I read this on CASPIAN. (CASPIAN is Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering)

Did you know that all of your purchases and returns are being tracked?

quote:

Stores such as Limited, Guess and Staples have contracted with TRE in an effort to curb fraudulent returns. Customers who wish to make a return at one of these stores are required to furnish their identification, (regardless of if they purchased with cash and have a receipt), which the store clerk then swipes through a machine similar to a credit card reader. If the database shows your return history to be suspect you're out of luck and the return won't be accepted. Consumers do have the ability to obtain a copy of their "return-activity report", (800-652-2331), and to correct errors but they do not state what standards are used, (the methods remain secret to "reduce fraud"), so there is no way to be able to determine exactly why your return was denied.

Have you heard of this company before?


I wonder what information is in my "returns" data base. I have several of these cards and never gave it any thought.

What do you think of these saving cards?

The Speedway just gave me an application for a discount card. It seems like they are everywhere now.

If a store gives me grief about a return, they lose my business from that day forward and the manager of the store and sometimes the regional manager of the company get told exactly why (Have only ever had trouble to that point with one store...Woolworth's....otherwise, discussing the matter with managment has always solved the problem.)

I only use the cards offered by supermarkets because I don't consider my food purchases a matter of great concern, but my choices in reading and viewing material, just on general principles, I don't want tracked... I haven't used my credit card to pay for a book at a retailer that uses scanners since the Patriot Act became a reality.

I don't use them at all, even at supermarkets. I've found that all the stores will allow me to use a desk copy of the card if I say "I forgot it at home". At the other supermarket that uses a phone number, I put in an old phone number of mine.

I understand the return tracking. There are people who buy and return and the stores are losing a lot of money. I don't see any reason why if I buy something and then return it, they shouldn't be able to put my name in a database and if that database shows that I do it chronically, then they should be able to deny the returns. They probably want to lose the business of those people. I think people who buy and return are stealing and I don't like that prices have to be raised to cover for them. I haven't heard many horror stories about people being unfairly treated because of this.

There is more than one company that does this -- I used to work for one.

They track everything, from books and movies, to what food you buy, what you wear, etc. Further, they dont need you to have a discount card -- most credit card companies offer the service as well -- Amex is the only one I can say for certain doesnt.... but I heard Discover as well, Diners Club tracks locations that you eat at, not what you eat.

As far as the return process... it is shared among all subscriber stores - if you get turned down at one, you will get turned down at all. The reason it was started is because of shoplifters and employee theft.