Circuit City so called customer policy

Today I went to Circuit City to purchase several small office networking devices. When I approached the counter I stated that I won't sign the electronic signature device. As a consumer who is security conscious, especially regarding when protecting myself from identity theft, there is no justification in this day and age to allow any business store your digitized signature on their servers. Typically this isn't a problem, other then the clerk needing to ask how to perform this function. At this Circuit City store, the clerk did so and when the manager came over, it wasn't to help the clerk, but to tell me if I don't conform to the electronic signature device, the sell would be voided. I asked the typical questions, isn't there anyone that you can ask? "no" Can I escalate this to your boss? "no, I'm the escalation" Would you allow a purchase of $10,000 walk away? "yes, it is the policy to keep all signatures on file" Now my purchase wasn't for $10,000, although I did leave the store, and went to Staples and made the purchase without signing the electronic signature device "NO Problem". Prior to leaving Circuit City, I asked the store manager to see this policy that forces there customers to sign this device allowing a company to keep a copy of their signature on computer system that in the past had very questionable security practices that are documented as part of the public record. This store manager simply stated that he doesn't need to show me a store policy. My reply was, so you don't need to disclose your security policy regarding my personal information. Go figure..... Well, I'm glad that there is a store "Staples" that is still customer conscious especially when it surrounds personal data security.

My day ended in a positive note, and it is sad to see a business that has so much invested in meeting the forecast of their share holders which would potential allow large volume of business walk away. Especially when it could be prevented by printing the credit receipt and having the consumer sign the paper like in the past. Doesn't sound so difficult, if this was my business I would have two items on my agenda. 1. Educate all my clerks on this function. 2. Release any manager that would allow business leave the store over something so foolish.