But what about those who doesn’t have a computer and a connection?
– Christa 2008-04-15 14:51 UTC
Then they still get a till receipt, if they want one. But if you do, or don’t need one, having the option of not having one printed would be a Good Thing, don’t you think? 
– GreyWulf 2008-04-15 14:54 UTC
I dislike all these bonus cards in the first place. Why don’t they just make it cheaper for everybody? Once every store has a card, there will be no net effect on purchasing behaviour, and the net result will be higher prices because IT people have children, too.
As for the reduction of waste, I think the problem is not solvable often a lot of packaging means a lot of extra price, so there is already enough incentive to reduce packaging. I conclude that people want the packaging they get.
I think a far better incentive would be a law that forces business to internalize external costs such as destruction of the environment. Let there be road tolls that reflect the damage done to our environment – noise and air pollution, erosion, what have you. That will drive prices up for those that drive around a lot. Less driving means that lorry space is more expensive, which will result in less packaging, as it starts to make more of a difference.
Plus the government gets a lot of money to use.
Obviously that goes against the grain of those neo-conservatives that would like to “starve” the government by denying it income via taxes.
Then again, you might also want to make sure you have a government that doesn’t invest a lot of that money in nuclear arms, submarines, soldiers, occupation in Iraq, and what have you.
It feels kind of good to be ranting again, but I better stop before I start pointing fingers at education, infrastructure, mispent money in the defense against terrorist fears, and so on.
– AlexSchroeder 2008-04-15 18:09 UTC
Lol!
Rant away, Alex. It’s good to vent.
I agree with you about the bonus cards, but as they’re a fact of life we might as well use them and pressurize the stores to give us back our data in a useful form.
When it comes to packaging, it’s used to reduce cost (and therefore increase profit) for the stores in the form of longer shelf-lifes. Give a choice, I’d much rather have less packaging and fresher products. Unfortunately, the supermarkets don’t quite see it that way………..
I’m not sure taxation is the solution either; that just legitimizes bad behaviour. the existing taxes on alcohol, smoking, petrol and pretty much everything else that’s “bad” for you prove that. I don’t approve of governments gaining money for things that are wrong. I’d much rather they use the money they get from income, etc, to be put to worthwhile purposes – not doing criminal acts like invading other countries on George Bush’s request.
But hey, that’s a post for another time
– GreyWulf 2008-04-15 20:03 UTC