First in line for warning Price Chopper alerts its customers to recall using data from discount cards
By CHRIS CHURCHILL, Business writer First published: Saturday, April 12, 2008
ROTTERDAM -- When Boston Beer Co. announced a recall of Samuel Adams beer, Price Chopper started working the phones. The Rotterdam-based grocery chain, with help from the southern California company Smart Reply, called 18,000 households likely to have purchased the beer potentially contaminated by shards of glass.
The Price Chopper initiative, which uses information garnered from its AdvantEdge discount cards, is just a few months old, said company spokeswoman Mona Golub, but already the supermarket has used the technology at least three times. There was the February recall of Icy Hot Heat Therapy items, due to reports of burns and skin irritations. March saw a Stonyfield Farms recall of fat-free blueberry yogurt, some of which apparently had fragments of glass or plastic. Then, on Monday, Boston Beer voluntarily recalled Samuel Adams, after safety checks at its Cincinnati brewery led to fears some bottles might contain small bits of glass. The recall affected 12-ounce glass bottles, which were manufactured by an outside vendor. At the time of the recall, no injuries had been reported and the company said it believed the safety threat was slight. "We have never issued a product recall for any reason, and are deeply disappointed that these bottles did not meet our quality standards," Jim Koch, founder of the company, said in a statement. The affected bottles are stamped at their bases with the letter "N" followed by the number "35" and the letters "OI." That information was included in the Price Chopper phone calls, which were both live and taped, Golub said. She said feedback from customers suggests they appreciate the notification. Price Chopper launched its AdvantEdge card program in 1991, calling it an alternative to coupon clipping. The cards trigger automatic discounts on store-advertised specials. Retail analysts say the cards allow grocers to gather data that's useful for targeted marketing campaigns. For some consumers, though, the fact that Price Chopper is aware of who purchased particular products might raise privacy concerns. "We don't see it as an invasion of privacy," Golub said. "And we feel an obligation to share that (recall) information with our customers." Golub declined to say how much the company spent implementing the program or making the phone calls. Smart Reply is a privately held company that typically helps its clients craft and send advertising messages, including text messages sent directly to phones. Golub said Smart Reply "helps us disseminate the information as we put together the information and determines who needs it."
A sign that we tend to blame other people and like to seek out lawyers......the 'voluntary' message sent to 'protect' the consumer gives the company's lawyers a leg up, if you will,,it's called disclosure and deflection---we do like to seek restitution from someone else for all our 'inconveniences'......when the kids dont play well together big brother/mother/father etc gets involved-----the sad part is,,,,we like it....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Has anyone looked at the AdvantageCard agreement to see if it gives them permission to contact you in cases like this? Bet it doesn't.
I've never had an advantage card, and they always scan their own whenever I ask - so what's the big deal, just lower prices and everyone will be happy.
Gee mobil...do you have and 'in' with the Golub's? If I don't have my card, I have to show them my license or they won't cash me out.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
No "in" - but it's really not that hard to get past the minimum wage cashiers who are just as happy to swipe their own card - or that of the person in front of you.
These kids cant' make change for a quarter unless the register tells them how - you really think they care about seeing a "card" ?
ONCE - and only once, they asked me for my license instead - I walked out leaving about $150 in groceries in the cart.
I'm gonna try it next time I go. I'm gonna tell them I don't have my wallet with me....so no advantage card and no license. Then we'll see what happens.
Whenever I go into CVS, they ask if I have a CVS card and I say 'no'. So they scan theirs. NO QUESTIONS ASKED!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I'm gonna try it next time I go. I'm gonna tell them I don't have my wallet with me....so no advantage card and no license. Then we'll see what happens.
Whenever I go into CVS, they ask if I have a CVS card and I say 'no'. So they scan theirs. NO QUESTIONS ASKED!
CVS will actually look up your card number by using your home phone number.
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