WAY OFF: Insidious business practices

[K Henderson]

Jerry said...

>> 1. Weren't there already sale prices for certain
>> grocery items *already* before the card came into existence?, and 2. If
>> it's free, then why have it at all?  If it's actually *worth* something,
>> perhaps I'd be willing to pay for it, but I just don't see what benefit
it >> has.
>
>There's a grocery store here that does the same thing. It really pisses
>me off. The only way to get items on sale is if you have their "Gold" card. I
>don't like it because they have the number linked to you, and everytime you use
>it they know when you shopped (what days/times - how often) and what
>you buy, how much you spend, and possibly if you use large bills.

Um, yeah.

>I can see something similar coming with (cable TV) set-top boxes.

Gee, even I, who is normally out of the loop with such things, have heard
about the flack over TiVo, the digital cable service that is defending
itself over the cries of privacy invasion in regards to their collecting
preference data from their customers.  They claim (I think) that they don't
actually tie individual's names to the information.  But, as I was saying in
the other post, that still isn't good enough.  Each individual customer
should have the option of saying 'yes' or 'no' to their information being
collected whatsoever, and without any financial penalty.  Like checking the
box on your tax form about whether you want to donate $1 to the presidential
election fund, or whatever.  I'd like to donate $1 to the presidential
impeachment fund, perhaps....

Grakkl (FAA)