How Does Walmart Know About My Shopping Trip?
Asked by
curious_cat98
I went to Walmart today and grabbed some items without using the app or providing any personal info like a phone number or email. Now, while I'm at work, I receive a survey from them about my shopping visit. How could they possibly know I was at that store?
Answers
Your phone could have revealed your location, especially if you had location services on. Plus, Walmart uses advanced surveillance with facial recognition cameras. They might recognize you when you pull into the parking lot.
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Walmart has been doing this for a while! When you use a card connected to an email, it can show up in their records. Basically, they're building a profile of your shopping habits without your explicit consent. It's a bit creepy but all too common nowadays.
too_many_emails: I’ve started using multiple email accounts for shopping for exactly this reason.
yikes2023: Seriously, it’s unsettling to think they’re keeping tabs on our purchases.
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If you used a credit card for your purchase, it could be linked to your account with Walmart. They can pull up your email if your card has been tied to it before. A lot of stores do this for follow-up surveys after you buy something.
sneakyFred: Yeah, I get texts from payment services when I buy something, even if I didn't give any info.
bummedOut12: That’s frustrating. I didn’t want to be tracked like that!
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I know not all stores are the same, but lots use systems that connect your device to your shopping account. Once they have that link, they send you follow-up surveys for feedback. It raises questions about how genuine those surveys really are if they force employees to act friendly. I'm after real service, not scripted lines!
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Their in-store WiFi or Bluetooth could detect your phone as well. If you have any apps or accounts linked to your phone, that could give them a direct line to reach you after your visit. It’s not just Walmart; many stores implement this kind of tracking.
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videoWatcher: Check out this video on how Flock cameras work!
suspiciousMinds: That’s alarming! I didn’t realize how much they could track.