Reward/Membership Card Warning! Governments Buying/Using Data To Fine Residents

I always knew there would be a way of using that info and not for the good of the consumer. They will give you a sale price but you give them info they can sell. They have lost nothing, probably gained $. They can look at what you buy to eat on a routine basis and pass that along. They also are able to capture and sell info from surveys. We live in an age of data collection and we need to think twice about how such info can be sold and used.
 
Carla said:
I always knew there would be a way of using that info and not for the good of the consumer. They will give you a sale price but you give them info they can sell. They have lost nothing, probably gained $. They can look at what you buy to eat on a routine basis and pass that along. They also are able to capture and sell info from surveys. We live in an age of data collection and we need to think twice about how such info can be sold and used.
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The stupid thing with those cards is that if you look for a sale elsewhere you can beat the stores sale/card price. I see this with the drug store chains in particular.

Health insurance companies already got caught using membership data.

http://www.hangthebankers.com/super...nce-companies-to-raise-rates-and-deny-claims/

(I'm looking now but there was a case in California around 2005ish where health insurance companies were found to be mining data and using for rates, approvals and/or denials. I know years ago a lot these stores actually wanted your social security number for their membership card. As soon as I saw that it was no thanks)
 

Since most of us don't have money to throw out the window and bypass sale items on a regular basis, guess discount will have to take priority. Will take a chance on the privacy, that's rare these days anyway.
 
SeaBreeze said:
Since most of us don't have money to throw out the window and bypass sale items on a regular basis, guess discount will have to take priority. Will take a chance on the privacy, that's rare these days anyway.
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That's probably why many use the card but still when I can find sale prices cheaper than a sale with a discount card I spend extra time& trips looking at price.. I haven't made a shopping cart load trip to a supermarket in decades. I make several small trips a week. Maybe some with kids and really busy schedule I could see trying to keep shopping down to a minimum but even with family, overtime, dog, working out etc I always found time to shop because I had to ie tight budget. That's the kicker they don't get the lowest price and still have to give up privacy.
 
I remember once I got a notice from Costco that the dog jerky treats I bought (made in USA) on a particular date were on recall for salmonella or something, and I could return them for an exchange or refund. It hit me how they had on file every item I bought at that store over the past month or so. We get the daily newspaper, so every Wednesday the local supermarkets put out their ads, unfortunately they all need a card to get the sale prices, even the Walgreens drug store.
 
SeaBreeze said:
I remember once I got a notice from Costco that the dog jerky treats I bought (made in USA) on a particular date were on recall for salmonella or something, and I could return them for an exchange or refund. It hit me how they had on file every item I bought at that store over the past month or so. We get the daily newspaper, so every Wednesday the local supermarkets put out their ads, unfortunately they all need a card to get the sale prices, even the Walgreens drug store.
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As soon as Walgreens went to a card I stopped shopping there. Same for Rite Aid which was ironically purchased by Walgreens. I've been using generics for decades and have gotten to a point where I've picked up on the cycles in which certain items are put on sale. I've gotten pretty good with water and vitamins at Kmart for example.

A lot of stores also use your credit card or phone number to store purchases if you give it. Even on the electronic pads I put NO SOLICITATIONS near my signature, even a "personal information not to be sold", probably doesn't do squat, usually you need to opt out of the marketing clause which is disguised with phrases like " In order to better serve you..."

Stories like this need more play so people realize what happens to their information. No you are not rewarded for being loyal, you're being screwed.
 
Warrigal said:
Clever King County.
If everything reported is true, then the tax payers are the beneficiaries of this move.
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Some yes some no. Most residents don't like their privacy being invaded nor petty taxes/registration fees. Most will take privacy over an unregistered pet. The county already gets to tax the stores that sold the pet supplies. Many residents would look at a tact like this a some government employees trying to justify their existence. Others might even look at the data mining/purchases as a warrantless search. What's next, track hammer sales from hardware stores and fine people for household repairs or have the police pull their car over for inspection because they shopped at an auto store. When does it end.

To top it off many families let anyone in the family or even friends use their card which only requires a phone number at most stores. So the owner of the card might not actually have a pet.
 
Welcome to the computer age.
Systems that started out as a way to manage inventory have long since become self funding by selling information to other businesses.
I only object if a government agency tries to sell my information.

When a cashier asks me whether I have a loyalty card I just grin and say no because I am a promiscuous shopper.
 
This compiling of information always rubbed me the wrong way. It's bad enough we are on camera almost everywhere, it's such a creepy feeling. Now they can tell where you are at any given minute via cell phone. I would love to know exactly who this information is being sold to and for what purpose! I never give my SS to anyone, not even doctors offices. I do believe that if someone really wants personal information, they can dig it up. Google supplies a lot of info--where you live, how much you paid for your house, even occupation. Nothing is private anymore. Even the cemetery isn't off limits!
 
WhatInThe said:
To those who use those rewards or membership cards for points and/or discounts. That data is collected and sold.
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And this is surprising? I give them information (which is easily available to anyone) and they give me discounts/rewards. Sounds fair to me. The DMV sells my information and I get nothing in return.
 
I think it is an interesting way to catch the scofflaws that do not register pets and show proof of shots, etc...

In a sense the credit card companies are paying the consumers for the information by giving them reward points.

I would only be concerned if the fact that they use/sell the information collected is not disclosed in the cardholder agreement, you know that insert with the fine print that nobody reads.
 
nvtribefan said:
And this is surprising? I give them information (which is easily available to anyone) and they give me discounts/rewards. Sounds fair to me. The DMV sells my information and I get nothing in return.
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No, it's not, however just think about who may interested in buying it because surely, there is a purpose. What I think is wrong about it is it should have been made public from the start. I thought originally it would be used for stock replacement or something along those lines. However, checking for purchases of dog food in order to check for licenses is a bit much. I feel it's all so sneaky!
 
Remember back when your elders would warn you that this will go on your permanent record? If you exist you have your permanent record being updated constantly, God & Santa Claus are not the only record keepers.
 

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