Much like a crazed boyfriend/girlfriend or parent, stores want to know everything about you. According to Business Insider on July 15, stores like Nordstrom, Warby Parker and Family Dollar have been gathering your personal data from your smartphones each time you enter a store.
If your phone is connected to Wi-Fi, the retailer can tell how much time you spend in the store, what sections you spend the most time in and how long it takes you to make a purchase. Based on the unique ID your phone has, the store can also tell each time you return. This spring Nordstrom was actively using this technology. However, when they posted signs about what they were doing and received negative feedback, they called it off. Nordstrom stopped tracking information back in May, but does telling us after the fact that they've been tracking customers make it better?
Of course, this is seen as the physical store's answer to the cookies used in online shopping. If consumers seemingly have no trouble with creating profiles for online shopping, which similarly tracks your purchases and can identify who you are, why not go for the same concept in a physical store?
Because it’s creepy, that’s why. Unlike online (hopefully), stores are using your Wi-Fi data as well as video surveillance systems to identify you.
Opting out of the smartphone tracking part is easy; just make sure your Wi-Fi is turned off whenever you’re about to start your shopping. But if you want to skip out on video surveillance and just stick with cookies, better stick with online shopping.
via Examiner National Edition Gadgets & Tech Channel Articles http://www.examiner.com/article/retailers-are-using-information-from-your-smartphone-s-wi-fi-to-track-you?cid=roadrunner