your boss for doing so?

This is the era of operational rules. Whether it's people at a bank, an insurance company, a car dealership, yada yada yada, when you're dealing with something that involves more than a trivial amount of money, customer-facing employees have rigid training about what to do and not do, rules to follow and little leeway.

I think your expectation was unreasonable. What if the response had been "sorry, we're busy and only have time to spend with potential customers". How would you have felt to hear that? What would you have said?

'infringement of privacy" its interesting how we have changed. Phone numbers used to be printed in a book and given away to anyone who wanted them. Now no one is allowed to call unless they have prior permission. Its curious.

I would be curious how they got my cell phone number, but a text message is less Intrusive way to contact you than calling

arcy: but even then, you had a choice to not be listed in the phone book.

So should I be expecting calls or texts from every store I browse in..them asking if there was anything that they could interest me in since I stopped in their store?? I'm sorry but I do not think it is right however they got my number in order to text and follow up. I don't expect someone to call me that I haven't given my number to, period.

If you don't want sales-related calls/texts of any kind, don't give out your phone number and keep your phone turned off when you leave your house.

Both Apple and Android phones have settings and apps to block calls of various origins. At the extreme, you can limit incoming calls to only be people in your contact list. I'm not sure how good an idea that is, it's not something I would do.

As many have described, including Lars and others in another recent thread, there are enough wanted calls from unknown numbers we all get that simply pulling down the shade for all calls other than friends and family seems imprudent.

Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” A corollary to that is that it's also when a person does nothing about something they think is a problem but still expects it to change

I would text back and thank him for letting me drive the vehicle.

Then I would check the settings on my phone. Bluetooth, airdrop, location services on?

I would never ever be upset with a salesperson who contacted me after I took his time (and sales rotation) after test driving without a dream of buying. and if it bothered me too much I would ask him how he got my number?