A while back I purchased some LifeStraws from CostCo. The next week the price dropped by ten bucks. Oh well, thought I, thats life. Until this arrived in the mail:
(Don’t be an idiot…the knife is there to cover the address the letter was sent to.)
Mind you, I didn’t go to CostCo and complain and demand a refund for the difference. Nope. They went through their records, all on their own, looking for folks who purchased this product within that window of time.
So the obvious thing is that a person would see this as a good thing. And, it is. But it’s also an excellent example of the fact (as proven here) that CostCo tracks and keeps records of everything you purchase. Your first inclination might be to think you could beat the system by using a Gift Card..but someone has to buy that gift card, and that card is recorded as a purchase by them…so youre kinda back to square one.
Now, CostCo is not usually my first choice for preps….about all I get that might raise an eyebrow are large amounts of toilet paper and batteries. But, they do sell long-term storage food online and I’ve no doubt that that is something you really don’t need to have people keeping tabs on.
So..yeah, buy from CostCo…just don’t buy stuff in a manner that someone could look at last weekends shopping trip and say “Hmm…looks like someone is hoarding against the apocalypse. Better notify the authorities.”
This applies to all of the loyalty cards.
The only thing that might save me while using my Kroger card is that I got mine when QFC was an independent grocery chain, something on the order of 25 years and a couple of phone numbers ago.
But my name is still attached…
Kurt
Every company with a computer ( all of them ) is storing your data for their own use and to sell to others. We all know that.
I keep getting offers to win a prize if I just take their survey or data base load. I figure I am not on as many data bases as could be I get 3 to 6 requests a week from places I have never done any business. With all kinds of prizes up to $70.00 or more that should let you know what the value of your data is they will make that up in a few weeks.
Was the refund unsolicited?
I’m seeing many articles about the government agencies tracking and compiling files on American citizens. I’m sure everyone saw the ATF/ IRS raid on the gun shop. And a second instance in Ohio where an IRS agent using a false name to gain entry to a citizens home and then proceeded to force her to write a check.
This stuff is getting real. Why else would the national disgrace demand 87000 new IRS agents.
Whether you use a gift caed, credit card, or cash; Costco and Sam’s both track what you purchase via your membership card. It is another case of Big Brother looking out for you😖
I hear you friend, but I suspect that online ammo purchases a higher point value for “attentions”.
But your correct that Socialists DO indeed use neighbor-grocery store informers and historically offered rewards sometimes.
But then again, the Karen’s of COVID fame seemed delighted to See Something, SAY Something for FREE, soooo.
what amazes me about all the folks who are supposedly very concerned about the big G tracking what they do is that they then turn around and fill out a ream of paperwork to obtain a stamp to buy a silencer. Whose door do they kick in first, that guy’s or yours for hoarding rice and pasta? GF
That sir is an excellent and pertinent point. And that very thing is why I have resisted getting a suppressor. But unfortunately I used to have an FFL and a C&R license so the ATF boogeymen already know me. But at least those licenses have lapsed so they can only peruse me records if they want.
For those with the Sam’s Club Plus membership remember that you get free shipping when ordering online. That’s an easy way to get items that aren’t stocked locally. The deal is even better if the item is liquid and/or heavy.
Steelheart
It may have changed, but once you could buy a Costco gift card with cash and then use it to buy… whatever you wanted there. No membership card needed to use the already paid-for card.
I believe liquor/beer is the same deal due to state laws. No card needed to enter the store and buy the booze. But you still make a very valid point, CZ. Stay below the waterline.
look at it this way, with all their computer tracking, satellites, surveillance, spys, paid informants, trillions spent on the military, etc. it took them 10 YEARS to find Osama bin Laden. Whitey Bulger worked for the FBI and it took them 13 years to find him!
Don’t give them too much credit, most of them are idiots. In my old age I will buy what I want, when I want from whoever I want and as much as I want. If anybody has an issue show up here and start taking shit, see what happens.
Jimbo, Motivation is the issue, NOT Ability or Technology.
They picked up all the Jan 6th folks in a month or two IIRC.
I wonder what Sun Tzu would say about underestimating your enemy? I leave that to the motivated to look up.
the folks monitoring activity, if they are, I don’t consider enemies. They are errand boys for a grocery clerk, weak minded and easily out maneuvered and will do as they are told.
When I was on the wrestling team in high school and college, I never underestimated my opponents. I told myself to go as hard and as fast as I possibly could, or I would lose.
Sun Tzu would probably update his advice to include not posting criminal activity on social media.
Had to remind a neighbor that if it is “free” you are what is getting sold
i use loyalty cards that i find in the parking lot or that some places will give you without filling out a form. now if i could just beat the AI/cam recognition in walmart… (and who knows where else)
someone mentioned supressor paperwork above and made me think about the ‘patriots’ who go apeshirt if you even mention using radio without getting permission.license from the goobermint.
They link the new loyalty card to you IRL the first time you use it with a credit card. They stopped IDing for loyalty cards in the face of widespread fabrications… and just started using the factual data from your credit/debit.
CVS and others that accept a phone number to link your account might be beatable, in that many people seem to have giving the same phone numbers, (xxx)555 1212, 867-5309. etc. Of course, don’t use your card to pay…
nick
back in 2007 i was trained on a logistics software system the army had at the time. with it i could look into any store/distro warehouse/factory or shipping dept and see what they had that i needed to keep the battle going. a quick request to higher, a switch was thrown, and i could see any purchases for said items with details. if i needed x for the troops and you had the only x, i could send a patrol to your location and get it. that was back in 2007, again. before obamy had begun the great database creation.
I got one of those in the mail also.
Since you have to use a Costco card to make purchases, I assumed my purchases there were tracked.
Everybody is on lots of lists… There are so many it doesn’t mean much unless they are actively looking for you and know who you are.
As far as J6, they haven’t stopped looking because they haven’t yet found everybody – and some people they put out pictures of asking for people to identify them because the government couldn’t.
They are NOT all seeing and a few basic precautions makes it much harder for them to connect you with and event or purchase.
Club stores and others with ‘loyalty’ cards only know what you tell them. I’ve been providing false information to them for almost 40 years. Since I pay cash or use a pre-paid debit card for all purchases, this hasn’t been an issue. Stop being sheep people!
Benchmade will send you a deep carry clip free-fer-nothin’.