RadioShack Puts Customer Data Up For Sale In Bankruptcy Auction

[ElNono]

For years, RadioShack made a habit of collecting customers' contact information at checkout. Now, the bankrupt retailer is putting that data on the auction block (http://www.itworld.com/article/2901029/radioshack-puts-customers-personal-data-up-for-sale-in-bankruptcy-auction.html). A list (http://www.hilcostreambank.com/assets/radioshack-assets-for-sale) of RadioShack assets for sale includes more than 65 million customer names and physical addresses, and 13 million email addresses. Bloomberg reports (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-24/standard-general-said-to-prevail-in-bid-for-radioshack-assets) that the asset sale may include phone numbers and information on shopping habits as well. New York's Attorney General says his office will take 'appropriate action' (http://www.itworld.com/article/2901710/new-york-threatens-action-if-radioshack-sells-customer-data.html) if the data is handed over.

[Blake]

Fucking radio shack. I always hated when they asked for that info at checkout.

I have slightly less hate for them than for blockbuster

[boutons_deux]

nothing new. There's a huge business of corps trading in customer lists, HUGE. Makes the govt police surveillance state look like blind mice (of course, the police state has or gets into ALL corporate databases just for the asking)

[CosmicCowboy]

Just about every time you download a free app on the computer or phone your information gets traded.

Those free IM smiley faces are notorious for that shit.

[Wild Cobra]

Radio Shack was probably required to include that in their assets, which in bankruptcy, may have little control over what happens to their assets.

There are so many places I do not shop simply because they have a two price tier structure. One for members, and a much higher jacked up price for non members. For this reason, I do not shop at Fred Meyer, Safeway, Albertsons, GNC, and so many other places. All of you how accept the cheaper prices using club cards are the reason why such things are a problem.

I'm sorry to hear Radio Shack closing their doors. You could at least refuse giving them data, and still pay the same price.