Have you ever wondered why it seems that every major chain or department store offers some sort of rewards for shopping? At one time, discounts, coupons, and free shipping were enough incentive to increase a company’s customer base. Now, the competition for good customer rewards programs is fierce and with so many options out there, retailers pretty much have to offer some sort of loyalty program. Customers, for the most part, want to earn rewards. We all work hard for our money, so why wouldn’t we want to get the most out of every dollar spent?
While you’re cashing in on all of those different reward programs however, retailers are cashing in on valuable information based on your shopping habits. This personal information is often why retailers offer rewards programs in the first place. Their marketing teams are learning a lot about you and your buying habits through your shopping rewards card.
Every time you use your shopping rewards card, retailers are able to capture information such as:
- Which products you buy the most
- How much you typically spend during a transaction
- The names of products you buy the most
- The brand names you buy the most
When you fill out the form to obtain that shopper rewards card, be careful what information you give and remember, the retailer does not need your date of birth, bank account information, etc. The only thing they require is your name, phone number, and possibly your mailing address, but nothing else.
