This seems insane to me. I live in a city where maybe 50-60% of people have cars, and most don’t drive them that much. Yet every grocery store I’m aware of with the sole exception of the expensive Whole Foods has a fuel rewards points program. Reasons this should be controversial enough to enable a low-cost alternative:
- Many people don’t drive and therefore pay a little more for groceries because it includes a perk they don’t use
- It seems like a very ardent pro-fossil fuel move that you’d think would cause some sort of negative attention from environment activists.
- The subsidy typically applies as an amount off per gallon, so you end up really subsidizing big vehicles with big gas tanks. Again, really makes some customers subsidize others and you’d think people (other than me) would be annoyed at this.
But yet, virtually every grocery store does this. Anyone know why? Does the fossil fuel industry somehow encourage this?
It’s so that they can advertise to you more. Giving them whatever information is ‘required’ to sign up for whatever ‘rewards’ they’re offering is more beneficial to them than it is to you, guaranteed. I just don’t buy in, if that means that I’m somehow paying more than so be it.
I think people have forgotten how to have principles these days, or just don’t care.
Out of curiosity, do you only pay cash when you’re at a grocery store? If not, all your purchases can be aggregated and a corresponding consumer profile built.