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@Matt@lemdro.id

Post #1130057

2026-04-06 20:49 UTC

Grocery store rewards programs. I know they are designed to link purchases to me, but the financial savings is worth the loss of privacy for me.

Replies (8)

  • @djdarren@piefed.social 2026-04-06 21:10

    Same here. Trouble is, those aren't "savings", the price with the card is now just the price. If you don't have a card, you have to pay an inflated price. A privacy tax, if you will.

    Open ##1130153

  • @one_old_coder@piefed.social 2026-04-06 21:08

    Reward programs can link purchases to you through 2 different means: - if you give your name and phone number to the smartphone application - if the supermarket links the purchase to the actual bill sent to the bank account You cannot technically avoid the second one but I know that most stores don't do that because their systems are separated: one system for the inventory, one system for sending transactions to the banks. I'm telling this because, while they can link your debit/credit card to your purchase, it never happens because it's a major PITA for them and it's a manual process. But it can happen...

    Open ##1130154

  • If you buy groceries with a credit card instead of cash they will track that too, I've received coupons in the mail for specific items I've purchased in the past without any rewards program.

    Open ##1130155

  • I use an old phone number my sister used to have 20 years ago. We have no idea how many people are using that number currently but I get 60 cents off per gallon every month.

    Open ##1130157

  • @crank0271@lemmy.world 2026-04-06 20:52

    In many stores, they will swipe "a store card" for you at the register if you ask them. I believe I've even seen the option on some self-checkout stations. I've only had trouble with this once or twice. But it may be worth risking for the privacy (and monetary) savings.

    Open ##1130158

  • I just make up phone numbers.

    Open ##1130159

  • @fizzle@quokk.au 2026-04-06 22:50

    I need to take a closer look at this. We don't do it but in these troubled times, young family et cetera... is it worth it? They can just link purchases to the card I use to pay anyway right? Having a quick look at my nearest grocery store, it looks like they give me 10% off one shop each month, amongst a plethora of other bullshit perks like points towards fancy cookware or something. If I shop once a week and spend $200 then that's $20 a month or $240 a year. Essentially one free shop a year. Not much of a saving really. There's other simpler things I can do to save more money I think.

    Open ##1130160

  • @cerement@slrpnk.net 2026-04-06 20:59

    the secret is, like Netflix, you’re not supposed to use your own card / number / account – someone in your family / apartment / friends has not only already signed up but also doesn’t care how many take advantage of the savings

    Open ##1130173