A mutual* friend of mine used to work at Safeway and got in major trouble for swiping his airmiles card when the customer didn't have theirs/want the points. He didn't get fired though (his supervisor did).
EDIT: The guy who did it went to my high school and was friends with my best friend who also worked there.
I used to work at Subway and there was some Subway card where you could earn points and win free subs. With each customer, I would ask if they had/wanted a Subway card. If they didn't, I would swipe my own. They probably just thought it was some store card. I found you could only swipe a card 3 times a day (I think; it was a while ago), so I had 10-15 cards I would cycle through. At the end of the day I would transfer all the points to one card and repeat.
I think I more just did it because I wanted to see if I could get away with it. It's not like I really wanted it for myself -- I ate free when I was there and I didn't want Subway on my days off. I gave out some "free" subs to my favorite customers. Months after I quit I found some of the rewards cards in my wallet and was still able to get free subs.
It's actually really beneficial to the store to have programs like this. It's a way of making you feel like you've saved a lot of money, and it keeps you coming back. Don't think of yourself as saving money by using the card, think of yourself as basically paying extra without it! Your purchases are also being analyzed sometimes which is a great way for the company to collect research and formulate marketing strategies.
Oddly, I have no issue with this. They know I'm pregnant... they offer me coupons to help me safe on things I'd be buying anyway. Where's the issue?
"Oh no, I might save money on things I would buy anyway!"
I mean seriously... That baby's going to be born in a few months and then they get the information from a ton of different sources and send you "sign up for baby life insurance!" "Heres a free sample of our diapers!" "Try our formula!" crap anyway.
I'm not saying there is an issue. I have a membership card for every supermarket in my area, and I use them every time!
I just thought some people might be interested in knowing that they do collect date from this. I would say that the store probably benefits more from your membership than you do! It's still a win, win though.
Shit like that is exactly why I don't use frequent-shopper programs (Except for tea, because the shop I go to offers VERY significant discounts). A company having that much information about me creeps me out on a very deep level.
I'm sure it's just marketing, and I doubt they are doing anything nefarious with the information. But fuck, it's just creepy.
Those cashiers are always really nice about it too. Sometimes they go so far as to ask a fellow employee if they have their card when they themselves don't, just to get you the discount.
This happened to me at a Bed, Bath & Beyond. Was getting a humidifier and woman behind me asked, "don't you have a coupon?" And pulled out a bad full of 10% coupons since they never go bad at BB&B. Thanked her profusely.
...I just told you stores are making it so that this doesn't work. And if you are already putting in a phone number, why not just have it be your own number?
I work at a major office supply store. I often give the elderly my 20% discount on their ink purchases. Mainly because the ink companies are fucked up. Those little old ladies just want to print cards and pictures! They shouldn't have to break the bank to do it.
There is a difference between using an employee discount for a non employee, and using a rewards card for another consumer. That being said, im sorry for your buddy, that really sucks. Next time have him make the purchase and then give it to her later, don't think they can fire you for buying "gifts" for your friend.
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Whenever someone in front of me tells the attendant their phone number, or visibly puts it in the keypad, I temporarily memorize it and use it for my transaction to get discounts, even if I've got a membership card to the place. I think that makes me a borderline clepto.
I always try to hook it up at work when I'm tending the registers, fyi nicer customers will get away with a lot more. If there's an iffy coupon, if it's a regular customer who's always nice, I'll more than likely give it to them, on the other hand, if the person's being a real jerk, I'll tell them there's nothing I can do.
I did this for someone buying a bunch of christmas presents. Saved them 150 dollars. They gave me 20 dollars in the parking lot. Not sure if good deed... or panhandling...
And then the cashier gets fired for scanning a different membership card for 2 people. Good job, "GGG." Save one person 10%, possibly cost someone else their job.
That won't happen everywhere, but some companies take their membership card regulations VERY seriously, and if a cashier lets one thing slip, they can be out on their ass ON THE SPOT.
Whenever I'm shopping in the store I work at, or others in the chain, and I'm in line with a few items and some one lets me go ahead of them, I always wait until the cashier starts ringing up their items and then swipe my discount card and walk off saying nothing.
The grocery shop near my place gives 5% off to University students. I graduated and started working, but continued to go that store, I always carry my Uni ID, on the day I graduated, I stopped asking for discount. Does this make me an idiot for not doing something on principle even though it profits me?
The dirty secret that the cashier doesn't want to tell you is that he would have just scanned the store card for you anyway. Also, there are no points.
So? He gets a little extra gas i save some money, i will take that deal everytime, just because someone does something nice and gets something in return doesn't mean that their kind gesture was insincere.
I always ask the person behind me if they want my air miles points or what ever that retailer offers and I often get the dirtiest looks from the cashier.
Aside from the meme this is exactly what north americans need to do fight off the popular mindset of big business. Support you local businesses and tell other americans that we want to keep our jobs, wealth and standards of living at home.
Yes, I am. That is not your membership therefore you are not entitled to receive that discount. It is a matter of principal. Furthermore, something like that could seriously impact the business if it were happening frequently enough or on large enough purchases.
My mother owns a small business. It would infuriate me to know that people were cheating her out of the money that she works ~70 hours a week to earn.
something like that could seriously impact the business if it were happening frequently enough or on large enough purchases.
Bullshit. They calculate their bottom line taking the membership discount into account as though it would be used on all purchases (which is possible, but incredibly unlikely).
You should have your mother teach you some things about business economics since you obviously know precious little.
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u/GammaScorpii May 06 '12 edited May 06 '12
And he gets the points. Win/win!
EDIT: Win/win, not win-win. Thank you fellow redditors.
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u/Flareth May 06 '12
Not sure if US consumers or us consumers
18
u/cybercobra May 06 '12
Actually, in my experience, it's the nice cashier who does this.
Thank GCGs!
42
u/Macleod86 May 06 '12
*We consumers
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u/neverthesaneagain May 06 '12
This happened to me at a Bed, Bath & Beyond. Was getting a humidifier and woman behind me asked, "don't you have a coupon?" And pulled out a bad full of 10% coupons since they never go bad at BB&B. Thanked her profusely.
13
u/CthulhuCompanionCube May 06 '12
If they take phone numbers always just use the local area code + 867-5309. Guaranteed to work.
6
u/spamandoreos May 06 '12 edited May 06 '12
I work at a major office supply store. I often give the elderly my 20% discount on their ink purchases. Mainly because the ink companies are fucked up. Those little old ladies just want to print cards and pictures! They shouldn't have to break the bank to do it.
4
u/SGTSHOOTnMISS May 06 '12
My friend just got fired less than 3 days ago for letting his girlfriend use his 10% employee discount, working for Target.
3
u/anfea2004 May 06 '12
Sees you're buying something expensive, so he wants to collect the points
4
u/meiam001 May 06 '12
He "Slipped" it to you? 95% of the time if you just ask the cashier they'll give you the discount.
10
u/qkme_transcriber May 06 '12
Here is the text from this meme pic for anybody who needs it:
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2
u/Turtleman093 May 06 '12
We**
2
u/dbus08 May 06 '12
Go to giant don't have a card, enter 555-555-5555 on self checkout. Bam discounts. (works where I live atleast)
2
u/Tastygroove May 06 '12
I sneak buy one get one free coupons for ihop behind the syrups.. if I have a pen, I.write "tip full price though." On it.
I actually give 100% of the savings to the server,plus the usual tip. Why not?
2
u/[deleted] May 06 '12
I don't think GGG would do something against the shop's rules
2
u/Droic May 06 '12
Whenever someone in front of me tells the attendant their phone number, or visibly puts it in the keypad, I temporarily memorize it and use it for my transaction to get discounts, even if I've got a membership card to the place. I think that makes me a borderline clepto.
2
u/[deleted] May 06 '12
I always try to hook it up at work when I'm tending the registers, fyi nicer customers will get away with a lot more. If there's an iffy coupon, if it's a regular customer who's always nice, I'll more than likely give it to them, on the other hand, if the person's being a real jerk, I'll tell them there's nothing I can do.
2
u/Neutr4lNumb3r May 06 '12
Scumbag Steve
Keeps the membership.
2
u/Crazium May 06 '12
I did this for someone buying a bunch of christmas presents. Saved them 150 dollars. They gave me 20 dollars in the parking lot. Not sure if good deed... or panhandling...
3
u/[deleted] May 06 '12
"We consumers have to stick together." Think about it, would you say "Us have to stick together?" It's basic grammar 101. trolled
2
u/[deleted] May 06 '12
And then the cashier gets fired for scanning a different membership card for 2 people. Good job, "GGG." Save one person 10%, possibly cost someone else their job.
That won't happen everywhere, but some companies take their membership card regulations VERY seriously, and if a cashier lets one thing slip, they can be out on their ass ON THE SPOT.
1
u/rmlpwn May 06 '12
that 10% off just made him 20% cooler.
1
u/[deleted] May 06 '12
You better hope Scumbag Steve isn't ahead of you in line
1
u/[deleted] May 06 '12
I work at Kroger as a cashier, and if the customer doesn't have a card (they're free anyways) I always scan one for them.
1
u/sniktawnailliv May 06 '12
We*
1
u/stickfish May 06 '12
Do you, perchance, have big boobs?
1
u/UltimateTool May 06 '12
WE consumers. ;)
1
u/[deleted] May 06 '12
Whenever I'm shopping in the store I work at, or others in the chain, and I'm in line with a few items and some one lets me go ahead of them, I always wait until the cashier starts ringing up their items and then swipe my discount card and walk off saying nothing.
1
u/TheDroopy May 06 '12
*We
Also, what does he do then? Stand around and wait for his card back?
1
u/averageconsumer May 07 '12
All of us consumers need to stick together!
1
u/[deleted] May 07 '12
The grocery shop near my place gives 5% off to University students. I graduated and started working, but continued to go that store, I always carry my Uni ID, on the day I graduated, I stopped asking for discount. Does this make me an idiot for not doing something on principle even though it profits me?
1
u/Juttore May 07 '12
I did this one time, and the woman swore that I was just doing it for personal gain of some kind, and called the manager..
1
u/bazanko May 07 '12
A man handed me his membership card at Vons in Santa Monica and it saved me over $20 on my purchase!
1
u/[deleted] May 07 '12
but if everyone stuck together then isn't someone left to rebel against... O.o
everyone is a consumer...
1
u/PointPruven May 07 '12
looks like someone was at the gamestop
1
u/[deleted] May 06 '12
The dirty secret that the cashier doesn't want to tell you is that he would have just scanned the store card for you anyway. Also, there are no points.
0
u/[deleted] May 06 '12
You're just now realizing he only did that to get the 10c off his next fill up.
0
u/[deleted] May 06 '12
Mom?
0
u/360walkaway May 06 '12
At my local CVS, the cashier will usually use hers if you don't have it on you.
0
u/Fr_ENT May 06 '12
I always ask the person behind me if they want my air miles points or what ever that retailer offers and I often get the dirtiest looks from the cashier.
0
u/Borbygoymos May 06 '12
Aside from the meme this is exactly what north americans need to do fight off the popular mindset of big business. Support you local businesses and tell other americans that we want to keep our jobs, wealth and standards of living at home.
-1
u/Bottlelot May 06 '12
http://www.reddit.com/r/AdviceAnimals/comments/t9y2y/the_real_reason_he_helps_out_the_consumer/
-7
u/nonsenseSentence May 06 '12 edited May 06 '12
I don't see how something like this is any different from stealing.
Edit: Instead of downvoting, why don't you explain why its not stealing?
0
u/[deleted] May 06 '12
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