is it worth it?

[Smallsteps]

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-01-21/ralphs-privacy-disclosure

"Most large companies doing business in California are required by the state’s new privacy law to disclose what they know about customers and how that information is used.
Customers recently encountered a form at stores spelling out information that may be collected when joining the company’s Ralphs Rewards loyalty program."

“It’s scandalous,” said Joseph Turow, a professor of communication at the University of Pennsylvania who focuses on privacy issues. “Why does a grocer need to know so much about its customers?”

The form says this data gathering is necessary to improve the Ralphs customer experience and the company’s operations"

This was a bit overboard if you read the whole article.
I worked for a large retailer and they collected all this data while we ( in a different state) were told to downplay how much information we were actually collecting. It is somewhat satisfying to see in this case Kroger have to tell you to the extent they are trying to collect and use data.
I really thought some items are NOT needed for the company to " improve customer experience and company operations"

[bjl584]

I'm sure it starts out as simple data mining, but you always end up with feature creep when it comes to programs like that.
Someone somewhere decides maybe we need to know "this" about someone in addition to what we already know.
Then someone else decides that it might be beneficial to know "that" as well.
Before you know it, they are gathering data on everything about you that there is to know.
phone number, email, DOB, address, blood type, name of your pets,........

I usually just decline the offer to join those reward programs.

[Smallsteps]

I'm sure it starts out as simple data mining, but you always end up with feature creep when it comes to programs like that.
Someone somewhere decides maybe we need to know "this" about someone in addition to what we already know.
Then someone else decides that it might be beneficial to know "that" as well.
Before you know it, they are gathering data on everything about you that there is to know.
phone number, email, DOB, address, blood type, name of your pets,........

I usually just decline the offer to join those reward programs.

I too decline, I knew that they were collecting far more then they let on from the start of program but I also know the data is flawed more then they realize.

I remember working in a store that OFTEN when someone in line did not have a rewards card many in line behind them would ask if they wanted to just scan their card they knew they were collecting "points" for gas etc and never gave it a thought that the store now thinks purchases are adding to your data. i always laughed if the person was buying items that seemed totally off from the person scanning their card wondering what the rewards customer though when they were sent odd coupons based on "past " purchases lol.

We also had cashiers ( they were tracked for how many transactions were not linked to a " rewards" card) so when they had people decline signing up etc....they would simply entered a friends or family phone # to link to a rewards account so their manager did not lecture them to push program harder. One lady said her roommate was getting enough points to always have the maximum $ off gas everyday.
I found it hilarious the company did not catch that one or two people were making dozens or even more purchases everyday and not catch on. because they were too busy building their "picture" of this customer.

[disneysteve]

Honestly, I just don't care. Maybe I should. I realize 99% of my regular mail and email is junk because of all of the data mining, but to me it's worth it for the rewards. I totally understand that nothing is truly free. If a company is giving me something "free" it's because they are benefiting somehow in the process, but I'm okay with that. Every year we earn hundreds of dollars in rewards from various sources. If that means somebody out there knows what breakfast cereal I eat or what restaurant I like to go to, so be it.

[Smallsteps]

Many people do not care... and more and more each day sign up for yet another app/ program for coupons and or some 2-3% cash back type option.

It is a business transaction IMO so if companies say upfront "hey I am using or selling your information for $x amount and sending you pennies in exchange for making data easier to generate"

If it is worth it to people great....I only shared this article because this really applies to ALL of Kroger brand stores that run under many names ( examples QFC, Fred Meyer, Dillons etc) throughout the country in states that may not Require this disclosure like California's new law. here is an small section of article

It says Ralphs may pry into “financial and payment information like your bank account, credit and debit card numbers, and your credit history.”

Wait, it gets even better.

Ralphs says it’s gathering “behavioral information” such as “your purchase and transaction histories” and “geolocation data,” which could mean the specific Ralphs aisles you browse or could mean the places you go when not shopping for groceries, thanks to the tracking capability of your smartphone.

Ralphs also reserves the right to go after “information about what you do online” and says it will make “inferences” about your interests “based on analysis of other information we have collected.”

Other information? This can include files from “consumer research firms” — read: professional data brokers — and “public databases,” such as property records and bankruptcy filings.


Being transparent is not evidently going well for some when there loyal customers find out just how much they are being tracked by this program

[disneysteve]

[I]It says Ralphs may pry into “financial and payment information like your bank account, credit and debit card numbers, and your credit history.”

As the article explains, the store was definitely lazy and just made one release form for everything. Clearly, they aren't running a credit check on you when you sign up for the store rewards card, but they are if you apply for a job. They really should have created separate disclosure forms for each situation rather than one blanket form.