Speaking of data mining, I order a fresh turkey from Whole Foods (now Amazon) every year. This year, as was last year, they asked for an email address. I told them I don't have one, and the young lady with whom I spoke then informed me she couldn't place my order without one.
O rly?
I huffed, so she forwarded me to Customer No-Service, where the nice man took my order and used the Team Leader's email addy.