OK. This is getting ridiculous. Every single site I can think of requires me to confirm my e-mail address when I sign up or purchase something. The only exceptions are typically when you sign up for a new e-mail account. Those sites only ask you for a secondary e-mail address one time. Which is still a bit strange. If somebody is new to the Internet and is signing up for an e-mail address for the first time, how would that person already have a secondary e-mail address?
Think about all the information you give when you purchase something on a web site - your name, your billing address, your shipping address, your phone number, your payment information, and your e-mail address. If I was the seller, I'd be asking you to confirm your payment information a second time long before I'd be asking you to confirm your e-mail address a second time. But what happened was that confirming your e-mail address became an unspoken standard. Every time a new web site went up selling something, they'd just base their checkout page on existing checkout pages. And that's when the process of having you type your e-mail address a second time spread everywhere. Funny thing is, I usually just highlight what I typed the first time, copy it, then paste it when it asks me to confirm my e-mail address!
I can just imagine where this can lead to.... confirm your name, confirm your address, and confirm your credit card number a third time!
What is also becoming the norm is to actually validate your e-mail address. So enter your e-mail address twice and then wait for a validation e-mail to visit a web site to validate that the e-mail address is really yours. If I'm selling something, why do I care? As long as the credit card number is valid and the billing address checks out, I'm ready to sell you something. If you mistype your e-mail address or use a fake e-mail address... OH WELL. Nothing lost on my side. Except I can't send my marketing e-mails to you!
I think we should consider some of this redundancy for non-Internet usage. It could really cut down on fraud!
Teller: Welcome to PYHOOYA Bank! Can I help you?
Bob (customer): Yes. I'd like to make a withdrawal.
Teller: OK. What is your account number?
Bob: 293847173.
Teller: OK. Please confirm your account number.
Bob: But I just told you my account number?! But fine - 293847173.
Teller: And what is your name? What is your name?
Bob: Bob Jenkins.
Teller: I asked for your name twice as I needed you to confirm that the name you gave me is actually your name and that you didn't make a mistake when you told me your name. So again, what is your name, what is your name?
Bob: Bob Jenkins, Bob Jenkins.
Teller: How much money would you like to withdrawal?
Bob: $100.
Teller: Please confirm how much money you would like to withdrawal.
Bob: Screw it. Withdrawal everything. Account closed.
Teller: I'm sorry, your second amount does not match your first amount. You have lost your place in line. Please start again at the back of the line. NEXT CUSTOMER PLEASE.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
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