"The Ranger" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 19 Jul 2004 16:23:09 GMT, "Vox Humana" >
> countered after I > wrote in message
> :
> > > > Ohio grocer "segments" shoppers with personalized
> > > > prices
> > > > Shopper card data being put to discriminatory uses,
> > > > [..] Dorothy Lane Market, an upscale grocery chain
> > > > in Ohio, has implemented Customer Specific Pricing
> > > > (CSP), a practice where different prices are charged
> > > > to each group of customers. Now the majority of all
> > > > discounts available in the store only go to the identified
> > > > top 30% of Dorothy Lane shoppers.
> > > >
> > > > After starting their card program, Dorothy Lane eliminated
> > > > newspaper advertising and switched to an "in-store
> > > > ad-sheet".
> > > [snip remaining paranoia]
> > >
> > > Ah. I understand. Customer loyalty -- beyond price -- is an
> > > E-V-I-L concept and implementing a rewards system for
> > > those customers that do more than shop the sales is wrong.
> > > Got it.
> > >
> > > As has been said oft enough but ingored before the sentence
> > > is finished, if you don't like the store and it's cards, don't shop
> > > there. There _are_ alternatives in every major city across the
> > > world. Many of these same alternatives offer cheaper prices
> > > and a more-specific set of merchandize to their clientele than
> > > any of the larger chains.
> > >
> > > Fer example: I do little shopping at Safeway anymore because
> > > of three basic reasons. 1) The Safeway customer card (for
> > > me-and-mine) doesn't work -- even on a limited basis nowadays;
> > > I don't find the items offered any cheaper than I can get them
> > > in bulk at several other retailers. 2) Corporate goes in [too
> > > often] and changes the merchandize on the aisles. I am a
> > > creature of habit; do not muck with my Habitrail. 3) I have
> > > six (that I'm aware) other stores (only one with a card system)
> > > that offer superior pricing on almost everything I was buying
> > > at Safeway. It was minor to adjust my weekly route accordingly
> > > and exclude Safeway. The 4th reason was a bonus; I started
> > > shopping the neighborhood ethnic groceries (an Indian, a
> > > Pakistani, two Mexican, one <I think> Portuguese).
> > >
> > > Paranoia has its place but not with this particular marketing
> > > "secret."
> >
> > The problem with your approach is that it is destined for extinction.
> > You will ultimately not be able to find a store without a loyalty card.
> > Once stores start to segment their customer bases and assign
> > pricing based on the customer's worth to the store, you will have
> > to either pay far more for an item because you don't have a card
> > or you flit from one store to another, or you will buy all your items
> > from one store. Once they have you, you will ultimately pay more
> > because there will be no incentive for you to switch to another
> > merchant. I don't see this as being paranoid. It is just reality.
> > It is being done already. In addition, that database will likely be
> > used both to increase profit because they will sell the list, and
> > it will also be likely to be used against you by the government
> > or in civil litigation. The only party that benefits from the card
> > is the store.
> >
> Nonsense and poppycock; "destined to extinction." The databases were
> there prior to card systems they'll be there long after the next
> data-mining trick surfaces. The only differences between when my
> Sainted Mother(tm) shopped and my shopping nowadays is the subtlety
> that is employed at utilizing that data.
>
> As far as pinning what I purchase to potential litigation... Your
> house of cards is built on supposition and prognostication, nothing
> more. That is as far from "reality" as you can get.

I'm sure that's how the Jews felt before they were rounded-up.