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Comment by np- | Hacker News Reader

Slightly tangential, might be common knowledge by now but just wanted to throw out there in case anyone doesn't know - if you want the discounts but not the tracking, enter in your area code plus Jenny's number from the famous song (867-5309). This should work at most chains in the US.

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Several chains I've been to have blocked this number.

I just tell the cashier's I forgot my card. They just grab one off the stack and scan it.

I’ve heard people use the number of the store they’re at. It worked at a local Safeway when I tried it.

Yup. Every time I'm at Kroger I tell them I'm not interested in a Kroger card and every time they just grab one and scan it.

This, of course, depends where you are. Randalls requires the card/phone number and the cashier won't even prompt you for it; you have to type in the number on the pinpad or hand them your card before paying.

I recently moved away from central TX where HEB is prevalent and that's one of the things I miss the most- they don't use any of this card nonsense and treat their employees well. Up here I'm stuck with Kroger and Walmart.

I invent a random number with my area code, and 555 as the second group. This block is reserved for fictional numbers (which is why it shows up so often in television) and again, most systems accept it. This way I get to pick a last 4 that I can remember, and which other patrons in my area code are less likely to randomly choose.

Of course, I'd prefer not to provide a phone number at all, but some of the local businesses (especially hair salons, for some reason) get downright hostile when I try to explain my preference. It's like it's completely unheard of to not hand your phone number out to strangers. This gives me a way to "relent" without causing a scene.

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