What's your postcode?

Sooooo today I was in a 'well known supermarket' at the checkout.  I'd just paid for all my shopping, when the young, spotty, teenage, checkout operator, asked, 'What's your postcode?'

I'd only bought a few things and I'd paid with cash so I replied; 'Why do you need to know that?'................

Spotty teenager: 'Oh ummm, oh ummm'

Me: 'WHY do you need my postcode?'

Spotty teenager: 'We're doing a survey to see how far people have travelled to shop here.'

Bearing in mind I am a 'Ranting Middle Aged Spinster' who lives in the South West where the tourism industry is HUGE.......................... And there are loads of caravan sites and camping sites and holiday lets and B&Bs, etc etc........................  This to me seemed like a pretty stupid question.

Me: 'So if I'm on holiday here do you want my home address postcode or my holiday address postcode?'

Spotty teenager: Oh ummmm oh ummmm, home postcode'.

Me: OK, so say I live in Grimbsy, that was the first place that popped into my head does 'well known supermarket' want to know how far I've travelled to shop here?'

Spotty teenager: 'Yes'

Me: 'That's ridiculous.  I've bought 3 bottles of wine, a loaf of bread and some mushrooms.  Do you really think I am going to travel all the way from Grimbsy to buy that?  And do you actually know where Grimbsy is?'

Spotty teenager: 'No'.

Me:  Grimbsy is hundreds of miles away so do you really think I would travel hundreds of miles to buy 3 bottles of wine, some mushrooms and a loaf of bread?'

Spotty teenage checkout operator looks embarrassed so I feel sorry for him.

Me:  This is a really stupid survey.  It's not your fault.  I know you're only being paid to do what 'well known supermarket' is asking you to do but seriously, this is a ridiculous survey.  Have the management told you why they are doing this survey and what they hope to achieve from it?'

Spotty teenager looks even more embarrassed!  Obviously hasn't got a clue why he's being asked to ask people for their postcodes.

Sooooooo I have three things to say here.............................

1)  Why do 'big companies' not treat their staff like human beings and explain things properly?

2)  Why does everything have to be evaluated?

3)  What is wrong with personal service and good old communication?

And also, why is 'well known supermarket' taking everyone's postcode to see how far they've travelled to shop in their store???  Absolute madness???  Holiday makers will shop in the shop because it's convenient.  It's the nearest supermarket.  As I said above, if I lived in Grimbsy (which I don't), I wouldn't be making a round trip of 600 miles to buy a loaf of bread, mushrooms and 3 bottles of wine???

.....................Holiday makers will shop in the nearest supermarket to where they are staying.....................

'Well known supermarket' - I think your survey is worthless!!!!!