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Do stores use bank account info to analyze shopping patterns? (mander.xyz)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

29 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Out of a reflex of distrust, I refuse to participate in any kind of loyalty program of the outlet of the large retail store around the corner.

I tell myself that by refusing to join the loyalty program (which basically comes down to scanning an anonymous loyalty card every time I make a purchase), I prevent them from adding my correlations (what products I buy, in what combos, at what time) to their data.

But since I normally pay by card, I guess they can (and do) already do that with my bank account information?

If I would pay with cash, they can still see those correlations per purchase, but they can't track my purchases over time?

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[–] Tangent5280 24 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I think paying in cash cuts down on trackin massively. Can you still be tracked? Yes. But are most stores going through the effort? I don't think so. Depends on the store too, I guess.

Maybe my tin foil hat is getting rusty, but to me it just feels like they'll just move on to the next dude who payed by card instead.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 months ago (1 children)

"can we have your address for warrantee purposes"?

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I always answer "no thank you". It's polite for the worker yet direct. I've never once had someone insist

[–] Tangent5280 16 points 3 months ago

The latest version of this I've seen is fucking fast fashion of all things asking for your phone number to send invoices to, as part of their "digital sustainability initiative". If they really gave a shit they'd set fire to everything the company owned.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Does that mean that anonymous loyalty cards don't really add any extra tracking capabilities?

Then what is the benefit for retailers? That some people don't use those cards and are thus paying too much?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 months ago

Most people give their real full name, phone number and email for any loyalty card wothout batting an eye, plus even with anonymized data it's useful to the owners to track correlation of purchases, time, location. Definitively what you said too, we all make mistakes (some more than others), every needless complication of a system is a disadvantage to the customer.

[–] Tangent5280 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Loyalty cards are more for getting the customer in the door, right? Usage patterns come second if I understand the model correctly.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

Other way around. Loyalty cards have always been about getting that sweet sweet data about customer habits.