First thing I can say is, I do use these cards. My Kroger card gets a good workout because I often bundle coupons with items on sale with the card.

That being said, stores just won't get rid of them and "put stuff on sale" again. Not gonna happen. Why? Because people who don't have the card, or who refuse to have one will pay the extra amount.

Here in Houston every major chain has a loyalty card. Unless you're going to hunt down a smaller store (that would have higher prices anyway) you won't come out ahead here. So, I use the card. Do I care if say, Kroger, tracks my purchases? No. Why? Because they won't restrict me from buying it. Also, they don't have my address. I was an early adopter and they handed me a card. I've never been targeted for promotions from anywhere else. Hell, it would be just as easy to track your purchases if you pay by credit card.

So, if you use the card it is worth it. I save roughly ten percent on my purchases before coupons using these cards. Would I prefer just a straight ten percent savings? Of course, but it isn't going to happen anytime soon so there's no use getting bent out of shape about it.

I work for Dillons a division of the Kroger company and sometimes customers get special saving coupons in the mail based on what they buy which is a good thing and Kroger does not sell any information to outside companies. I find it nice to get a coupon for something I buy a lot of so I can save more money in the process. Most stores now offer a loyality card so why not use it you would probably shop there anyway even if they do not offer a card

Both the supermarkets in our area have great gas discounts if you use their card when purchasing groceries. So not only am I saving on groceries by using the card, I get my gas at a price that is less than what they paid. I say - you can't beat that!

Like Bill in Houston said, I use my loyalty cards in conjunction with coupons and I have no intention of stopping!  I've been known to save over 50% off my bill by working it this way and if they want to track what I eat, then fine by me.  If it will help then stock the store better, and end up not wasting food or other products in the long run what is so bad about that?!  

A friend of mine hates the thought of using loyalty cards - but there are times when you really should use them to get the sale price.  He goes in the store and gets a new card each time he needs to use it-a different member number each time.  He thinks that way, he can get the price he wants and there's no history of his preferences.  He thinks if everyone did that, then the stores may change their mind about offering them at all.  I think it's way too much time and trouble and just use my card.

I don't get the point of the cards.  If you want to put Hot Pockets on sale, then just put them on sale and people will come to your store and buy them.  

I just want to go into a store and buy something without having to worry about their little special club cards.  

I don't know if it's true anymore, but back when all the grocery stores started switching to loyalty cards, customers could explain to management that they didn't want their purchases tracked and those employees would still get them savings by punching in another loyalty card, as I recall. Obviously, the store didn't advertise this fact, but it was there. People who are worried about this sort of thing should ask.

I really do not care one way or another about these cards.  However, if the marketing gurus of store A thinks all I ever buy is  (example) cat food they are fooling themselves.  

I live in a BIG metro area and travel across about 10 towns to/from work.  I have all the biggies (kmart, walmart, target, cvs, wag, ntional grocers) pluse a BUNCH of independent markets, ethnic specialty markets and fruit/veggie markets.

I will continue to use my cards 9keyring full)

I found the loyalty card I use in the store's parking lot.  So I like to think I have it both ways - I get the in-store deals, they get their data, and the data's completely anonymous as long as I pay with cash.

I too used to think that it was a tad "creepy" to have my spending habits tracked and monitored - welcome to the 21st century. Unless you live under a rock, a lot is already known about you, so too late to fight back now. I realized the BENEFIT of these loyalty cards because they do allow stores to stock better, provide better range of products and in the long run cut down on waste. What is the point of stocking items no one buys? Or if the buying is going down - put it on sale and clear out your inventory. The loyalty "tracking" is just a better way of mananging inventory. My reward - sales, lower prices and TONS OF FREEBIES! Clerks must either laugh (or roll their eyes) when I come...because I always get a handful of printouts at the check out. Even signed up for a consumer panel so I receive gift cards every quarter. And I use them too! Some printouts I receive are good discount coupons, but I also get free items and BOGO. I ALWAYS save 35-50% on my groceries when I shop. To me - it is worth it and I appreciate being able to save my hard earned money.