[petuniasevan]

Many if not most stores use customer cards now.

Detractors point out "They keep track of what you purchase!"

Well, of course they do. How else will they know what to order for inventory replenishment? More to the point, how else can they keep close tabs on the various factors in their customer base: Buying habits, age groups by percentage, neighborhoods, average amount purchased, grocery categories purchased, peak times for various categories, holiday shopping habits, etc.

I've noticed that supermarkets have fuller shelves, better selection, and quicker response to customer feedback within the last few years. It's a dog-eat-dog world in grocery retail - any way to gain the edge over your competition is welcomed.

Are you old enough to remember in the 1970s the dingy, badly-stocked markets? Remember the glum union stockboys stamping prices on cans of peas?

No, those weren't the "good old days".

[kAcknor]

Many if not most stores use customer cards now.
Detractors point out "They keep track of what you purchase!"

kAcknor Sez:

Yes, they do keep track, and that is not something I wish to have done to me. Inventory does not require my name, and worse, the card has turned into more than just a 'tracking tool', it has become a profit item.

When they cards first came out, there were some very good deals associated with them, but after about a month, the deals evaporated and left behind the stink of price gouging. Today you need a card to get the regular everyday price, but fail to have it and (please excuse my french..) you get 'ripped a new one'.

As for competition, we have 5 or 6 major markets in the Columbus area, three of them use cards and three do not. Not surprisingly, the three that require them are the three weakest financially. I shop mostly at Wally World and a local independent chain, Mejier, sans cards. Mejier manages to compete on just about every level with Wal-Mart, and beats them in a lot of places (their ammo prices are GREAT :).I haven't completely stopped shopping elsewhere, I just returned from Kroger (pineapple for the ham.. Yum!!), and again, to get a decent price I had to used that bit 'o plastic, but it's a card that has no name associated with it. ;)

"tIqIpqu' 'ej nom tIqIp" (Hit them hard and hit them fast.)

Have you checked the *bang_list today?