DID YOU EVER WONDER: Why stores want your ZIP code
When I was shopping at a department store, the person ringing up the sale said she needed my home address, Zip code and home telephone number. She said she could not complete the sale without the information, that the computer wouldn’t give the receipt without it.
Why was I required to tell them that?
— Jessica
ANSWER: The Better Business Bureau said it’s strictly store or corporate policy. One major local chain always asks for just the Zip code and said that’s for their marketing and in-house purposes. The BBB said it’s up to the customer to decide whether or not to give stores personal information.
If they’re worried about identity theft problems, customers can choose to leave without completing their purchases and take their business elsewhere.
“Free” vs. “for free”
Aren’t people and businesses using incorrect English when they say a person can get something “for free.” Isn’t it correct to say they get it “free?” We buy something “for $5.25,” but if we don’t pay anything for it we don’t get it “for free.” What is the correct English here?
— Terry Stokka
ANSWER: We asked the people who check our stories for grammar issues: Gazette copy editors Linda Doty and Willow Welter. They said that grammatically the “for” is unnecessary. However, “Webster’s New World College Dictionary” lists “for free” as an informal phrase with the meaning “without cost or payments; gratis.” So it depends on how formal your statement is.
Down Mexico Way
What happened to the Mexico Way restaurant. It was in the alley north of Pikes Peak by a parking lot. Across from Kimball’s Peak Three Theater. They had the best food.
ANSWER: The restaurant closed and The Gazette’s resident foodie Teresa Farney thinks it was some time ago. The telephone is disconnected.
Perhaps a reader can tell us if the owners have a restaurant elsewhere. One of The Gazette’s graphic artists hopes they did because he was especially fond of the Mexico Way buffets.
Iris Test Gardens
A reader asked about helping weed the iris gardens at East Library and Information Center and we heard from Sally Funk, treasurer of the Elmohr Iris Society.
The society invites volunteers to help them on their weeding days at Loomis Iris Test Gardens and to participate in their meetings. They’ll teach weeders how to work in the hybrid-testing beds which have plants in various stages of growth.
Elmohr Iris Society events are listed on coloradosprings.com, On The GO! on gazette.com and on Your Hub.
It’s a group with an interesting local (and national) history. Why are they the Loomis gardens? Go to: tinyurl.com/m7kelv
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