I complained in one of my diary pages about the number of websites that now require you to create an account before you can do any online shopping.

At Craftsite you do not need an account. Our aim is to provide our card making customers with a very secure online shopping service that has the minimum of hassle and to me accounts, logins and passwords (which I have difficulty remembering) is hassle.

There are benefits from some sites that operate an account system. Sainsburys is one instance. It took me an hour the first time I used their website but they way they store information makes it a doddle for future shops and I can now do a week’s shopping online in about 15 minutes so there is a benefit to the customer. At John Lewis, if you don’t want to create an account, you have the option of placing your order by phone to very helpful staff. These are good sites but what about the other ones – especially the ones that ask for personal information that you really don’t want to give to them – is this really going to be a benefit to you or is it going to benefit them?

My original complaint about websites that require you to create an account arose when I wanted to buy some training aids and a few treats for an English Springer Spaniel puppy (springer spaniels are not the easiest of puppies to house train). I really didn’t see why I had to register, wait for the email back to me with login and password, and then go back to the site and enter them just so I could pay for my goods. Anyway, in the end I gave in and did just that and then found that the payments screen didn’t work – what a waste of time. Along the way it asked me about the number and types of pets I own. Now, I don’t actually own the puppy but I lied and said I did because I didn’t want them thinking that, as I have no pets, the toilet training aid and the doggy treats were for my own personal use. It could be a bit embarrassing. Why did they want to know about my pets? Easy answer – marketing.

Now I’ve come across something worse. I wanted some training shoes. I like a particular brand and within that brand a particular type of running shoe. I couldn’t find a single website where I could buy them without opening an online account and I could only find one site that had what I wanted in my size. Apart from the usual details I had to enter my date of birth and I didn’t want to so I phoned them. The girl I spoke to said they needed my date of birth “for security reasons”. What poppycock! We have processed thousands and thousands of online transactions at Craftsite and never once asked a customer for their date of birth. The credit companies don’t need it, the Revenue and Customs people don’t need it. However, if you are a company that passes your database of customers on to third parties then it’s useful information to have as, if they know your age, it can help the companies who buy these lists to target you with certain products. And that’s exactly what they are using it for. (By the way, I didn’t give my date of birth and didn’t buy from this company.)

I had a closer look at this website. I tried to find out if they passed on data to other companies as if they do then they must say that they do. I finally found it – very well hidden I might add – I was actually on the checkout screen when I found a small link – most people wouldn’t have noticed it – that told me what they were going to do with the data. Here are a few quotes (I’ve used the words “the company” as I don’t want to identify the website as they are not the only ones who do this sort of thing):

The company may use your data to analyse your shopping preferences as part of our marketing programmes.

The company may pass this information on to other retailers.

The company, or a third party, may telephone or email you to discuss account details or for market research.

I don’t want marketing people phoning me. I find it extremely annoying. So, it pays to read the small print on websites – and to dig and dig until you find the small print.

You don’t need a login and password to shop with us.

You do need a login and password if you want to post an article on this blog but there are 3 good reasons for this:

1. We can prevent anything offensive, libelous or derogatory from appearing.

2. It stops spam.

3. We give prizes for any good card making tips or interesting articles and if we didn’t know who posted it then we wouldn’t know who to give the prize to!

Oh, and one more thing about Craftsite – we never ever pass your details on to third parties.