Scanning driver's license...

[rlrose328]

My mom just called and said she was at Target yesterday and they asked to scan her driver's license.  She didn't think anything of it, so she gave it to them to scan.  They rang up the few items she had and gave her a coupon for 50 cents off some diabetic product.  She IS diabetic, but there was nothing among the products she purchased that was remotely diabetic in nature and she doesn't have any meds filled at Target.

Has anyone had this happen?  I went to Target today and they didn't ask to scan my license.  Sometimes a store will ask for a zip code for marketing and tracking purposes, but a driver's license?  And what about the DL triggered a medical condition for a coupon?

[Bella]

The only places that have ever scanned my license were bars, making sure that it was real.

Maybe it's a coincidence? A lot of people do have diabeties... Maybe it was a marketing tool for whatever product she got the coupon for?

[MommaSquid]

Wow, that's creepy.  Why not just slap a bar code on our heads and be done with it?  

Oh, wait...

[SteveS]

I never answer those sorts of questions from stores.  I'm there, I've got the money, why do they need my zip code, phone number, etc?  I used to lie:  "Zip code?  Sure - 12345".  "Phone number?  123-4567".  But I decided that was mean, so I just say "no thanks".  They've always dropped it.

[rlrose328]

Eh, I'll give them my zip code, especially at Michael's when I use a coupon.  They use that information, in part, to determine how often they issue coupons in the newspapers (or at least that's what I've been told).  And I LOVE Michael's coupons.  

[Justice]

I worked in retail management for a number of years. The only reason we ever scanned a driver's license was to verify identity. If she was paying with a check or a credit card, this would be a valid reason to do so. As far as I am aware, the strip on the license is embedded with the license number only.

As for the coupon, it is possible they tracked her previous credit card purchases and used that information. Is it possible she bought a food product made for diabetics in the past? If so, the computer would automatically pick related products for a coupon.

[Eclecticsaturn]

well different ids have different stuff on them. In my store when you scan the back it says the id number but i remember one time the customer accidently slid the i.d in the card reader and not the credit card and the screen asked her for her pin #. It was wierd but the more example s here it must make sense. Theres probably a lot of info on that strip. Im curious even more now....

[SabineMaia]

I never answer those sorts of questions from stores.  I'm there, I've got the money, why do they need my zip code, phone number, etc?  I used to lie:  "Zip code?  Sure - 12345".  "Phone number?  123-4567".  But I decided that was mean, so I just say "no thanks".  They've always dropped it.

I just give my brother's info. He's probably recieved an unusual amount of targeted marketing about organic dairy, chocolate, and feminine hygiene products.

[ryanvc76]

When I'm home in Oregon, I tell the cashier I live in Germany (stranage look).  When I'm here in Germany, I tell them I live in the US (even stranger look).  I know, I'm an ass.

[Whitney]

The only place they scan driver's licenses around here is for verifying age when you order something at the bar.

[rlrose328]

Thanks for all the input everyone... I do think it was probably a coincidence between the scanning and the diabetic products.  She DOES shop there frequently and has purchased other diabetic supplies there... like diabetic cookies and gluco-tabs, so that's probably why it spit out that coupon.  I guess we'll never know for sure, though.