[iMOTOR]

This is something that has been bothering me for a while: when stores and restaurants ask for your name when you order. It seems to be an increasing trend. I don't even have a difficult to understand name, but the clerk always has to ask twice, and then they get it wrong anyway.

Let's make it easy for both of us: give me a number.

[reader50]

Since all these locations have surveillance cameras, they can match a face to a name for future reference. Even if you pay cash.

Actually, the physical businesses that ask for "an email address" bug me more than the restaurants. And they don't get an email unless they really need it.

[Laminar]

If I'm dicking around with my phone or something while waiting for food, hearing someone yell "SIX TWO THREE" doesn't do anything for me, but "LAMINAR" will jerk me back to the real world pretty quick.

[reader50]

hmm ... give them a fake name. You could even tell them your name is Mr. "Forty One". Or use a familiar handle, like "iMotor".

[mindwaves]

I prefer a number. It makes you know where you are in the queue.

[Shaddim]

Give them a fake name, I usually go by Phil Atio.

[iMOTOR]

I do give a fake name, and this is how it usually goes:

Can I have a name?

Mark

What?

Mmaarrkk.

Mark?

Mmhmm.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

If I'm dicking around with my phone or something while waiting for food, hearing someone yell "SIX TWO THREE" doesn't do anything for me, but "LAMINAR" will jerk me back to the real world pretty quick.

I'm way too hungry for that shit. Before they've even gotten the six out of their mouth I'm on them like they were a crippled gazelle.

[Laminar]

And then it turns out they were calling 624 because your meal always takes a little longer for some reason.

[Thorzdad]

The only places I've been to that ask for my name are the ones where they bring you your order (or, like Starbucks, has a crowd of people waiting for their orders) and just a first name suffices. Even then, you could give them whatever name or word you want.

[ghporter]

When they used to actually call out your name when your order was ready (or clue in the waitperson with your name for when they served the order), I didn't have any problem with this, even when they (almost always) misspelled my name. There are two "N's" in my name, and it is rare that anyone spells it correctly. Lately, even at Starbucks when they ask for your name, the barista only says "half-caf, no whip grande pansy cup with sprinkles"* instead of "Glenn, your order is up," I'm highly tempted to create an alter ego with a difficult name that gives everyone problems, just to make it worth my while to give them a name. I'm inspired by the books/movie "Fletch."

*Not really; I'm typically a straight coffee guy. But it is entertaining to see how involved some people's orders there are - and even more entertaining to finally see who matches to what order!

[turtle777]

Friend of mine uses a "restaurant name", Gottfried.

There is no chance there's two of them.

-t

[subego]

I had a friend who did that, except it was "Jagger".

[Doc HM]

I actively loathe the practise, which I usually encounter only at Starbucks. I don't really know why i hate it so much and I understand the staff (who have no option) must be sick and tired of getting stick for it, so I usually just politely decline to give my name and say that I'm sure we'll work something out at the collection end without it.

So far I've always got my coffee. Which isn't actually as great as it sounds as I also loathe Starbucks coffee, but my children like it so we go there periodically.

[subego]

That's because your barista spit in it for not giving your name.

[Jawbone54]

I don't mind giving a name, but I have to use my middle name since my first is common enough that it frequently causes confusion.

But I really don't care, unless I throw away my receipt with my order number, then immediately forget the number.

[ort888]

I think it was on a podcast somewhere, but they were talking about this exact thing. Giving your name at a coffee shop. They came to the conclusion that the most straightforward, impossible to screwup, no fuss name to give them is BOB.

I have a fairly common name (Aaron) and I would say that about 25% of the people I say my name to can spell it.

Erin, Arron, Aron, Aarron, I've seen it all. Usually they start, write an A... pause... crumple their brow and ask me to spell it...

[turtle777]

I might go with Bob Squarepants in the future...

-t

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by ort888 

I have a fairly common name (Aaron) and I would say that about 25% of the people I say my name to can spell it.

Erin, Arron, Aron, Aarron, I've seen it all. Usually they start, write an A... pause... crumple their brow and ask me to spell it...

That's almost unbelievable. Yay, education.

[osiris]

Cartwright!



I prefer to have my name used - it stands out more than a number.

[Atheist]

I don't mind using my first name. My surname is awful and I only use it when necessary. (Can't wait to take my husband's name when we get married. The only thing I like about my surname is that it's entirely unique and I'm the only person on this planet with my name.)

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by osiris 

Cartwright!

Originally Posted by Atheist 

I don't mind using my first name. My surname is awful and I only use it when necessary. (Can't wait to take my husband's name when we get married. The only thing I like about my surname is that it's entirely unique and I'm the only person on this planet with my name.)

Way to make everyone here incredibly curious.

Come on...tell us...

[osiris]

That Cartwright gag never wears out...


So Atheist must have an interesting surname if it's indeed that unique.
Something along the lines of "Hugendong" or perhaps a more wholesome but ironic "God" or "Saviour".

The mind doth wander...