Comments on: The fight back: loyalty card subversion http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/ How do people use products, systems and environments? How can designers influence interaction? How can we design for sustainable behaviour? Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:15:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Devin http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-172618 Devin Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:35:46 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-172618 I'm not sure how subversive those swap meets are. Sure, they prevent grocery stores from marketing specifically to you, but while, say, Amazon might love to do that, I don't think Giant or Safeway is really trying to. They seem to be trying to get an aggregate more than your details, and swapping your bits with another customer's doesn't prevent that. I’m not sure how subversive those swap meets are. Sure, they prevent grocery stores from marketing specifically to you, but while, say, Amazon might love to do that, I don’t think Giant or Safeway is really trying to. They seem to be trying to get an aggregate more than your details, and swapping your bits with another customer’s doesn’t prevent that.

]]> By: liz http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-33723 liz Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:11:59 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-33723 college students can also (unintentionally) cause muddled profiles, because of the way safeway tracks your information. your club card is linked primarily to your phone number, and phone numbers are handed down with dorm rooms. i still use the club card that's linked to my old dorm room, but it's certainly not in my name. and i know i'm not the only one using it, because someone else is buying an awful lot of deli sandwiches. college students can also (unintentionally) cause muddled profiles, because of the way safeway tracks your information. your club card is linked primarily to your phone number, and phone numbers are handed down with dorm rooms.

i still use the club card that’s linked to my old dorm room, but it’s certainly not in my name. and i know i’m not the only one using it, because someone else is buying an awful lot of deli sandwiches.

]]> By: After Issue Crawler http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-31387 After Issue Crawler Sun, 21 Jan 2007 16:31:28 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-31387 [...] Actually cloning the data on the magnetic strip, to create a more foolproof (and less detectable) set of cloned cards, would be another step. Depending on the structure of the supermarket’s loyalty scheme, there may well be thresholds above which the ‘rewards’ for customers increase substantially, and assuming the participants in the cloning scheme can work out a fair or acceptable way to share their rewards, this could mean greater benefits for all of them than actually using their cards individually…” From The fight back: loyalty card subversion by Dan Lockton. These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...] [...] Actually cloning the data on the magnetic strip, to create a more foolproof (and less detectable) set of cloned cards, would be another step. Depending on the structure of the supermarket’s loyalty scheme, there may well be thresholds above which the ‘rewards’ for customers increase substantially, and assuming the participants in the cloning scheme can work out a fair or acceptable way to share their rewards, this could mean greater benefits for all of them than actually using their cards individually…” From The fight back: loyalty card subversion by Dan Lockton. These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

]]> By: Rich http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-27776 Rich Sun, 31 Dec 2006 19:47:10 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-27776 Back in ~2000, I forged my application for the omniscient <a href="http://www.nectar.com">Nectar card</a>, as a single mum with four kids[1]. I also gave them a completely bogus address. Did I subvert the system? Well not really. Since I'm paying with my regular debit card much of the time, any half-decent DBA should be able to associate my Nectar card with the real me. Still, they obviously don't pay very close attention to the details you give because they didn't disable my card. I'm still racking up points and redeeming them on the increasingly rare occasions that I go to supermarkets. Rich. [1] For the benefit of readers of this comment, "single mum with four kids" is wrong about me in at least three major characteristics. Back in ~2000, I forged my application for the omniscient Nectar card, as a single mum with four kids[1]. I also gave them a completely bogus address. Did I subvert the system? Well not really. Since I’m paying with my regular debit card much of the time, any half-decent DBA should be able to associate my Nectar card with the real me. Still, they obviously don’t pay very close attention to the details you give because they didn’t disable my card. I’m still racking up points and redeeming them on the increasingly rare occasions that I go to supermarkets.

Rich.

[1] For the benefit of readers of this comment, “single mum with four kids” is wrong about me in at least three major characteristics.

]]> By: BambisMusings - Musings from a little deer? » The fight back: loyalty card subversion http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-24145 BambisMusings - Musings from a little deer? » The fight back: loyalty card subversion Tue, 12 Dec 2006 14:39:50 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-24145 [...] The fight back: loyalty card subversion The fight back: loyalty card subversion [...] [...] The fight back: loyalty card subversion The fight back: loyalty card subversion [...]

]]> By: Crosbie Fitch http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-23941 Crosbie Fitch Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:36:31 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-23941 Another idea I had that I have been on the verge of adopting, but consider may be too onerous for the marginal satisfaction it could give me is this: Cashier: "Oh, do you have a Tescafewaytrose Loyalty card sir?" Me: "Why certainly, but as part of my current promotion, if you present your Crosbie Fitch card I can give you a 5% surcharge on all my purchases today - as reward for meeting my highest expectations." Cashier: "..." Me: "You do have a 'Crosbie Fitch' card, don't you?" Cashier: "Er... no." Me: "Application forms are available by application to my home address. Membership is free too!" Cashier: "I'll take that as a 'No' then." Me: "Au contraire. I have my loyalty card right here." Ad nauseum... ;-) Another idea I had that I have been on the verge of adopting, but consider may be too onerous for the marginal satisfaction it could give me is this:

Cashier: “Oh, do you have a Tescafewaytrose Loyalty card sir?”

Me: “Why certainly, but as part of my current promotion, if you present your Crosbie Fitch card I can give you a 5% surcharge on all my purchases today - as reward for meeting my highest expectations.”

Cashier: “…”

Me: “You do have a ‘Crosbie Fitch’ card, don’t you?”

Cashier: “Er… no.”

Me: “Application forms are available by application to my home address. Membership is free too!”

Cashier: “I’ll take that as a ‘No’ then.”

Me: “Au contraire. I have my loyalty card right here.”

Ad nauseum… ;-)

]]> By: Guy Hermann http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-23920 Guy Hermann Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:22:48 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-23920 I found that CVS, the local drugstore chain, will give out loyalty cards without any ID. I get the discounts without giving up any information. I get a new one on a regular basis. I wonder if I can do this at other stores? I found that CVS, the local drugstore chain, will give out loyalty cards without any ID. I get the discounts without giving up any information. I get a new one on a regular basis.

I wonder if I can do this at other stores?

]]> By: mako http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-23825 mako Mon, 11 Dec 2006 05:19:28 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-23825 I did a project similar to the swapfest but taking place only online. It's pretty simple and easy to use and quite a few people have used it to swap their loyalty cards with others. You can check it out at: http://cardexchange.org I did a project similar to the swapfest but taking place only online. It’s pretty simple and easy to use and quite a few people have used it to swap their loyalty cards with others. You can check it out at: http://cardexchange.org

]]> By: mako http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-23824 mako Mon, 11 Dec 2006 05:17:32 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-23824 A few years ago, I made a online version of the loyalty card swap meet. It's online here: http://cardexchange.org Check it out! A few years ago, I made a online version of the loyalty card swap meet. It’s online here: http://cardexchange.org

Check it out!

]]> By: Ryan Coleman http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-23803 Ryan Coleman Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:39:22 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-23803 There's one small flaw in his "Greatest Shopper Ever" plan though. Unless everyone pays cash, they can easily separate out the different clones based on Checking/Credit Cards. Great idea though, especially if he gets points :) Happy to order a supplemental Air Miles card on my account for anyone who wants one. ;) There’s one small flaw in his “Greatest Shopper Ever” plan though.

Unless everyone pays cash, they can easily separate out the different clones based on Checking/Credit Cards.

Great idea though, especially if he gets points :)
Happy to order a supplemental Air Miles card on my account for anyone who wants one. ;)

]]> By: Josh D. http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-23714 Josh D. Sun, 10 Dec 2006 22:10:35 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2006/12/10/the-fight-back-loyalty-card-subversion/#comment-23714 Using the wrong bar codes or cheating the self checkout is shoplifting; no different from switching the tags from a cheap item to an expensive item. However, the loyalty cards have become almost a necessity at the chain supermarkets I shop at. The discount prices are often what the normal prices should be. Using the wrong bar codes or cheating the self checkout is shoplifting; no different from switching the tags from a cheap item to an expensive item.

However, the loyalty cards have become almost a necessity at the chain supermarkets I shop at. The discount prices are often what the normal prices should be.

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