WELCOME TO WALMART, FINGERPRINT PLEASE…
Do you really want Wal Mart (or any retailer for that matter) to have your fingerprints on file? The Bentonville Behemoth is considering switching to biobetrics as a way to shave 20 percent off it’s credit card processing costs.
From CNN Money: a report, by Sanford Bernstein analyst Emme Kozloff,
…found that the use of so-called electronic wallets reduces the potential for fraud and identity theft, speeds up the checkout process, and most importantly, lowers transaction processing fees for retailers, improving their bottom line. A 20 percent reduction in processing costs at big-box discounters like Wal-Mart over the next several years could result in a 3 percent to 4 percent increase in earnings per share by 2009, the report estimated. We believe both Wal-Mart and Costco are looking at it closely, Kozloff wrote.
Technology is forcing us to look closely at how we evaluate and protect privacy in our society. How much of your life do you want to be a matter of record?
I’d have no problem with verifying my identity. Any store should be able to protect itself from fraud and this is one good way to help.
If a person does not like the idea then no problemo – simple go elsewhere. Or, better yet, let a group of worried consumers start their own business and don’t check any ID.
Shalom Dog,
I’m curious. What degree of revelation concerning your personal life are you willing to accept in exchange for a price break on your purchases?
Are you secure in the knowledge that Walmart will protect any information it associates with your finger print?
B’shalom,
Jeff
[...] WELCOME TO WALMART, FINGERPRINT PLEASE… Do you really want Wal Mart (or any retailer for that matter) to have your fingerprints on file? The Bentonville Behemoth is considering switching to biobetrics as a way to shave 20 percent off it’s credit card processing costs. Keep reading… [...]
Mark of the Beast???? Looks suspicious too me. I know I won’t be using my fingerprint to buy groceries.