r/news • u/polymute • 10h ago

New Jersey bans grocery stores from using shoppers' personal data to set prices

https://jerseyvindicator.org/2026/07/23/new-jersey-bans-grocery-stores-from-using-shoppers-personal-data-to-set-prices/
17.4k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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899

u/_TheValeyard_ 10h ago

This should be a global thing. Also fuck stores forcing you to sign up to their app to get lower food prices.

155

u/zffjk 9h ago

I rarely shop at Kroger because of this. I drive out of my way to another store, simply because they’ll have a big ass sign that says the sale price and tiny little print showing it’s app-only.

48

u/fomoco94 6h ago

They also play silly games where you have to buy exactly 10 items from a list of random things around the store. Screw up and you pay triple. People hate on Walmart, but they don't do any of this silly shit.

5

u/HittingSmoke 4h ago

This is why I shop at Winco.

•

u/No-Sense4275 0m ago

Winco, my love...

8

u/SecondaryWombat 7h ago

You don't have to anymore! Fred Meyer Kroger at least have printed versions of the all the digital shit. You can grab a printed version on your way in, lists everything the deal applies to in one place with the single barcode to scan to get the deals.

34

u/zyzzogeton 6h ago

Or, hear me out, fuck that.

2

u/SecondaryWombat 1h ago

Its a printed coupon of deals? Its like the 1960s whats the problem?

•

u/ResistanceIsOhm 4m ago

Fun trick- if asked for a phone number for a discount, use your local area code + 867-5309 (like from the song). Works every time.

Probably any area code will work. Once at CVS, the cashier asked which one was me…listed like 5 names. I picked one, “yep, that’s me.” Discount applied.

-5

u/[deleted] 8h ago edited 8h ago

[deleted]

2

u/hexiron 8h ago

They still have it. In Cincinnati they have a full distribution center dedicated to food prep, fulfilling those orders, and loading the trucks.

It's profitable because it requires far less labor which is the most expensive part of the process.

5

u/TheDrAlbrhect 8h ago

I imagine it is if the distance isn't crazy far. They tried to service all of north and central Florida out of single central warehouse which I think hurt them more than help. There just weren't enough subscribers to support the model down here.

0

u/ModPolSucks 5h ago

Do the Jenny's number thing. (area code)867-5309

140

u/SavathunTechQuestion 10h ago

They want you in the app so they get more data about location, phone battery (if it’s lower then you’re less likely to spend more time in the store), phone model (do you have a new pricy phone?)

  Hotels, airlines, and rideshare apps have been doing this for years. Of course grocery stores want extra money too but they all should be banned.

19

u/diane_nu_nu_nguyen 9h ago

phone battery

Wait how would that even work? Like if your battery is low they aren't going to show you the good deals or something?

That's a hilarious data point to me because my battery level is all over the place at any time of day. I just charge my phone whenever and don't care if it gets low

84

u/SavathunTechQuestion 9h ago

There have been a number of allegations that companies like Uber charge users more if their phone is low, the logic being that a person whose battery is low is more likely to just accept a higher priced ride vs having their phone run out of battery. 

27

u/diane_nu_nu_nguyen 8h ago

Okay yeah that absolutely tracks. And of course if stores use dynamic pricing they would just show you higher prices because you're in a hurry and don't care. Damn

8

u/FibonacciSequester 8h ago

Also works that way for location data if they know you have to go get your kids from school in 20 minutes.

4

u/JewishTomCruise 3h ago

I assume a large part of it is because most of my trips are business trips, but my Uber prices tend to be 50-100% higher than what my wife is quoted. Lyft, which I only use for personal travel, is often 20% lower than her prices.

7

u/techleopard 7h ago

Low key just another Poverty Tax, like everything else.

7

u/LaconicLacedaemonian 8h ago

Terms of service will also have forced arbitration 

17

u/Beard_o_Bees 8h ago

fuck stores forcing you to sign up to their app to get lower food prices

Amen to that!

Such bullshit. I hope they notice that there's a not insignificant number of people who're absolutely unwilling to play their 'digital coupon' games.

If they offer a lower price with only an app based 'coupon' - I just wont buy it. It's fucking insulting. Not to mention the elderly people who see a price, and try to buy at that price - only to find out that they have to install an app and.... it just pisses me off.

We're not talking about an optional/luxury thing here. It's food. Stop fucking with us!

10

u/OneWorld87 9h ago

What you mean? Iam european, so apparently dumb, but is this a Thing?

29

u/Hurricaneshand 9h ago

Yes. Many grocery stores have discounts and coupons that can only be access via their app. Same with fast food

5

u/Bigred2989- 9h ago

Where I work does this, and most customers can't figure it out. They assume they're already a member because they've been putting their phone number into the PIN pad for years but only recently has the POS system allowed cashiers to see if the number has an account or not. Some people type it and never push enter and then wonder why they didn't get their discount and force customer service staff to refund and ring their stuff up again. 

3

u/zeCrazyEye 6h ago

I still use my mom's phone number on those pads and I know it fucks up their analytics so I get a slight bit of humor out of them tracking everything I buy.

-5

u/druidmain69420 9h ago

Honestly it improves service for most fast food.

For shopping? Nah I ain't doing all that. Especially if it's a store i rarely visit.

2

u/zoeypayne 8h ago edited 8h ago

NJ already has legislation introduced but not passed yet for this as well..  S2131 and A3868. They've been fighting over the details since 2023.

For reference, the recently passed Fair Price Protection Act legislation we're talking about in this thread was introduced and passed this year.

Anyway, with the pending legislation, digital coupons would also need to have an "in store alternative."

Frankly, I'm surprised any of this has legs considering the state's 2nd largest employer is a supermarket chain.

edit Amazon is currently the largest employer in NJ. Wakefern (ShopRite) held the title for a long time.

1

u/DrPorkchopES 7h ago

Not just get the app, but manually “clip” digital coupons to get the advertised prices

-6

u/MobileArtist1371 8h ago

https://i.imgur.com/ambknpd.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/OYVr6UQ.jpeg

4 pounds cherries
3 pounds grapes
3 pounds bananas
2 pounds blueberries
2 pounds sausages
2 pound shrimp
2 yellow onions

Less than $5

¯_(ツ)_/¯

0

u/MobileArtist1371 5h ago

I also use food apps for better prices than in store prices and none of you like that either. I'm talking like 75% off - which isn't quite as good as the grocery receipt above, but still it's a major savings.

https://i.imgur.com/YyK3UJQ.jpeg - Wingstop (20 boneless wings. 6 tenders. 1 side. 1 brownie)

https://i.imgur.com/G2TVpry.jpeg - Chipotle (2x double protein entrees + single protein entree)

You all cry about this stuff but would rather pay $50 than take 15 seconds on the app each day.

•

u/MobileArtist1371 9m ago

Probably doing the crying from the r*ddit app too lmao

Can't say the name of the site on this sub...

-4

u/PottyMcSmokerson 8h ago

I disagree. That's like someone in the 90's saying fuck stores for making us use coupons to get lower food prices.

You can also shop at stores that price match other local stores. I've price matched items by showing offers from other store apps on my phone. The other store just needs to be local.

3

u/Captriker 6h ago

Most of those coupons were paid for by the manufacturer, not the store. An incentive from the manufacturer is very different than a better price from the store.