this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2024
282 points (96.4% liked)
Privacy
32109 readers
851 users here now
A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.
Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.
In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.
Some Rules
- Posting a link to a website containing tracking isn't great, if contents of the website are behind a paywall maybe copy them into the post
- Don't promote proprietary software
- Try to keep things on topic
- If you have a question, please try searching for previous discussions, maybe it has already been answered
- Reposts are fine, but should have at least a couple of weeks in between so that the post can reach a new audience
- Be nice :)
Related communities
much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)
founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I'm finding supermarkets locking their regular prices behind an app or loyalty card is getting out of control. Out of all the major supermarkets, ONLY Aldi has nothing of the sort currently.
Tesco and Sainsbury's will often have a £3 item that costs £6 without their loyalty card. Of course it's £3 in every other shop: it's not a special offer for members, it's a punishment price for those who don't give away their data.
A nice way to understand how much your data costs
Wow, I've never seen pricing that bad without a loyalty card in the US. Not saying it doesn't happen, quite often it's a 20-30% discount for the loyalty card, and occasionally more if you use the app (which I refuse, since I use Jenny's number for the loyalty card).
You're right to call it a punishment. Wonder if we can aggregate the loyalty app program somehow, like host the app in an Android VM on a VPS that anyone can then access, so the data they get is muddied.
Safeway. That's only one of the several good reasons why I don't shop there.
I usually ask other people in line for their loyalty cards. Or, in case there are none (which is rare) - I have found usable photos of random cards' barcodes. It was mostly from the respective loyalty programs' reviews, but I believe I saw a group that specifically shared theirs to get extra points.
But say you only use that card for that store, where's the privacy invasion? It wouldn't be much right? Trying to find a downside of a store card.
two words: data aggregation.
They know it's you. They can match it everywhere else.
Tesco now even has stores in the UK where you scan your loyalty card on the way in, pick up items off shelves, and walk out and it charges you accurately. The amount of cameras and sensors on the ceiling was uncanny. So not only do they have your purchasing profile but they now know what you look like, your gait, and any other identifying information they use to make that work
(OK it might be just lads in the Philippines following you on CCTV like Amazon did but still)
Cause I'm looking at signing up for an REI credit card and haven't found much downside researching it online. I do find it sus that all the employees are pushing it though. Asking if we are members and have the credit card and stuff.
Because then REI gets to be the one selling your purchase history and credit report.
Hmm I don't think I would like that.