@Anonymous wrote:I went to GNC today, ive been to this location a couple times never had an issue like this.
I went to the counter with my item, one guy came over asked me if i wanted to buy another tub of protein because its buy one get one half. Then asked me if i wanted to become a GNC member for $15. I said no thank you. Then the manager comes over, and hes like "i got this ill ring him up." Then proceeds to ask me the same exact questions the previous sales person did. Again i said no thank you. He scans the item, i pull out my wallet, shuffle through 4 cc's pull out my freedom. I notice him looking the whole time. I swiped and then he started demanding to see some ID.
I said no, why should i have to show you ID? 'Ive never had to show ID to make a purchase anywhere. Ive been here before why do i have to show ID now? He then tells me its company policy, and how credit card companies require it. I told him "Thats not true, thats how you lose your visa license." He then says something idiotic "Well AMEX requires we ID everyone thats how it is." I started laughing at him "I told him you really dont want me to call AMEX and tell them you are requiring ID for purchases, they will call you so fast, dont do it." I told him i dont want to complain but he really should look it up, because this is how you lose your merchant license with them.. He just looked at me pissed when i kept refusing.
He then said whatever, and rang me up.
This was a manager by the way. I was pretty shocked. Im not really sensitive or touchy, but i felt like i was being discriminated against. Im a mid 20s black guy with a beard and I had on a baseball cap. Im wondering if he felt i was scamming him or something. I dont know. A gentleman was serviced before me, he swiped his card and was not asked for ID. Again im normally not sensitive, but i cant ignore the feeling.
Debating if i should report them to VISA. Or call GNC corporate.
Have you been asked to see ID to make a purchase before on an unrestricted item?
To be honest, it sounds like you were racial profiled. I think you should complain to GNC Corporate. The manager's name and/or employee ID# is probably printed somewhere on your receipt.
I never really "carded" people except when I worked at Target because we were required to for alcohol purchases (yes, you can refuse to show me your ID but guess what? I ain't selling you alcohol; same with pseudoephedrine and yes, your address may stay on file for a few years). I know there's an issue of privacy but if you just show someone your ID long enough for the cashier to verify it's you and you are of legal age, it should be fine. As a former cashier, I never even looked at the address on the license. I just matched the picture to the face of the person holding and the date of birth.
I personally think using a signature to ID the person is really outdated (and let's face it, unless you have special training, it'd be hard to pick a good forgery). I think Chip + PIN would've been the way to go..
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@kdm31091 wrote:Companies have to skate a thin line. If nobody ever cards anyone, fraud is much less likely to be detected, and you'd be annoyed if they didn't catch someone else using your card, right?
So if for whatever reason the merchant wants to ID you to verify that it is indeed your card, what's the big deal? It takes all of 2 seconds to show your ID and move on with your day. I'm not saying whether it was right or wrong to card you in this case, it may not have been justified, but I don't know what filing a complaint will do...they're just going to say "sorry" and that's about it.
Sadly fraudsters and scammers ruin things for everyone and force retailers to be hypersensitive. I can understand privacy concerns but the sad fact is no one has privacy anymore. Do you not think the gov can see all your phone calls? Emails? Texts? Your smartphone knows where you are all the time, and is sending data to google or apple or whoever. The point is that privacy is pretty much gone no matter what thanks to the Internet and all things connected to it.
No they don't. A business would have to decide whether or not the benefit outweighs any risk associated with accepting additional payment methods and then determine it is within their risk appetite. And what they don't get to do, is add unnecessary steps to the transaction process that Visa and MasterCard preclude. Both associations have determined that ID cannot be a prerequisite for a transaction. Asking for ID, payment minimums, surcharges are ultimately petty efforts by merchants to discourage card use and instead direct a customer to use cash, this is called card suppression. Customers expect a uniform and consistent experience when they properly present their card for payment and so the rules are meant to ensure this is achieved. A business has to make a choice on cards and that choice excludes adding steps like requiring ID. You either accept cards and comply with card acceptance procedures or you don't accept cards.
I hear ya! I was asked once and felt intimidated and showed it to the woman. And that was in Bath & Body Works! Like really? I'm a middle-aged white woman. I think some just like to be jerks & push their weight around. Glad you stood up to him! 