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Bad News for Local Consumers
On August 1, 2004 CVS announced that it has completed the
acquisition of approximately 1,260 Eckerd drug stores, located
mainly in the southern United States. That takeover includes the
Eckerd store here at Southbay Shopping Center in Osprey. One major bad news item for
shoppers is that CVS, like many supermarkets, will now require
customers to use one of their "loyalty" cards in order to get
sale prices. Some people may be familiar with these privacy
invading cards. In order to get one, you must fill out a form
with your personal information. From then on, anytime you use
the card, all of your purchases at the store are tracked and
stored in a database. According to an article in
Information Week, that data may not be as secure as the
stores promise. Even if the store allows you to use a fake name
and information on the form to get the card, as soon as
you write a check or use a credit card they can tie that
information to your "fake" profile.
In addition, many studies of stores that use the loyalty cards,
versus those that do not, shows that prices are artificially
higher at the stores with the loyalty cards to make it appear
you are getting bigger discounts.
See CASPIAN's study. "The next time you shop at a store that
has a card program and receive a statement telling you how much
you "saved," take it with a grain of salt: you could have done
far better going to a store that values your privacy and
patronage by supplying everyday low prices, without the
marketing gimmicks." .Are you really saving $1.00 when the
regular price at other stores without the loyalty cards was
lower than the everyday price at the stores that have the
loyalty card?
In addition, an investigation of pharmacy pricing by
WXYZ-TV in Detroit, MI shows price gouging on prescription
drugs.
If you want to let CVS know your opinion on their alleged
loyalty cards you can call them at 888-607-4287. |
