How many store "customer" cards do you carry?

Key tags - customer appreciation or tracking system?
United States
April 29, 2007 12:30am CST
It's a huge trend. Every store seems to have their version of the "customer advantage cards" to give you special discounts and offer special incentives, etc. They're a great way to keep track of customers, customer shopping styles and likes and dislikes, plus keep your "name" out there for the customer to see constantly. How many cards do you have on your key chain or in your wallet/purse? I have about 8 on my keychain and a few in my wallet that don't offer the keychain version. I probably only use about 3 of them regularly though. What about you? How many do you have? How many do you use regularly? Are you for or against them?
11 people like this
26 responses
@Fishmomma (11378)
• United States
29 Apr 07
Well, lets start counting, as I list them. I have 1. Borders Rewards, 2. Albertson's/Savon, 3. Petsmart, 4. Petco, 5. Office Depot, 6. Hallmark, 7. Ralph's, 8. Vons, 9. Barnes & Noble, 10. J.C. Penney's and 11. Staples. This means I have 11 now.
@Fishmomma (11378)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I'm for them or wouldn't have 11 of them. I use 8 of them regularly.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Apr 07
I like the benefits of the cards but I'm not so sure I enjoy being "watched" in my buynig habits. It must be the "hermit" in me coming out! LOL
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
29 Apr 07
wow! 11!!! too many and i only have one. huhu. well, but i am glad that i can use it mallwide. even the boutiques accept the card for discounts. hehe
1 person likes this
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
30 Apr 07
I need to start getting more, I only have 2. I saw your pic (and rated (+) it of course) I did not know Dominos had one. How do you get one? Do you think they would send one on a delivery or you have to go the the store and fill out an application right?
1 person likes this
• United States
3 May 07
I'm not sure about Doms. We only have 1 left in the city here and they're on the other side of town. I had one long ago but can't for the life of me remember how it worked and what it was for. LOL
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
30 Apr 07
I have 6, only 3 that I use regularly. I live in a small town and the 3 are here in this little town. The others are for stores in the neighboring city.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Apr 07
I tire of the customer cards that every store seems to find it necessary for you to have in order to get what is on sale at the sale price. The prices should be the same for everyone regardless if they have a card or not. It should be necessary for using a credit card or check. Cash is another story. I have a couple of them, but try to keep it to a minimum. I would rather shop a store that doesn't require a card and has better savings.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Apr 07
It really ticks me off when you don't have your card and they REFUSE to use a store card to swipe and get your discount on items that are affected. I told one store that if they couldn't do it they could keep their groceries and I had a load of them. The woman finally swiped her own because they didn't want to lose the sale but it made me so angry since I often don't drive myself and therefore don't have my keytags with me.
• Nicaragua
29 Apr 07
I think it's gotten carried away.. I have a Shoppers Optimum card.. And I'm not even in the same COUNTRY as the chain... lol
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Apr 07
LOL... wow.. that is a bit much! Although I've gotten cards just for a one time purchase when I'm visiting someplace simply because the discount is worth it.
• Singapore
29 Apr 07
I only have one such card. That's the Isetan card. I like it because Isetan has many private sales throughout the year during which card members get to select stuff at bargain prices. Also, there are further discounts on top of these special discounts. At other times, Isetan also has discounts on the regular items. I think it's a great idea to have such cards. It helps to build customer loyalty with all the goodies. Plus it makes customers like me really happy! :)
• United States
29 Apr 07
Wow, I think you're going to be in the minority with only 1 card! Generally, here in the states at least, most people have a bunch on their keychains alone!
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
30 Apr 07
I have only two. One is from Food City where I do alot of my shopping and the other is Family Food World which just went out of business a little while back so I have to toss that one. 8? That is alot. They are good to use especially when the have the deals going on. I think they do it as a way to see how many,where from, and so on. Well happy posting.~becca
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Apr 07
I have 5 that I use when ever I can as they really do save money. Especially with groceries.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Apr 07
I only have two of the "customer advantage cards. Both are for grocery stores. One for the store I regularly shop at, for which I have a keychain tag. The other is for the grocery near my work, where I go occasionally and I just have regualr card I keep in my wallet for that one (I hate having a big wad of stuff on my keychain).
1 person likes this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
30 Apr 07
Well I believe I have about 8 of them because many companies use them. I believe they use them to send you things in the mail such as coupons. I think that is a good thing because they can be used for products that you like. However, if you don't want companies to see your spending habits it can be a bad thing. Out of the cards I only use one regularly. Have a nice day. Pablo
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Apr 07
i have about 5.ace hardware,petco,a couple of supermarkets.. i use the supermarket ones the most,they really do save me money. i like them better than coupons actually because i don't have to look for them.
@bad1981 (799)
• United States
30 Apr 07
I have a bunch that actually sit in my wallet but I hate using them because they are a hassle to drag out when I am just trying to get stuff done and in and out the store very quickly.
1 person likes this
• United Arab Emirates
30 Apr 07
hey.. good question... i carry abt 10 customer cards... in a way they are g8.. cause u can earn some extra things or ponints for the regular day purchases.. which in a long term definately benifits you... though the onlu thing is u must know how to spend you money so that u get the maximum benifit of it...
1 person likes this
@Inky261 (2520)
• Germany
30 Apr 07
I have two cards and I use both of them. It was easier at the cashier before these cards. They are to my advantage but I could do without.
1 person likes this
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
29 Apr 07
i only have one customer card. it's from my favorite mall which has branches all over the philippines. so,mostly, when i want to buy something, i just go to any of it's branch near by and i buy there what i need and want. great to have incentives while enjoying shopping! hehe happy myLotting!
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Apr 07
I use only two, the grocery store and one from the pet store, but my problem is the hotel chain cards, I have so many of those for your mileage or point system that when I go to make a reservation I have to go through drawers looking for them.
1 person likes this
@badpenny (741)
• Lancaster, Texas
29 Apr 07
I have 2, but I only use one. I have one for Brookshire's I don't use because I don't fel my shopping habits are anyone else's business. the other is a Total drinks card, and I use it regularly, basically because it is anonymous. Oh, and I use my WalMart shopper's card a lot, too.
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
29 Apr 07
I have a few but my girlfriend who has a ton took all of hers (they dont offer too many keychain cards up here in canada) she took them and punched a hole in the top corner and put them all on a large ring (like a key ring) and keeps them in her purse when she needs them, that way they don't make her wallet huge and she has them handy when she needs em. the ones that i have collect points for the particular stores so i will one day get some stuff free!! YAY
1 person likes this
@mememama (3076)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I only have one, for my grocery store. I used to have a lot more in one of the states I lived in. I swear every grocery store had their own card, sometimes I'd get confused and hand the Alberstons clerk a Safeway card lol.
1 person likes this
@gizmo528 (731)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I only have two that I use alot. I have one for Food Lion and another one for PetSmart. We really don't have alot in the area that we live in but these are two main stores that I'm always going to at some time or another. I love the customer card because you can get some decent discounts with them most of the time.
1 person likes this