As a teenager I worked at a discount store, and sometimes ran the service desk, which (among many other things) involved processing returns. The returns form included a spot for "phone number", to which some customers would respond, "my number is unlisted". We honored that. Today in the USA, it seems the phone number is the new Social Security Number, which everybody wants to use for tracking. Stores used to give out physical discount cards (which I wasn't keen on either...) but now (obviously because it saves them money) so many stores have switched to a system where your account is tracked through a phone number or an app or both. No thank you.

The more effective way to do this that is popping up everywhere is a loyalty program that uses your phone number as the identifier. Buy 10 coffees, get one free, but the purchases are only tracked if you input your phone number.

I often use my old landline number when stores ask me for a phone number. I gave it up about 20 years ago. I feel a little sorry for the guy who has it now (only a little sorry) because whoever it was reassigned to, probably gets many spam calls on my behalf.

[Your Area Code]-867-5309 is what I always use - alas they are becoming wise to that

[areaCode]-555-1212 is one I use, but any 555 prefix will work as it is not meant for actual phone numbers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_(telephone_number)

I've used 213-456-7890 a few times on throwaway things.

cool example :)

This has been a thing since the 1990s when I worked at Radio Shack.

At least they gave me a free battery every month.

I feel sorry for their database because I was a teenager with a bunch of guitar pedals and an ongoing need for 9V batteries. I made up a LOT of phone numbers.

It was only a thing at Radio Shack, and I would never give them my number.

“Can I have your phone number for this order?”

“Nope.”

Already pisses me off that companies make a profile of me based on credit card numbers. I’ve had this number for decades. I’m sure you could build a complete profile of me based on my cell number, and this is the only “social” site I use. I got off fb in 2008, never even joined the rest (twitter, insta, reddit, et. al.) just because my phone number has been raped out of anyone else who has my name and number in their phone.

> is being asked for phone number or email at checkout

For amusement, I often counter that by simply smiling and asking the cashier for their phone number (maybe with a sleezy wink). Their inevitable grin does rather drive home the point that, no, neither of us are giving our number to random unknown strangers.