Something that annoys me...

I've thought of blogging about this before, and today I'm remembering to do it...

Safeway issues cards to their customers which allow customers to receive certain items at discounted prices...but is really their mechanism for gathering information on your consumption habits. Some people got annoyed that the grocery store had their personal information, so they started distributing the card without requiring you to tell them name, address, phone number, dog's name, etc.

Now, it seems, Safeway is trying to make your shopping experience more "personal" by thanking you, by name, for shopping at their store as they give you the receipt. It is painful, everytime it happens. I'm actually thinking of writing to Safeway about it. It's not as if you know these people, generally. They ring you up and exchange a pleasant few words...then they are scoping out your name on the receipt. The pleasant few words always feels nice...the being called by name feels invasive.

I always get a secret thrill when I pay with cash...because I was one of those who opted to get a card without giving identifying information. So the receipt comes out with *gasp* no name. The checker, shaken, will try to recover the end of the sentence that they've started already, "Thanks for shopping here, Miss...uh...ma'am." The best was the one who knew to tack on "valued customer."

It makes me realize how much I like my anonymity in those instances....