1 lb. of hamburger in the 70's versus 1 lb. of hamburger now

In Massachusetts its illegal to sell to one customer for one price and another (with the card) for less so they are required to give you the card price if you say "I forgot my card". They always have a card at the cash register that they will scan for you if you ask so that you get the sale price.

That said, I often use a card and, quite frankly, I could care less that they know what I buy.

In Massachusetts its illegal to sell to one customer for one price and another (with the card) for less so they are required to give you the card price if you say "I forgot my card". They always have a card at the cash register that they will scan for you if you ask so that you get the sale price.

That said, I often use a card and, quite frankly, I could care less that they know what I buy.

Tom, you may be 100% correct about being able to say "I forgot" and perhaps I will try that sometime just to check it out. In the meantime, it implies that I have a card, and if enough retailers require "the card" one might have to start carrying a large purse just to hold all the cards one might need just to shop. Maybe, I am out in left field, and inconsistent in that I don't see a problem with a senior citizen discount?

Addendum: Tom, I checked the Kroger store FAQ page, and they do not have a card at the register for those who might have left their card at home, or heaven forbid in the ignition of their vehicle. If you keep your receipt though, you can bring it the next time you shop and get the discount. Below is taken directly from the Kroger FAQ.

Why can’t the cashier scan a card for me if I forget my Kroger Plus Card?

Card integrity is very important to us and scanning a card that has not been issued to an individual would compromise that integrity. If you forget your card, you can enter the phone number you provided when you applied for your current shopper card (area code + 7 digits). This number is your personal pin linked to your Kroger Plus Card number. If this does not work, save your receipt which shows what you could have saved. Next time you come in with your Kroger Plus Card, visit the service desk for a refund of the savings amount. Also, give the service desk associate your current card ID and home phone number. He or she can contact the regional loyalty department to activate your personal pin for your next visit.

I could not possibly care less if the grocery store knows/tracks what I am buying. But then again I am not buying jug wine or cheap beer so I have nothing to hide.

Dave, It seems that no one is grasping the fact that my biggest complaint to the "card" is that one must have the "card" in order to get the "sale" price.

I understood that Bob and that is why I did not direct my comment toward you.

What's your take on coupons? Should one be able to get the coupon adjusted price even though they do not have the coupon?

Bob,

Good point about Senior Citizen discounts. Of course those exist in MA. In fact, quasi governmental authorities like the MBTA (mass transit) give Senior Citizen discounts. Perhaps what I read was wrong or perhaps its that if you have beef tips and Diet Coke on sale that you have to give everyone the sale price regardless of whether they have a card.

I could not possibly care less if the grocery store knows/tracks what I am buying. But then again I am not buying jug wine or cheap beer so I have nothing to hide.

That sounds very much like the argument about wiretapping: "I'm not saying anything wrong on the phone, so what do I care?"

And, Bob, I understand your argument. I resent the card on several levels. The leverage is not unlike the feds telling states what do to do regarding something or they'll withhold highway monies.

That sounds very much like the argument about wiretapping: "I'm not saying anything wrong on the phone, so what do I care?"

Bad analogy, Larry. If the Administration wants to tap your phone you don't have a choice. If you do not want to shop at a grocery store that asks that you present a card to get a discount you can go somewhere else, right? No one is forcing you to apply for the card, use the card or even shop at a store that offers a card.

Perhaps. But I still have a low level resentment about someone spying on me. Can I borrow your card to make my purchases?

I understood that Bob and that is why I did not direct my comment toward you.

What's your take on coupons? Should one be able to get the coupon adjusted price even though they do not have the coupon?

Dave, as I understand the difference between the card and the coupon is that if I want the sale price then I have to get their card. They can then use that card to track my purchases, and they then have the ability to sell that information to other parties. (I know that "the card" is not the only way this is done) but the card way is probably the sneakiest way of going about it. They say if you have our card, you can buy our "on sale" products at the sale price, but if you don't you must pay the regular price, therefore enticing people to give them this opportunity for a few cents off on a product.

If I want to shop using coupons, I don't have to tell the store, nor the company issuing the coupon any of my information, and the coupon price is available for anyone clipping the coupon. Again, no information is disclosed, I just get the reduced price.

I also understand that the big box stores like Costco and Sam's club does essentially the same thing and we pay for the privilege. I understand it, but I do have a problem with it. At least at Sam's (I don't have a local Costco) I get unadulterated four legged animal meat. Poultry is another case though as they sell Tyson chicken and AFAIK, all Tyson chicken products (other than organ meat) is enhanced with up to 15% "real chicken broth"! I do not buy chicken that has this disclaimer any more than I buy pork or beef, or lamb, or veal that has the notice.

[Robin Garr]

Seems simple to me, Bob: Kroger "pays" you for agreeing to have your purchases tracked by offering you sale prices that others don't get. It's a quid pro quo situation, and no one is discriminated against because anyone willing to participate can have a card for the asking. Moreover, your discounts tend to be based on your buying patterns. Buy a lot of cat food, get a lot of cat food coupons. It actually makes quite a bit of sense.

It strikes me that there are an awful lot of things more worth getting one's knickers in a wad over than this.

I could not possibly care less if the grocery store knows/tracks what I am buying. But then again I am not buying jug wine or cheap beer so I have nothing to hide.

Dave, It seems that no one is grasping the fact that my biggest complaint to the "card" is that one must have the "card" in order to get the "sale" price. An item either has a one for all price, or it should have, or this is a form of discrimination. It also is a form of data gathering that is, or could become, rather intrusive. I am not trying to hide what I am buying, contrary to an impression I might have somehow given.

Perhaps. But I still have a low level resentment about someone spying on me. Can I borrow your card to make my purchases?

Larry, if Dave lets you use his card, buy some cheap jug wine and a case of really cheap beer, maybe some Milwaukee's Best . you don't have to drink it," just buy it, and then he is there"!

Seems simple to me, Bob: Kroger "pays" you for agreeing to have your purchases tracked by offering you sale prices that others don't get. It's a quid pro quo situation, and no one is discriminated against because anyone willing to participate can have a card for the asking. Moreover, your discounts tend to be based on your buying patterns. Buy a lot of cat food, get a lot of cat food coupons. It actually makes quite a bit of sense.

It strikes me that there are an awful lot of things more worth getting one's knickers in a wad over than this.

Robin, it strikes me that one can pick and choose over what they get their knickers in a wad over. And while I do not agree that my knickers are in a wad, this is IMO a subject worth giving my $0.02 worth. And even worth replying to forum members who reply to my posts on the subject.

[Why can’t the cashier scan a card for me if I forget my Kroger Plus Card?

Card integrity is very important to us and scanning a card that has not been issued to an individual would compromise that integrity.

In other words, the information collected on purchases is worthless to Kroger's real customers (the marketing outfits who buy your personal purchasing information) unless it's accurate.

As Robin said, it's a quid pro quo situation. Kroger pays you (via merchandise discounts) to collect information on your shopping patterns, which Kroger then sells on to whoever out there wants to buy it. Personally, I don't need any more unsolicited junk mail, so I want no part of this scheme.

-Paul W.

Perhaps. But I still have a low level resentment about someone spying on me. Can I borrow your card to make my purchases?

Larry, if Dave lets you use his card, buy some cheap jug wine and a case of really cheap beer, maybe some Milwaukee's Best . you don't have to drink it," just buy it, and then he is there"!

I was considering buying Depends.

Perhaps. But I still have a low level resentment about someone spying on me. Can I borrow your card to make my purchases?

Larry, if Dave lets you use his card, buy some cheap jug wine and a case of really cheap beer, maybe some Milwaukee's Best . you don't have to drink it," just buy it, and then he is there"!

I was considering buying Depends.

Might as well add in some Preparation H.

For all of us cardholders:

http://www.justoneclubcard.com/

Just carry one card with up to 8 scanable barcodes!

That is another problem. So many stores have cards of some sort, my wallet is looking like George Costanza's.

Perhaps. But I still have a low level resentment about someone spying on me. Can I borrow your card to make my purchases?

Larry, if Dave lets you use his card, buy some cheap jug wine and a case of really cheap beer, maybe some Milwaukee's Best . you don't have to drink it," just buy it, and then he is there"!

Be careful what you wish for, Bob. When I applied for the card they did not ask to see any type of ID so I filled out the application and used your name. If Larry uses the card as you suggest, it is you who will end up on the plonk wine/skunk beer Watch List.

Be careful what you wish for, Bob. When I applied for the card they did not ask to see any type of ID so I filled out the application and used your name. If Larry uses the card as you suggest, it is you who will end up on the plonk wine/skunk beer Watch List.

Ok Dave, I will now have to get the CSI to investigate and discover where my application was tendered. I have never been in Chicago (except for passing through O'Hare) in my life! Funny thing though, on that trip my seat mate was a woman of a certain age, who was snockered when she boarded in Cincinnati, AND she was a Kroger employee!

Besides the solution it could also be in the 70's you were purchasing 80-20 or better. You probably purchased 70-30 this time. That would also make a difference.

[Jenise]

Bob H--anyone can apply and receive the card on the spot, so there's no discrimination involved. Have one or don't, but you have to give a little to get a little. But let me jump tracks: you're always going on about Sam's club. They require a card, don't they? You don't seem to have a problem with that.

Bob H--anyone can apply and receive the card on the spot, so there's no discrimination involved. Have one or don't, but you have to give a little to get a little. But let me jump tracks: you're always going on about Sam's club. They require a card, don't they? You don't seem to have a problem with that.

Jenise, Sam's club is a membership club, Kroger is not. Sam's club will sell to anyone who is a member at a given price and the price is not different to some than to others. If I want to pay the membership price, and shop Sam's, I do so, if I do not, I don't. Sam's makes no pretense of being your neighborhood grocer. If Kroger wanted to become a club type store, I would have no problem with their car requirement either.I do agree that any store that requires a card to get the best price is using the card as a tracking device, and in my opinion that is a bit invasive. I suspect though that I am wasting effort in trying to get anyone to understand my position, even though it is simply that in a normal retail store the price should be the same to all shoppers in that store. Kroger is IMO a normal retail store, Sam's is not.

[Jenise]

You don't think Sam's is tracking your purchases? It's not invasive when it's mandatory then, but it is when it's voluntary?

My wife and I pay for most things using our credit cards. That makes tracking of our purchases made at one location or chain very easy to track. If all the items are scanned it is hard to believe that they aren't tracked for "marketing" purposes. This information can assist the business in stocking, advertising and others ways.

The main credit card we use separates the purchases into groups and gives us a composite anytime we wish to look it up online. This is can have both positive and negative repercussions. It makes it easy for my wife to track my wine purchases.

You don't think Sam's is tracking your purchases? It's not invasive when it's mandatory then, but it is when it's voluntary?

Jenise, yo no habla ingles I suppose. I have said what my position is in this issue, and I do have a Kroger card, because I have no intention of screwing myself on "sale" items that I might need or want. I use the card (shop at Kroger) for sale items and not much else. But, of course if I go to Kroger to get the milk on sale and also need a loaf of bread I go ahead and get it because it would cost me more in gasoline to go on down the road to the next non-card store. I do it, but I do not like it. I like shopping at Sam's for their superior meats plus I can get other items as well priced as any where in town and usually for less. Yes Sam's does track my purchases, else they couldn't send me a mailing telling me how much I have saved over the past several months. Again, Sam's is a member club, and Kroger is a retail outlet open to anyone and everyone, and to sell to one for more (or less) than to another is just not (in my book) right. Also, if you scroll up the page to my reply to Dave R I thought I had made it pretty clear where I stand on outlets that require a card in a post dated Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:52. Anyway, I think it is time we let this thread die a natural and sudden death.