The hidden way using a rewards card can cost you more

[Zorro]

Starbucks tracked my every purchase -- then gave me fewer deals. It’s called surveillance pricing.

Scanning a loyalty card might be costing you money.

Companies say they’re rewarding your devotion with points, discounts and perks. But behind the scenes, many are using these programs to monitor your behavior and build a profile — then charge you what they think you’ll pay.

I discovered evidence of this in my own Starbucks app. Using California’s privacy law, I asked the company to send me the data its rewards program had collected about me.

Then I shared that data with two former Federal Trade Commission officials who spent careers defending consumers. They spotted a startling pattern in the numbers: During months when I bought more coffee, the app offered me fewer promotions. Sure, I was still collecting “stars” I could use for freebies. But the more loyal I was, the fewer actual discounts I got.

https://wapo.st/477Ly1X

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Card racket. /nt

[global1]

2. The Marketing People At All Companies Are Always On The Lookout For Ways To Maximize Profits And......

cheat their customers.

They are always coming up with inventive ways of taking advantage of us consumers.

We have no defense for it - only to stop trading at those establishments that cheat us.

I guess it's in our culture now. Deceive, deceive, deceive. Lie, lie, lie.

This culture now - starts at the top. I don't know what to believe anymore.

[Maninacan]

3. Gaming us

I thought Kohls was always messing with me with Kohls cash and deals good for only certain days.I Quit there and need to end my account.

[SWBTATTReg]

4. Would not surprise me one bit.

Hypocrites too.