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No more Whole Foods discount unless you have the app installed while shopping?

10 points by intrasight ↗ HN
A few weeks back, that stopped being the case. Someone in the store showed me a way to find the QR code. But that means is now also gone. So I installed the Whole Foods app and took a screenshot of the QR code. When doing so, I get a message along the lines of "For your security, an screenshot of the QR code will not work". I am going to try it anyway. Not sure what I'll do if it doesn't work. I'd rather not have Amazon track me while shopping.

7 comments

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joezydeco
The QR is regenerated every time you open the app, and probably expires after a small amount of time.

Amazon probably does this to 1) avoid people sharing codes with each other (especially non-Prime customers) and 2) the code can be linked to your payment so someone could possibly steal your code over your shoulder and start buying things.

I don't believe Amazon needs the app to track you in-store. They have enough cameras and wifi APs in the building to do that.

mc32
What's with the oversized (at least 1 foot x 1 foot) barcodes on the ceilings of wholefood anyhow?
jacobriis
You can use your phone number at check-out if you enable it in the Whole Foods App profile settings "Use my phone number"
Blackstrat
If you’re a Prime customer and use the same payment method, you’re linked. If you used the app previously, the card you used is linked. I’m pretty sure that being tracked by Amazon, as well as Google et al, is a ship that’s already sailed.
ev1
If you use any payment method on your Amazon account then it's auto linked and discounts apply.
mesozoic
They pay you a discount to be allowed to track you while shopping.