I am depressed

[herveus]

We visit Homestead Gardens a couple times a year to buy plants and related stuff. They have quality plants and good selection and are a refreshing contrast to the BORG.

Until today.

Where we discover at checkout that they have gone over to the dark side.

We were asked for our "Garden Club" number.

"What's that?", I say.

Brief conversation ensued wherein we learn that it comes down to "some merchandise has two prices -- one for members and one for everyone else".

That's exactly why we stopped giving Giant Food half or more of our grocery dollars (changing that fraction to "none" to three significant digits). That's why we don't shop at Safeway or Food Lion or Wegmans or Mars or CVS or several others whose names escape me at this time.

I find that particular business practice to be unethical, even immoral. In my estimation, it weighs more heavily than the (other, detestable) business practices of, say, Walmart.

This discovery makes me want to scream -- to lash out and break something. It also moves me to encourage others to not shop there. I guess they want to "reward" their "loyal" customers (or at least those willing to be bribed) while telling others that they are pond scum. It's just wrong.

Comments

[hazebrouck.livejournal.com]

The problem that I have with this practice is that it builds a database of information about what you, specifically, buy. If you look at my recommendations of Amazon, then you can figure out a lot about me. Add in my grocery purchases, what I take out of the library, what wine I drink (or not) you begin to have a pretty good picture of my mind, opinions, etc. Do women who buy high thread count sheets vote republican? What if the sheets are organic cotton? If the patriot act allows the library records to be pulled, why not find out what I buy at amazon, the health food store, the weed and feed. Privacy is over, dead, a thing of the past.

[thatpotteryguy.livejournal.com]

Amen. Word to both of you. I could simply reiterate waht you've said, but I'd rather just say that I agree wholeheartedly.