Is it worth giving out your personal information to get a bargain? These days restaurants and department stores are often linked to surveys and questionnaires. A stop at a fast food restaurant not only includes food... but a survey.
LeeAnn Walker is a Navy wife who looks for ways to save a few bucks. "I think it seems to be a good something to do if you have a few extra minutes or who doesn't want to win a few extra dollars or something."
LeeAnn is talking about the two recent survey offers she got on receipts from Sephora and Jack in the Box. “They want you to call their 1-800 number or go online to their website and fill out a quick survey" she says.
Once you're there, you’ll find questions about your experience, the product, customer service, and more. “Usually at the end it will just ask for your race, your family income, your age bracket" says LeeAnn.
Beth Givens with the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse says it's common practice in the retail business and she makes it a common practice of avoiding them. "It's called Customer Relationship Management, or CRM. They're basically gathering more information so they can pinpoint you more closely with products or services that they might have. My policy is - kick the habit. Don't do it."
Some privacy experts feel these surveys can be a way of creating elaborate databases, trading personal information for mailing lists and junk mail. But Walker doesn't worry too much about it, and says the potential savings are hard to pass up.
There is nothing illegal about these surveys. While times are tough, the department stores and restaurants are looking for ways to get an edge, and to get you to come back. If that means promises of deals for personal information, then you have to decide... is it worth it?
