What is your privacy worth?

[Mark Blatter]

There is a chain of gas stations in my area called Maverik. They are reasonably nice and sell lots of ready made food, plus gas and all the other stuff. They now offer, similar to Kroger's or Safeway, a discount card. You get $.49 off a 44 ounce pop (yes I know it is not good for you) or $.02 off a gallon of gas, etc. I went to sign up for one, but they want my mobile phone #, my email address, just so much info that I know they will turn around and sell to the highest bidder. It got me thinking, just how much is my privacy worth? I decided to pass on the card and pay full retail for what they sell.

The same thing happened with a few apps I looked at and what they require. There is one called Wave that is a traffic alert app. I used it in the past and enjoyed it, but when I went to install it on a new phone, they require all my contacts and a bunch of other info that has nothing to do with the app. The only reason is so they can sell the info. Not worth it, so I didn't install it.

Am I just being a Neanderthal or is my paranoia reasonable?

[Stan Calow]

yes your paranoia is reasonable. I am surprised at how easily most people give up that info to anybody in exchange for a discount.

[Anthony Whitesell]

It depends on how much information they want. For times when they want but don't need an email address, I have an email account for just such a purpose. Let's just say I'm not the best typist. My phone number or address/zip code often has typos.

[Mark Blatter]

It depends on how much information they want. For times when they want but don't need an email address, I have an email account for just such a purpose. Let's just say I'm not the best typist. My phone number or address/zip code often has typos.

I do that as well, but now they often require a text to you phone with a code to activate the account. No way to activate it without a valid phone number.

[Dave Anderson NH]

I jealously guard my privacy. I'm constantly asked by people I buy things from for my email address so they can "inform me and provide better service." I am direct and tell them no, I already get enough spam. I do not give out any personal info unless there is a very good reason it is needed. It has been political season here in NH for months now with candidates up the ying yang. It's hard to go anywhere without tripping over on of the 167 Republicans or the 3 Democrats. The phone polls and offers to "town meetings", coffee meetings, etc, etc have become a royal pain. Concurrently we are getting tons of solicitations for contributions, junk mail, and emailed political spam. Anyone want a free first in the nation primary?

[Steve Peterson]

Consider the market cap of Google at $450 billion and Facebook at $260 billion. These 2 companies don't really sell anything except advertising, yet they are worth nearly $100 for every person on the planet. There is a lot of money to be made from advertising.

I try to avoid giving away my personal information as much as possible. My price is somewhere between $10 and $20 before I will give up any info. Mail in rebates under $10 are completely ignored, and that is just for my name and address.

Steve

[Bruce Page]

I don't give them anything, especially if it has anything to do with my phone. You want me to sell my soul for a petty discount? Ain't gonna happen!
I have a gmail account for the times where I'm willing to bend a little bit.

[Phil Thien]

I avoid shopping anywhere that has a discount card. I find the prices are inflated so they can discount them. I use a small (but big-time pumper) nearby gas station that seems a few pennies less expensive w/o a discount card, as compared to the big fancy place with all the food and stuff.

Same with groceries, I shop at Aldi where they keep the prices low w/o any nonsense.

If I find some sort of discount that is too good to pass up and where I might want them to have my contact details (like when I buy a new car, or tires), I'll give them my data. That way I figure they can notify me of a problem (and they have).

If I want the discount and don't think I'll benefit from them having my specifics, I just give them either Dave Anderson's or Bruce Page's phone #'s.

[Dan Hintz]

Most cards like that just require you to fill in any old info... doesn't have to be valid. For the cards that require "real" info (such as the "we'll send you a PIN" types), call the company and tell them you want the card without providing that personal info. They are required to give it to you by law. For the same reason those generic grocery cards can be swiped by the cashier when you don't have one with you, they cannot offer discounts to a subset of people.

[Kent A Bathurst]

Don't be naive, sports fans.

Your email and cell are already known. The bare minimum is the NSA. I'm sure they don't care about a bunch of woodworkers, but: They. Do. Know.

With all the giant corporations that have reported being hacked - including govco - your info got out there somehow, somewhere, somewhen, to somebody.

And - all the "legit" businesses - I am positive that the reputable names that say your info is protected are telling the truth. But - it is still out there in those residences. Waiting for the day...

Be vigilant to unwarranted access to accounts and credit cards - Amex got an odd request last week, and so immediately shut down my card, and cancelled it, and then started relentlessly calling and emailing me until I responded. They were on it in microseconds, and a replacement card arrived in <24 hours.

I have a nephew - brilliant doesn't do him justice. One of those gunslingers with a few laptops in a backpack, a motorcycle, and a Have Gun Will Travel rep. He goes everywhere domestic and international. 10 minutes conversation with him about the state of the global databases on individuals will cause you to sigh, and have another beer, because that is the best you can do.

And - if you think the internet robotic gizmos have not logged my comments in this post, then I have a bridge in Brooklyn..........

[Bruce Page]

With all the giant corporations that have reported being hacked - including govco - your info got out there somehow, somewhere, somewhen, to somebody.

I know my info is out there, I was part of the OPM hack. I just don't need to give it to every tom dick & harry that asks for it.
Phil does it for me.

[Larry Edgerton]

Just say NO!

If I had only heeded that advise in the seventies..........

If they really insist on an email address I give them my ex wife's.

[Larry Frank]

The scariest thing is to read the permissions for apps on your phone. Who cares about NSA, the people running the apps know it all.

[Scott Shepherd]

As a general note, a lot of them don't "require" you fill out anything. I don't put those cards in my wallet or on my keychain, I mostly keep a couple in my console. I went into one the other night and didn't have a card. I asked the lady if she had an application, she handed me one, scanned the card, and said "bring the form back next time you come back", and I walked out, threw the form in the trash and put the new card in my console. If it stops working because of no info tied to it, I'll ask for another one and repeat.

[Phil Thien]

I know my info is out there, I was part of the OPM hack. I just don't need to give it to every tom dick & harry that asks for it.
Phil does it for me.

I didn't see your name in the Ashley Madison data, so you're safe there.