*backup=[...snipped...] (plays twice though)

Added alternate embed code for this video - backup requested by ant.

Of course, suggest a formal Data Protection Law like in Europe and everybody loses their shit (see the arguments between Europeans and Americans over the Google data privacy fiasco).

It is legal for bankrupt/insolvent companies to sell their database, but it must be to a similar company who will keep the data intact, use it for exactly the reasons the customer was told by the original company in the first place, and the customer needs to be informed of who now owns their data and also they have the right to have it deleted.

Was the data collected just so that a warranty can be honoured? Then the new company better take on the warranty or they have no rights to the data. They want to use it for marketing? Then the customer should have consented to this first.

Radio Shack, you tried to charge me 40 dollars for a 6 inch USB cable. Fuck you.

I think the last time I went in a Radio Shack was sometime around 2003ish. I remember it distinctly because I wanted to buy plain old AA batteries, and it was the closest store. I hadn't been to one of their stores in a while and was surprised when they asked me for name, address, and phone number. To buy batteries. With cash.

So, I said my name was Jasper P. Whillacker the Third, with a 555 phone number, and living at 123 Fake Street. The clerk evidently got a lot of that. Just asked me if I wanted to reconsider and give my real name/info, I said no, so he used some fallback customer ID and let me check out. Went back a few more times over the next 2-3 years (it was close to my house at the time), and the same dude always remembered not to ask about name/info ... so I guess that is something.

I just tell people that I don't give out that information. No zip code or anything. When people started asking me my name years ago I thought they were fucking crazy, and I was shocked to see so many people casually giving their name and address out.