Why does the Matalan store, uniquely, insist that you have (and produce) a membership card before they will sell you anything? When I ask the staff why this is, they don't know the reason!
by 
bazlad
ANSWERS: 7
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Well...if this is an on-line store, you need to have an acceptable form of payment. Unless they SAY on the site that they accept PayPal or MO's or personal checks...that would pretty much mean that you'll need to pay with a credit or debit/credit card. If you are physically IN a store..then, Yes...that's pretty flipping off the wall to me too! What about good old CASH for that shopping experience!?
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I wouldnt mind but the majority of their stuff is crap the clothes fall to bits so why make you have a membership card its not as if its exculsive suff.
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They insist on every customer having a card so that they know exactly when, where and what the customers have bought. They use this information so that they can target their sales campaigns more effectively (cheaply). For example they won't send special offers about kitchenware to somebody who's never bought any. Hopefully Data Protection legislation stops them from using the information they collect for anything else.
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if it is require to use a membership card, because they give you reward points/discounts that is one thing, yoc could then use a false name like "hugh dick", if they use it to data mine your purchases that is another. I think that data mining is wrong.
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It's a way to keep there customer database up-to-date along with sales tracking and all that stuff. When you hand over your card, it is swiped and a record of who you are, what you bought and when you bought it is added to their records. Used for marketing - eg. they can, if they choose send you information about certain products on sale or available if records show you often purchase similar items. This is much more cost effective than randomly sending people info about just anything. Matalan insist you have to use the card because they offer no incentive to customers (for example, reward points like Tesco Clubcard). There has to be something in it for the customer if the customer is to use the card voluntarily. I will use my Tesco Clubcard voluntarily because they give me points when I do which convert into money off vouchers. Matalan do not do this - I wouldn't show the card - there's nothing in it for me. The solution is to make me use it. Finally, they charge you for the card for no reason other than to make a bit more profit.
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Never heard of the shop you mention. There are members only clubs in the US like Costco, Sam's Club, B.J.s Wholesale that you must be a member of to purchase merchandise from. There is no way I am paying 50 bucks to have the right to shop at some place. That is just money thrown out the window as far as I can see. Plus, everything there is super huge and I don't have 20 kids. As far as those little swipe fobs, I think they want to track your purchases and give you meager discounts.
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As a Matalaner the reason for the card is for a few reasons. Firstly, we get lots of info on what customers buy and target our junk mail accordingly. You can always opt out of the mail and still be a cardholder. Also, because it's tracking your purchases it acts as a second receipt if you lose the paper receipt. It's not compulsory any more ( or costs a £1 ), but without one we won't give you the offers, BOGOF, 2fers etc. The staff in your local store should tell you this!
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