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Rant Why, just why would you ID me!?

Discussion in 'General' started by mars-bar-man, 8 Sep 2010.

  1. mars-bar-man

    mars-bar-man Side bewb.

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    Ok, I was in WHSmiths earlier. Had finished work early and was waiting for 1.30pm so I could go and set up a student account with the bank. So I went to Smiths, went to the magazines and picked up PCFormat (already have CPC so shush :p). Queued for 10 or so minutes while the only cashier seems to have a conversation with every single customer.

    Anyway, I got to the till eventually, where she then scans the mag, and then says, "Oh, it's asking me to ID you?"

    Erm? What? I've been served by her God knows how many times, bought age restricted items before, and never once has she asked me for ID. Just why do it now?

    Reason I'm annoyed? I have no ID at all atm, I'm still waiting for my license to arrive, and my Passport is WAAY out of date. I go in to buy a computer mag, and end up getting ID'd as if I were buying a knife. Stupid.

    So I had to sit in Starbucks for an hour with sweet FA to do.

    Grrrr.
     
  2. DragunovHUN

    DragunovHUN Modder

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    Just why the hell do you guys not have ID cards in the UK?:eyebrow:
     
  3. Volund

    Volund Am I supposed to care?

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    When I read the title, I thought you were going to be complaining about buying alcohol or ciggs, but a PC mag? Does that store consider it nerd porn or something?
     
  4. mars-bar-man

    mars-bar-man Side bewb.

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    I would have normally used my driving license, but seeing as when I passed my test, they look my provisional and I'm still waiting for my full one to come through the post. I'm not going to go out of my way just to buy an ID card for a PC mag.

    Nah, even down in Tescos I don't get ID'd, a simple look at me usually lets them know I'm over 18.

    I suppose I should feel flattered that someone though I was much younger. But not when I'm simply trying to nerd out a little.
     
  5. Zinfandel

    Zinfandel Modder

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    Because OMG 1984!!!!!"(!*£
     
  6. Volund

    Volund Am I supposed to care?

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    Why would you even need to be IDed for a PC mag though? I've never heard of that before, even ones that have demo disks with M rated games aren't subject to ID over here
     
  7. mars-bar-man

    mars-bar-man Side bewb.

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    I guess maybe one of the demo's on it wasn't actually yet rated or rated at 18+, so the till system would have flashed up saying to check. But this would be the part where common sense comes into play.

    Wonder if she'd ID an 40yr old trying to buy it, because it's asked her.
     
  8. shigllgetcha

    shigllgetcha Minimodder

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    if your going to wonder, wonder what shed do if "blow the customer" came up what would she do
     
  9. liratheal

    liratheal Sharing is Caring

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    Not her fault.

    Judging ages isn't something that everyone agrees on, as such it's safer for them to assume you're not until you can prove you are.

    Does it suck? Yes.

    Are they just doing their job? Yes.

    Perhaps, then, you should grow a manly beard :p
     
  10. mars-bar-man

    mars-bar-man Side bewb.

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    I'm fully aware that she was doing her job, but surely someone you've served for a good 3 years at least, and I've been buying PCFormat, CPC, PCGamer (should probably just get a subscription) for nearly 4 years, surely you'd begin to remember that you've never asked before and presumably not ask at all?

    As for the beard? I would love to. But if any facial hair gets past 2mm in lengh, work hands me the razor.
     
  11. DMU_Matt

    DMU_Matt mmmm cheesy

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    Yes, yes she would. Because for the past few months retailers have become sooooo paranoid about trades fines for under-age sales that they are going OTT when it comes to ID-ing

    Reason for this? Because the supervisor tells the people on the till to ID all sales of alcohol etc. And some sadly take them literally and continue on in their drone-like service rather than use their own brains. :sigh:

    Example: My uncle (age 65) got IDed last month for a purchase of alcohol. :wallbash:

    Aside: Of course he refused and caused a massive fuss about it in the shop - just because he is like that, and stands up against this sort of stupidity ;)

    [in their defence] They would rather ID people that are clearly 'of-age' than get in trouble for not doing so. [/defence]
     
  12. Booga

    Booga Cuppa tea anyone?

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    Good grief what is this world coming to. :rolleyes:

    PC mags are dangerous, you could be a terrorist trying to pick up tips on how to make a thermonuclear device using a USB flash pen, some sticky tape and 4kg of plutonium (typical PCF article). :naughty:

    Or perhaps you are a young evil genius intent on taking over the world by building an army of USB powered robots. :dremel:


    :sigh:

    Edit: My 22 year old daughter regularly gets ID'd when buying ciggies in Tescos.
     
  13. mars-bar-man

    mars-bar-man Side bewb.

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    I do see that point :/ But a little common sense goes a long way.

    Crap, you've found me out. Looks like I'll have to use Firewire 400 then >.<
     
  14. liratheal

    liratheal Sharing is Caring

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    Doesn't matter, man, the age restricted sales laws are horrible, and can land a violator in serious trouble. If she were to sell you that magazine, and you were to have been a test sale (Whether you've been there before or not) she'd probably lose her job, the franchise would be in rather more legal bother than they'd want to be, and be under threat of test sales for a good few months.

    It sucks for us, the customers, but when it comes to them potentially losing their jobs, they'd rather infuriate you than do that.

    I know I did in Bargain Booze. I refused people I'd seen get served in the store before (I wasn't working there, otherwise I'd have told them to ID), and they've gone to the "I've been coming here for X years" and moaned like buggery, without realising it wouldn't come down on their shoulders if they were caught.

    I used to ID the same people on a regular basis, I did recognise a few, but frankly I'd rather ID 'em and not get into hot water with the police.

    Bah, work enforced shaving >.> Mine are trying that at the moment. I told them to buy me an electric razor for christmas >.>
     
  15. Fingers66

    Fingers66 Kiwi in London

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    Common sense is an oxymoron, at least the common part is.
     
  16. memeroot

    memeroot aged and experianced

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    Years ago when I was 16 I was working on tills at a supermarket... they told me I had to call a supervisor every time someone tried to buy alcohol....

    I asked a nun, a priest and a mum (the latter buying sherry trifle) for id that day

    such laughs.
     
  17. Hex

    Hex Paul?! Super Moderator

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    I went & bought myself an ID card because I get ID'd for vanilla extract alllll the damn time. I kind of don't mind though, because it's really quite funny and makes me feel better about maybe not looking as old as I am. (Someone guessed my age as 9 years younger than I actually am at the festival :rock:).

    Actually this has reminded me of an incident a few years back. Going into a club, all my younger friends walked straight in and I got stopped and asked for ID. My response was to tell the doorman I loved him and give him a big hug. He just said "oh god, you're probably really old aren't you... in you go" :D
     
  18. Shadowed_fury

    Shadowed_fury Minimodder

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    Its her job at the end of the day, and its the law. What can she do? She can into so much crap if she did the wrong thing one day.

    Just get over it, it happens.
     
  19. Picarro

    Picarro What's a Dremel?

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    Uhm, do like me and order some ID? Easyidcard.com will do it for you. You can even customise the look of it.
     
  20. NeiltheDruid

    NeiltheDruid Minimodder

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    I hear you man, it's stupid. I got the exact same thing buying a PC Gamer magazine, I'm 23 years old and I look older thanks to my beard and long hair.

    I don't really have any form of ID, I don't have a drivers license, I don't have a passport. So I ended up leaving without the mag. I walked five minutes up the street and bought it from a newsagents without a hitch.

    Stupid WH Smiths.
     

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