Albertson's now has discount cards

[theoceansnerves]

The bastards made such a big big deal about having low prices without using those damn cards, the strike ends and then they implement a card program?! Well I made do without shopping there for the months when the strike was on, I guess I can make it permanent now! UGH!

[Roon]

1. There's a bill to ban discount cards in Denver

And I hope they do..

[stopthegop]

3. why ban it?

it's voluntary..

[jono]

7. They are NOT voluntary

(T)hese programs are not voluntary -- and it's important not to let the supermarkets get away with this semantic sleight of hand. While it is true that their monitoring programs are "not compulsory" that is different from being "voluntary." If you threaten to punish someone for failing to comply then you can't call their compliance voluntary.

Here's an example: If your employer said to you, "Your participation in some project is voluntary. It's totally up to you whether you do it or not. But you'll take a 15% pay cut if you don't." If you signed up for the project it would be hard to make the case that you did so voluntarily -- and not to avoid damage to your wallet.

The supermarket is essentially saying something similar: "We've got this nasty little data collection scheme and we want you to voluntarily sign up for it. Of course you can always say no, but you'll spend about 15% more on your groceries if you refuse."

To see just how voluntary this offer really is, ask yourself if you would still choose to be monitored if there were no punishment for refusal. If you would, then you are one of the few true volunteers and have no reason to read further. If not, then you are being coerced by threat of punishment -- in the form of higher grocery bills. Don't let anyone say you are doing this of your own free will.

http://www.nocards.org/faq/faq_01-5.shtml

[stopthegop]

9. items cost less at CostCo..

CostCo collects info from members...is that also not voluntary?...

[jono]

11. Costco charges a yearly membership fee

unlike grocery stores. Not all items cost less at Costco, either.

[stopthegop]

13. true...they charge a fee and that changes it...

but even at Albertson's, to me it's voluntary, like offering a 5% discount if you pay cash...it's a choice people can make (get on a marketing database in exchange for a lower price on groceries)

edit: voluntary..but they try to influence you..

[Dookus]

2. At my local Albertsons

they will give you one without you giving them ANY information. They have a form you just check.

[Bertha Venation]

4. I remember it well -- it was shortly after their "marriage" to Lucky.

That marriage shit pissed me off to no end! It was around the same time the radical right was shoving the Knight Amendment down everyone's throat. Grr.

[CO Liberal]

5. They've Had Them Here in Colorado For a While Now

And we haven't had a grocery strike since 1995.

[SOteric]

14. Yep. Here in Seattle, too.

[matcom]

6. GIVE FALSE INFO

i was forced to opt in to the discount card scam here in MA

filled out the app. got the card immediately!

someone, somewhere is looking for Stinky Feet, a resident of Mars :)

[frylock]

8. if they find him, let me know..

that bastard owes me money! :mad:

[mac56]

17. We did that too.

Our dog Smidgen is the proud owner of a Kroger card.

[NoPasaran]

10. The strike is over?

Hoorah!
I've been boycotting them and there are some items that only they carry.

[Kazak]

12. Where I live...

you have the choice of Albertson's or Walmart...so it's a no-brainer. Luckily they don't use discount cards here.

[mlawson]

15. I checked out my first Alebrtson's last December.

I was in FLA for the holidays, and decided to see what the famous Albertson's was like.

It was like, HIGH prices!!! What are they, on drugs, or something?? I didn't buy one thing.

[arwalden]

16. The Cashier At My Local CVS Scans A "Dummy Card"...

so that the "member discount" is applied to everyone who does not have (or want) their discount card.

Also... at my local Giant grocery store, some of the cashiers have hidden dummy-cards that they'll scan for the benefit of those who don't have membership cards.

-- Allen

[cosmicdot]

18. I wonder how much it costs to implement these data collecting cards?

just offer in-store discounts on whatever and cut out the unnecessary costs of bureaucracy ... ring the discount up when the item is scanned ...

I wonder who gets the info gathered on people? Acxiom? ChoicePoint?
which, in turn, goes to???

Put the resources in human resources and quality product.