3 ms·

I honestly can't wait to ask my local retailer what data they have on me based on their loyalty cards. So far they were exempt from data disclosure laws because

I honestly can't wait to ask my local retailer what data they have on me based on their loyalty cards. So far they were exempt from data disclosure laws because they were not an IT company.

StavrosK 9y ago
Ooh, I never thought of that, but now I am very very excited about it myself.
- amelius 9y ago
  But the answer you get might be less exciting. They might say: "We know you bought A, B, and C". What if they give you only part of what they know? How would you be able to tell if they know more? And even if you could, how would you convince authorities that something is wrong?
  - amelius 9y ago
    Also, they may have data that they just didn't "mine" yet. This may be data that they simply can't give you because it may concern you AND other people.
tobltobs 9y ago
I would assume that he has all the data on you, you ever gave him. What else did you do expect when you signed up for the loyalty program?
- wlll 9y ago
  > him I think we're probably talking about national chains here. I would imagine stores will use the loyalty cards to profile users, and if they've every stored any of the profiling data then this data will be the data you will be getting.
bennyp101 9y ago
If you are in the UK, you can already ask for the information under the DPA.
- outsideoflife 9y ago
  But they could charge you a reasonable fee before. Now it will be free!
Geekette 9y ago
Yes, grocery loyalty cards amass an inordinate amount of data on its users based on frequency and nature of use. It's interesting how the lower ticket loyalty schemes (grocery stores, etc) have arguably more powerful info than the higher-end types (air mile clubs, etc) for this reason; you can get more insight on a granular level.
yread 9y ago
I always lose my loyalty card from time to time (it doesn't have any loyalty advantages you just have to have it to get the discounts) and ask for a new one. I wonder if they were able to link them back together
- amelius 9y ago
  I always switch my loyalty cards with random people I meet on the subway, etc.
- viraptor 9y ago
  Unless you always pay cash - it should be trivial to link by the payment card number.
  - yread 9y ago
    Do they actually see a card number? Anyway, I have a couple and I have a habit of losing/breaking those as well. I'm just really bad at holding on to cards it seems
- UncleEntity 9y ago
  I always just use the phone number approach -- give them <local-area-code> 867-5309 an when they ask "yeah, I'm Jenny". Works every time. Last time at the Walgreens they tried to give me a $5 discount but I had to know the zip code assigned to the account so was like "nah, next time."

I honestly can't wait to ask my local retailer what data they have on me based on their loyalty cards. So far they were exempt from data disclosure laws because they were not an IT company.

StavrosK 9y ago

Ooh, I never thought of that, but now I am very very excited about it myself.

amelius 9y ago
But the answer you get might be less exciting. They might say: "We know you bought A, B, and C". What if they give you only part of what they know? How would you be able to tell if they know more? And even if you could, how would you convince authorities that something is wrong?
- amelius 9y ago
  Also, they may have data that they just didn't "mine" yet. This may be data that they simply can't give you because it may concern you AND other people.

tobltobs 9y ago

I would assume that he has all the data on you, you ever gave him. What else did you do expect when you signed up for the loyalty program?

wlll 9y ago
> him I think we're probably talking about national chains here. I would imagine stores will use the loyalty cards to profile users, and if they've every stored any of the profiling data then this data will be the data you will be getting.

bennyp101 9y ago

If you are in the UK, you can already ask for the information under the DPA.

outsideoflife 9y ago
But they could charge you a reasonable fee before. Now it will be free!

Geekette 9y ago

Yes, grocery loyalty cards amass an inordinate amount of data on its users based on frequency and nature of use. It's interesting how the lower ticket loyalty schemes (grocery stores, etc) have arguably more powerful info than the higher-end types (air mile clubs, etc) for this reason; you can get more insight on a granular level.

yread 9y ago

I always lose my loyalty card from time to time (it doesn't have any loyalty advantages you just have to have it to get the discounts) and ask for a new one. I wonder if they were able to link them back together

amelius 9y ago
I always switch my loyalty cards with random people I meet on the subway, etc.
viraptor 9y ago
Unless you always pay cash - it should be trivial to link by the payment card number.
- yread 9y ago
  Do they actually see a card number? Anyway, I have a couple and I have a habit of losing/breaking those as well. I'm just really bad at holding on to cards it seems
UncleEntity 9y ago
I always just use the phone number approach -- give them <local-area-code> 867-5309 an when they ask "yeah, I'm Jenny". Works every time. Last time at the Walgreens they tried to give me a $5 discount but I had to know the zip code assigned to the account so was like "nah, next time."