Panera is probing when they ask you to register their card.

[originalpckelly]

I fully expected the computer to ask me what I was wearing next.

[whistler162]

1. ????????????????????

[Chan790]

2. I've worked on a system to foil those marketing-inquiry efforts.

I blend my real information in with a lot of fake information, to wit:

First Name: Chan
Last Name: SevenHundredNinety
Occupation: anti-sex-journalist and activist
Income: $999999/year
Sex: No. Thank you.
Age:19 (Not in 14 years)
Email: (real email excluded)
Phone: (my work phone number)
Marital status: Single

Then to double-down on the confusion, I started a bonus-card swap-bank because they always give you three cards and you only need one so you swap the other two to other people so that everybody's marketing information gets jumbled to the point of uselessness.

I know marketing firms are really good but what are they going to make of the same CVS account buying tampons, gay-mens'-magazines, baby formula, condoms, menopause meds, birth-control pills, whey powder, weight-loss supplements, Slim Jim, Boca Chik'n patties and (because we included my evangelical college roommate) Tim LeHaye's Left Behind series of books.

Shit, they must think I'm Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich.

[Populist_Prole]

3. When stores ask what your zip code is, give them the one where the store is at, not your home.

They use that question to detirmine if they can/will build another store: More sprawl.

[Pool Hall Ace]

4. Ah, good to know.

I was wondering why they ask for my ZIP code.