"Bruce Barnett" wrote in message
...
"Swingman" writes:

I always use mine, and have for years with no apparent detrimental effect
to
either me, my privacy, or finances ... unless I'm really missing
something?

They like to know how to target ads to users. You might get flyers in the
mail
that fit a profile of shoppers like you.


So getting an ad with a sale price is a bad thing? You certainly still have
the choice of following up on the ad or not. It's boils down to being
responsible for your control over impulses and purchases.

WoodButcher wrote:
I have quite a few of these cards and they save me some bucks.
I signed up for them using a bogus name, address, etc.
Different name every time.
Track away. I don't care.

Art

Maybe it's run differently in other parts of the country but all the
cards I've gotten were mailed to the house ... not issued in the store.

At any rate, I didn't think I'd get much traction, but I figured I'd at
least raise the issue.

Back to woodworking. I posted some bowls, candlesticks and a pen
tonight. Not that any one here is a likely customer. And I found an
acceptable public domain icon for the category.

Bill

--
http://nmwoodworks.com/cube


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"Leon" writes:

"Bruce Barnett" wrote in message
...
They like to know how to target ads to users. You might get flyers in the
mail
that fit a profile of shoppers like you.

So getting an ad with a sale price is a bad thing? You certainly still have
the choice of following up on the ad or not. It's boils down to being
responsible for your control over impulses and purchases.

While I am a privacy advocate, I'm not sure what dangers there are on
pure loyalty cards. Store-based credit cards do allow purchase
tracking of individuals, and yes they do analyze your purchase habits.

Stores like Home Depot, Lowes etc., like to be able to target offers
based on your previous purchases. But they already have your credit
information.

A big danger with any store that uses credit cards is the danger of
their database being hacked (like TJ Max). That's my biggest concern.

A pure loyalty card is a different issue. If there's no credit card
info associated with it, then they can analyze your purchase habits as
an individual (which is easy), or they can try to correlate your name
and address with other database entries (which is very very
difficult).

Think about tracking a woman's name before and after marriage, and the
many variations. Think of nicknames, juniors, etc.
It's hard to correlate data based on names and addresses.

I think it's more likely that tracking of an individual account gived
them insight of "typical" users.


For instance, I have two loyalty cards for a bookstore. I only use
one, but get e-mail to both. The account I don't use gets better
coupons.

But as I use it, it tells them which coupons I respond do. I'm much
more likely to buy a paperback book when I have a 25% coupon (w/no
minimum purchase), than if I have a %15 coupon with a minimum purchase of
$20.

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"Swingman" wrote in message
...

"Scott Lurndal" wrote in message

I'm sorry, but anecdotal information is not sufficient. How about some
citations
from peer-reviewed publications that confirm your thesis?


Cite please? Note that the gasoline from the refinery is pumped via
pipelines to the distribution terminals. Both name-brand and off-brand
retailers are served from the same tank farm using product transported by
the same pipeline.

To believe that all gas is equal in quality (not "grade") at the time of
introduction to your tank is to be naive ...and the longer you use the
inferior quality (not "grade"), the fewer "cites" are needed to prove that
point.

Gas that is sold at the ex Texaco station, with the old Texaco sign
covered
with a tarp, for 25 cents a gallon less than the price at the Shell
station
across the street, is more not the same gas, guaranteed ... if anyone
really
believes that, I 've got some swap land for sale they may be interested
in.

It's what happens down market that determines the difference. Many
different
additives, as well as fuel preservatives, and in differing proportions,
are
added by various parties at various points on the way to the gas pump.
Couple that with the fact that gas deteroriates with storage and the
longer
the storage, generally the more fuel preservatives must be added to keep
it
useful as engine fuel, and the higher the incident of cross or water
contamination.

Lower priced gas on the market at independent, no name stations may well
have been stored much longer, is much more likely to have fewer detergents
and deposit control additives, making for inferior quality, may even be
close to the end of useful life, cross contaminated with other gases
and/or
water and the preservative content may be reaching a point to make it
unmarketable, even though it may at one point was "served from the same
tank
farm".

AAMOF, after the hurricanes a couple of years ago, the government looked
the
other way while much of the above was done, on purpose, to keep the prices
down.

There is good gas, inferior gas, and bad gas ... one tank of the latter is
all you ever need to prove that without the need for "peer reviewed
publications" and "cites".

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 2/20/07
When I worked in Haz-Mat response one of my duties was to inspect the local
gasoline terminal. LARGE tanks filled with gasoline piped in and stored by
Ashland Oil, no other company. A tank truck would come in and fill up with
gas and then go to a series of pumps almost identical to a self serve gas
pump. The driver would put the nozzel into the tank and swipe a "credit"
card through the machine at which time the pump would dispense a preset mix
and amount of additaves to the tank. The mix would depend on who it was
going to, Gulf, Shell or Mom and Pop etc. and grade of gas. The people who
ran the tank farm told me that you bought the same "gas" no matter who you
bought gas from, but you could only get the additives from one brand
depending on which additives you wanted. JMTCW

"Bruce Barnett" wrote in message
"Swingman" writes:

I always use mine, and have for years with no apparent detrimental
effect to
either me, my privacy, or finances ... unless I'm really missing
something?

They like to know how to target ads to users. You might get flyers in the
mail
that fit a profile of shoppers like you.

If they track what I buy at the grocery store, it's gotta bore the crap out
of them.

Besides, I'm starting to think that in many retail corporations these days
the mentality is well on its way to being too damn stupid to use the results
of any "tracking", not to mention that they routinely fool/screw themselves
if that's the case.

For instance, last night I bought Atlantic Salmon, normally around $8+/lb,
for $4/lb because it had been mis-tagged "Catfish", and rang up that way at
the register, not to mention there was another $1.60 off "catfish" for
cardholders.

I mean, if you work in the meat department and can't tell the difference
between salmon and catfish??

Similar things happen two or three times a week at this one store. As I
mentioned before, recently at this same store we "saved" over $400 on 36
bottles of wine because they repeatedly, and mistakenly, included a $17
bottle of wine in the display at the front of the store for their "Six pack
wine special" for cardholders.

And that was the third time they've done the EXACT same thing in the past
year ... a "savings" to me alone of over $1200 for the three occurrences.

At those savings, they can track away all they want ... besides,
preponderance of junk mail these days is pre-approved credit card offers and
tool catalogues from places where I've purchased online, nothing on wine, or
catfish, yet.


--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 2/20/07

"Swingman" wrote in message
...


Besides, I'm starting to think that in many retail corporations these days
the mentality is well on its way to being too damn stupid to use the
results
of any "tracking", not to mention that they routinely fool/screw
themselves
if that's the case.

No kidding and an excellent example of your observation that you run into a
lot of people that are educated way beyond their intelligence.
Typically in the past, a store or relatively small company would contract
with an outside computer company to handle all their computing needs and
inventories. As the computer became more accepted in business the tasks
were turned over to the store employees but the out side company still
controlled/provided the software and how the computer would operate. Many
of those in management positions would be clueless with what to do with all
that available data the was at their disposal. Many grocery stores are just
now starting to catch up with where the automotive industry was 20 years ago
concerning the use of the computer. It's funny to walk into a store and
realize what is going on and what you are watching is how we used to do it
in the old days.


For instance, last night I bought Atlantic Salmon, normally around $8+/lb,
for $4/lb because it had been mis-tagged "Catfish", and rang up that way
at
the register, not to mention there was another $1.60 off "catfish" for
cardholders.

A classic case of not being procedurally organized and not having a safe
guard in place to prevent costly mistakes.

"Swingman" wrote in message
...

"Curran Copeland" wrote in message

ran the tank farm told me that you bought the same "gas" no matter who
you
bought gas from, but you could only get the additives from one brand
depending on which additives you wanted. JMTCW

That's true, because "gasoline" is basically a specific chemical compound.

But, as you noted, the difference, which can indeed effect "quality", is
in
what is added, or not added, down the line.

That said, as a kid we used to burn what was called "condensate" or "drip"
(captured in 55 gal drums _at the well head_ from wells on the property)
in
the farm vehicles ... this "unrefined" gasoline obviously had NO additives
whatsoever, but did the job.

AAMOF, my grandfather and uncles burned "drip" in their trucks to no ill
effect that I can recall.

My dad has stories of using that drip gas in Oklahoma when he was a kid.
One included spending the nights at a well to keep an eye on it and having
to start up some of the pumps on a cold night. Pull the spark plug out and
heat it up with a lit match, screw it back in real quick and start cranking.
I have used the match trick on several occasions on some of my 2 stroke yard
tools.

"Curran Copeland" wrote in message

ran the tank farm told me that you bought the same "gas" no matter who you
bought gas from, but you could only get the additives from one brand
depending on which additives you wanted. JMTCW

That's true, because "gasoline" is basically a specific chemical compound.

But, as you noted, the difference, which can indeed effect "quality", is in
what is added, or not added, down the line.

That said, as a kid we used to burn what was called "condensate" or "drip"
(captured in 55 gal drums _at the well head_ from wells on the property) in
the farm vehicles ... this "unrefined" gasoline obviously had NO additives
whatsoever, but did the job.

AAMOF, my grandfather and uncles burned "drip" in their trucks to no ill
effect that I can recall.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 2/20/07

"Swingman" wrote in message

For instance, last night I bought Atlantic Salmon, normally around $8+/lb,
for $4/lb because it had been mis-tagged "Catfish", and rang up that way
at
the register, not to mention there was another $1.60 off "catfish" for
cardholders.


That is funny. A typical example of people just going through the motions.
Both the meatcutter and the clerk did not notice (or know) the difference
between catfish and salmon. Which has got to be some kinda cultural meltdown
for a Southerner.

A question, do southern boys really eat salmon? Ain't it blasphemy to eat
that Yankee fish?


Similar things happen two or three times a week at this one store. As I
mentioned before, recently at this same store we "saved" over $400 on 36
bottles of wine because they repeatedly, and mistakenly, included a $17
bottle of wine in the display at the front of the store for their "Six
pack
wine special" for cardholders.

And that was the third time they've done the EXACT same thing in the past
year ... a "savings" to me alone of over $1200 for the three occurrences.


I don't dare tell my wife about the great wine six pack special. She would
drive all the way to Texas to take advantage of those kinds of savings.

And to think that you saved $1200 on wine this past year..........., and
never invited any of us over.

Where is that famous Southern Hospitality?

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
link.net...
Leon wrote:


I bet Lew had not even considered that. :~)

If it comes from the grape, it's rot gut, IMHO.


Now if you want to talk about single malt or good beer, that's another
matter.

Lew

I never was much up on wine either but now that I have to closely watch my
blood sugar I find that I can drink a lot more wine than beer or liquor. I
usta prefer and only drank Fosters and straight whiskey. Now it's wine and
sugar free popsicles for dippin. ;~)

"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
...

A question, do southern boys really eat salmon? Ain't it blasphemy to eat
that Yankee fish?

If you live near the gulf coast you'll eat just about anything that comes
out of the water. Even those minature Lobsters.


I don't dare tell my wife about the great wine six pack special. She
would drive all the way to Texas to take advantage of those kinds of
savings.

Krogers offers a similar deal. IIRC 6 bottles gets you a 10% discount.

Lee Michaels wrote:
A question, do southern boys really eat salmon? Ain't it blasphemy to eat
that Yankee fish?


Sheeeeit... that ain't yankee fish. That's Western fish, which is OK for us.
Yankee fish is like the famed bluefish from the East River, which bears an
amazing similarity to water soaked Charmin.



Where is that famous Southern Hospitality?


Welcome to my home. Now get out.




--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
Lee Michaels wrote:
A question, do southern boys really eat salmon? Ain't it blasphemy
to eat that Yankee fish?


Sheeeeit... that ain't yankee fish. That's Western fish, which is OK
for us.

You're thinking Pacific salmon, there's also Atlantic salmon, but
they're mostly farm bred these days.

Yankee fish is like the famed bluefish from the East River,
which bears an amazing similarity to water soaked Charmin.

East River blues taste that good do they? Improvement over the last one
somebody put in front of me.

Where is that famous Southern Hospitality?


Welcome to my home. Now get out.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:43:32 -0600, "Swingman" wrote:

We never had salmon as kids because it simply wasn't available, and I never
cared that much for it until I finally learned how to cook it ... which is
to hardly do so at all.

I now have it about once a week.

Try this Salmon recipe:

Salmon Wrap

Take a fillet of Salmon

Section in pieces small enough to wrap in Prosciutto slices
Wrap each salmon section in at least 2 Prosciutto slices.

Cook on a medium hi heat 2 to 3 minute a side in 2-tblspn olive oil
1-tsp butter.

Side serving suggestion

Microwave steamed asparagus or corn of the cob

French Bread and butter.

Markem
http://home.mchsi.com/~xphome/

"Lee Michaels" wrote in message

A question, do southern boys really eat salmon? Ain't it blasphemy to eat
that Yankee fish?

We never had salmon as kids because it simply wasn't available, and I never
cared that much for it until I finally learned how to cook it ... which is
to hardly do so at all.

I now have it about once a week.

I don't dare tell my wife about the great wine six pack special. She
would
drive all the way to Texas to take advantage of those kinds of savings.

And to think that you saved $1200 on wine this past year..........., and
never invited any of us over.

It was such a rip-off to the store that I felt kind of bad at first, but
that didn't last very long.

As each day passes I'm more and more convinced that penalizing stupidity is
about the only way to discourage it, and if you're that damn stupid to keep
repeating stupidity even after it costs you, you need to pay through the
nose!

In Texas if you advertise something at a price, you must sell it at that
price and even offer rain checks unless it is clearly stipulated that
quantities are limited. In all three cases all that was limited was the
time, as in "offer good thru mm/dd/yy".

SWMBO actually got two rain checks, each signed by a manager on duty at the
time, and they were honored after only a very brief struggle.

They haven't made that mistake again for a few months now ... and believe
me, I'm watching.

It must be rampant ... I was listening to Tom Martino in the truck this
morning and damned if they weren't talking about the same thing: "corporate
retail stupidity"!

--
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Last update: 2/20/07

"Swingman" wrote in message
news

Snip

SWMBO actually got two rain checks, each signed by a manager on duty at
the
time, and they were honored after only a very brief struggle.

Ok, I just got a image of your wife struggling on the floor with the
manager of the store after having knocked down every can good on both sides
of isle 13. ;~)

They haven't made that mistake again for a few months now ... and believe
me, I'm watching.

;~) Let me know if they do.

Swingman wrote:

"Markem" wrote in message

Try this Salmon recipe:

Man, that sounds good!

Definitely going to give that a try. Thanks!!

Yeah, is there anything bacon can't do?

--
Frank Stutzman

J. Clarke wrote:
Yankee fish is like the famed bluefish from the East River,
which bears an amazing similarity to water soaked Charmin.

East River blues taste that good do they? Improvement over the last one
somebody put in front of me.



That may be because I'm reliably informed the East River bluefish IS water
soaked Charmin. Maybe yours was a local variety known as a Striper. They have
whitefish and brownfish as well. Hell, they even got silverfish. G



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

"Markem" wrote in message

Try this Salmon recipe:

Man, that sounds good!

Definitely going to give that a try. Thanks!!


--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 2/20/07

"Leon" writes:

Krogers offers a similar deal. IIRC 6 bottles gets you a 10% discount.

Most wine stores have discounts when you buy 6 or more.

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Frank Stutzman wrote:

Yeah, is there anything bacon can't do?

Not muchG.

Lew

"Bruce Barnett" wrote in message
...
"Leon" writes:

Krogers offers a similar deal. IIRC 6 bottles gets you a 10% discount.

Most wine stores have discounts when you buy 6 or more.

Is a wine store different than a liquor store or are you referring to any
store that sells wine?

"Leon" writes:

Is a wine store different than a liquor store or are you referring to any
store that sells wine?

Same thing. We have a discount liquor warehouse that may not give you
an additional discount (as the price is lower anyway), but some of the
wines we like are not available there. So we look elsewhere.

I don't have a lot of experiece (i.e. I tried it at 4 stores), but
with the one exception above, if you ask about a bulk discount, they
will give you 5% to 10% when you buy 6 or more of the same.

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"Bruce Barnett" wrote in message
...
"Leon" writes:

Is a wine store different than a liquor store or are you referring to any
store that sells wine?

Same thing. We have a discount liquor warehouse that may not give you
an additional discount (as the price is lower anyway), but some of the
wines we like are not available there. So we look elsewhere.

I don't have a lot of experiece (i.e. I tried it at 4 stores), but
with the one exception above, if you ask about a bulk discount, they
will give you 5% to 10% when you buy 6 or more of the same.

--
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Gotcha. We have Spec's Liquor. They give a 5% discount for check or cash
+some on case lots.