Receipt Surveys:  Are The Benefits Worth The Risks?

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 but you may want to think twice before filling them out.

These days a stop at a fast food restaurant not only includes food but a survey.

LeeAnn Walker says “I get them all the time.“

LeeAnn Walker is a Navy wife who looks for ways to save a few bucks.

LeeAnn says “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.

LeeAnn says “they want you to call their 1-800 number or go online to their website and fill out a quick survey.“

And once you’re there, questions about your experience, the product, customer service, and more.

LeeAnn says “usually at the end it will just ask for your race, your family income, your age bracket.“

Beth Givens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse says “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.“

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.

Beth says “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.

Now clearly the different fast food restaurants and department stores have different reasons for collecting this information.  But the bottom line, once they have it, you’ve lost control of it.

Beth says “you don’t have control over what’s done with this information.  You have no idea where the information is going to end up.“

But LeeAnn 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?