I don't know if it's so valuable any more, but the "membership" thing also ensures that the store can associate all the purchases of each member together. I've read sporadically in the business press that this enables stores to be shrewder about what merchandise to stock, and do various tricks based on knowing what things people buy together. Also, they may be able to sell statistics to marketing types regarding what demographics of people buy what sorts of products.
It's possible that because there is some filtering and tracking of the clientele that there is reduced shoplifting, which is apparently a significant problem in most retail stores.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-31 01:42 pm (UTC)It's possible that because there is some filtering and tracking of the clientele that there is reduced shoplifting, which is apparently a significant problem in most retail stores.