Target Cartwheel App

[Another Reader]

As you may know, there's a lot of interest in Big Data and how people are tracked by companies for targeted advertising.  The marketing companies are now trying to get to customers via smartphones.  The NY Times has a good article on this today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/technology/selling-secrets-of-phone-users-to-advertisers.html?hp

Target is on the leading edge of this.  The Red Card tracks your purchases in the store, as long as you use the card.  The Cartwheel application, an app on either Android or Apple, is the next step.  Ultimately the goal is to tie everything about you together so they can capture more of your purchases.

I did not really object to the Red Card, because it simply offered me 5 percent off and a bunch of mostly useless coupons at the register.  Don't want Target to know what you are buying that day?  Pay cash.  I have heard the deals on Cartwheel are very good and the targeting is actually useful to the consumer.  Does anyone use this app?  Are the prices worth letting these folks follow you around on the internet and track your physical location and other activities via your smartphone?

[Lil_Bit]

I've used Cartwheel by Target, it can be accessed through the App or Facebook, but I prefer to print them since I can never remember to open the app at checkout.  You can definitely save money, but it can get a little complicated (for me at least) since you can combine the Cartwheel, a Target Printable Coupon or a Target Mobile Coupon, a Manufacturer coupon and by using your Target Red Card for the extra 5% savings.

This is a website I use for all the Target Coupon Matchups (I'm not affiliated), I'm just glad someone can match the sales with the available coupons - TotallyTarget.com.  The FAQ section is very helpful.

[Frankies Girl]

I don't facebook, so I can't use the app. It only allows you to use it through a facebook login. Annoyed me at first, but not enough to join facebook.

I figured it was just more tracking nonsense, but it's nice to have that confirmed.

[Daley]

Target is on the leading edge of this.  The Red Card tracks your purchases in the store, as long as you use the card.  The Cartwheel application, an app on either Android or Apple, is the next step.  Ultimately the goal is to tie everything about you together so they can capture more of your purchases.

I figured it was just more tracking nonsense, but it's nice to have that confirmed.

And now they're offering house-branded prepaid phone service through the T-Mobile network. They datamine their customers any harder, the picks are gonna start popping out in China, <voice="Gene Belcher">and by China, I mean their butts.</voice>

Seriously, just read the Privacy Policy!

Target's turning into the capitalistic equivalent of whatever an Orwellian wet dream would be called.

[Lil_Bit]

I figured it was just more tracking nonsense, but it's nice to have that confirmed.

And now they're offering house-branded prepaid phone service through the T-Mobile network. They datamine their customers any harder, the picks are gonna start popping out in China, <voice="Gene Belcher">and by China, I mean their butts.</voice>

Seriously, just read the Privacy Policy!

Target's turning into the capitalistic equivalent of whatever an Orwellian wet dream would be called.

Lol -- I agree.

[oldtoyota]

I know I have said this a lot already. I am SO GLAD I am off T-mobile.

And I mostly shop for socks and underwear at Target, so I hope they have fun marketing to me. lol

Big data is big though. Future presidential campaigns will know which particular person they need to get out to the polls in order to win. Actually, some knew this in the last election. Nate Silver is a good example of using data to find out the future.