Reply #12: 'Discount' or 'Courtesy' cards. [View All]

[troubleinwinter]

I have to carry FIVE of those stupid suckers in my wallet. Safeway, Albertson's, Fry's... WHY!!!????

A few days ago, I saved about $30 using a card, so I surely MUST use them.

WHY????!!! Why do they need my name and address and phone number and track everything I buy? They do not use them to send special coupons to "our favorite customers".

If I buy organic free-range tofu and thousand-year-old barrel-aged shoyu, will they assume I'm a hippy-pinko-commie-Dem?

If I never buy alcohol or pork or butter will they list me as a likely Muslim?

If I buy the tall packages of tortillas weekly and fresh chilis and cilantro, will I be on the INS watch list?

Whose business is it to know that someone or no-one in my home menstruates? Or uses condoms?

What sort of magazines I buy?

Phonecalls, emails and bank records are already not our own private business. What is the grocery stores' privacy policy? Are they selling or turning this info over to anyone?

I have taken to just lying on the signup form, but surely nearly everyone has these cards and simply turns over their name, address and phone so their every purchase can be tracked.

That's my peeve.