Woe to anyone who shops at Fred Meyer. Saw the following story on an industry news page today...

Fred Meyer launches new loyalty card
PORTLAND, Ore - January 31, 2005 - Fred Meyer announced the rollout of its new Fred Meyer Rewards Card being introduced in Oregon and Western Washington Fred Meyer stores this week.

"Our Fred Meyer Rewards card is not like any other supermarket card," says Natalie Ream, group vice president of sales, promotion and marketing. "It does not affect prices in any way. You still get the same low prices whether you use the card or not. No gimmicks, no pricing games and no fees to join."

Instead, the card will pay customers a rebate for simply using the card when they shop Fred Meyer. Customers earn one "point" every time they spend five dollars at Fred Meyer. If a customer earns at least 100 points during a 13-week period, he or she qualifies for a rebate. Points will be tallied and displayed on the Customer's receipt every time the Customer uses the card when making a purchase. Rebates will be mailed to Customers at the end of the 13-week period.


I mean, ok, I give them bonus points for trying... but one way or another, it's another "loyalty" card to help them track what people buy. My favorite line is how it doesn't affect prices. Sure, right. Tell me another one. They're just not going to adopt two-tiered pricing like the vast majority of the rest of this country's "loyalty" card programs. But you'll never see that box of Ho-Ho's on sale for $0.99 anymore - it'll never be lower than $1.09. After all, someone has to pay for your card.

So, in conclusion, go Kroger! Thanks for messing with one of your last card-free chains.

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As far as what companies have learned about me from my card-based purchases... let's see. CVS still only really knows that I like circus peanuts, black Mountain Dew, salted Dutch-style pretzels, and Twizzlers, and that my preferred pain reliever is Tylenol. Dominick's probably thinks I moved out of Chicago long ago since I haven't shopped there in years. Jewel-Osco thinks I still live in my dorm room from freshman year, so they must constantly puzzle about how I shop everywhere but the stores closest to there. Granted, they know a bit more about my purchasing habits... so they've been able to come to the conclusion that, statistically speaking, it is highly likely that I am a low-spending male who lives alone. Churn that data, guys!

This post has been brought to you by the syllables "BA" and "NA", and a stupendously boring yet stupidly crazy day.

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Also: FFXI Macros are fun. And will get more fun, now that I've had a chance to think them through a bit. Just need to, um, "research" some things now. My poor little mind is being devoured by piranhas. ♪♪ ^_^;;