However, there has been a lot of recent concern around loyalty cards and privacy. Cybercriminals have found ways to illegally acquire these rewards points and use them, either for themselves or in the underground economy. With the rise in identity theft and credit card fraud, criminals have also been able to connect loyalty cards with credit and debit cards and have been able to commit larger crimes as a result. Data collection concern Some uses of your shopping information can seem innocuous enough. Sometimes it may be beneficial to you. While earning coupons for your yogurt purchase, for example, you are also providing more information about you and your shopping habits to the store. Unfortunately, in some rare instances, this information can be used against you, as in the case of the Washington-based firefighter who was accused of arson based on the purchase records showing he bought a fire starter.

1. Gm My Rewards Loyalty Program

In another instance, a gentleman sued a supermarket after he slipped on yogurt and shattered his knee while grocery shopping. The store retaliated by accusing him of being an alcoholic based on his alcohol purchase.

Data breaches Third-party companies maintain most databases that store your information. When these companies go through a data breach, the privacy of your information is also at risk.

You may wonder what would someone do with your rewards points? Buy discounted yogurt? Sadly, it’s not a discount on dairy products they’re after: the real threat here is identity theft. Rewards cards not only have your name, address and telephone number, but are frequently linked to partial credit and debit card information as well.

Identity thieves use this information and combine it with other pieces of your information from other sources. With all these pieces, criminals can easily create a synthetic identity and go on a crime spree. Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Information For most consumers, it’s a matter of weighing the potential costs and risks to your privacy against the upside of participating: getting those discounts and saving some real money. If you do use frequent shopper cards, you can still take smart steps to safeguard your privacy, say the experts.

Consider these tips:. Watch what you share. Never include your Social Security number on a card application. Some stores request a driver’s license number; leave that space blank unless it is mandatory. It is okay to ask why they need any personal information and what they will do with it.

Gm My Rewards Loyalty Program

Consider a secondary email address. If a loyalty program asks you for an email address, use a secondary email account you’ve created just for club memberships and the like. While it’s never a good idea to lie about your name and address, experts advise disclosing the least amount of information possible.

Use password protection. Some loyalty cards require a password to access the account associated with it. Make sure you are using a unique password: don’t reuse a password from another account.

(Remember, if you use the same password for all of your accounts, all it takes is one data breach and cybercriminals can hack into all of your other accounts that share the same password.). Mind the app.

Most loyalty cards have an app associated with it. Sometimes fake apps masquerade as the real thing and pose bigger problems to your phone. Make sure your phone is properly protected with a comprehensive security suite like Norton Security Premium that not only keeps your device safe from malware and viruses but also guards against dangerous apps. By following a few common sense precautions with loyalty programs, you can reduce the risks to your privacy and get the rewards you want. © 2018 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved. Symantec, the Symantec Logo, the Checkmark Logo, Norton, Norton by Symantec, LifeLock, and the Lockman Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the United States and other countries.

Firefox is a trademark of Mozilla Foundation. Google Chrome is a trademark of Google, Inc. Mac, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc. Microsoft and the Windows logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

There was already a thread regarding this but either I simply can't find it anymore or it's been removed. At any rate, ZOS has announced that it is ending the loyalty rewards for subscribers after this last one, which is some sort of mask. At least it's not a vanity pet I don't want. Now while I was never impressed by these rewards nor personally wanted them I know other people liked them a great deal. But what mattered was the fact that this little perk told us, 'Hey long term subscriber, we appreciate your patronage.' Now, with ESO going B2P but still offering a subscription model, you're ending the loyalty program. What does this tell us?

To me, it tells me that those who continue to pay a subscription are no longer appreciated. Yes, there are some perks associated with paying a subscription, but that does not have anything to do with thanking your players who have been with you since launch and before. So, I'm curious. Why are we no longer worthy of your thanks? Edited by MornaBaine on February 18, 2015 4:27AM. Maybe it really was paid beta test with rewards who tested more? Now seriously.

Previously sub fee was necessary to play and loyalty reward was only reward (free gift). Now, when game going to be b2p sub need to get minor bonuses/acess to dlc.

If ZOS will give rewards for this it would be like you're buying really expensive costume/pet/mount/etc. I think ZOS stopping loyalty programm only for one reason - to prevent another crisis with topics like 'if I'm not paying sub I'm not loyal enough'. And if you give reward for everyone what the point of it? There are simply too few of us left, I think. It doesn't make sense to keep making exclusive loyalty rewards for a very small and dwindling fraction of their customers. I honestly don't think there are many players who are going to be eligible for the striped Senche mount, and the fraction of those who are staying subbed after March 17 is probably a very small target group indeed. It would be pointless to spend any further developer resources on pleasing those players.

You think so? It'll be interesting to see how many of us are riding around on the striped Senche. Though I may not be for long simply because I prefer some of the other colors. It would have been far nicer if they'd have just given us the mount of our choice and then added some truly awesome armor to it that would really stand out from the beginning. But there I go being greedy and ungrateful again. There are simply too few of us left, I think.

It doesn't make sense to keep making exclusive loyalty rewards for a very small and dwindling fraction of their customers. I honestly don't think there are many players who are going to be eligible for the striped Senche mount, and the fraction of those who are staying subbed after March 17 is probably a very small target group indeed. It would be pointless to spend any further developer resources on pleasing those players. Well the entire core of my guild will have both the costume and the Senche mount.

So if it is as rare as you think we'll wear it as a badge of guild pride. Watch ESO Live from 21st January. Basically they wanted to reward people for their continued subscription that way: Get them some small gifts.

But at some point they realized that such a strategy doesn't really fit the whole 'do whatever you want' concept of Elder Scrolls, so they changed their strategy to the free crowns for the crown store, which allows everyone to pick their own rewards although they're no longer exclusive. DING DING DING, WE HAVE A WINNER! Yeah, this meshes with what I remember. It wouldn't surprise me if we do see a vet reward system in the future, possibly like the old City of Heroes/Villains system, where you could pick off the menu from a couple different vet bonuses. But, at least for the short term the suggestion does seem to be, 'yeah, here have your full money's worth in points.'

EDIT: apparently the usual abbreviation for City of X is actually blocked by the profanity filter, because shanks, beef shanks for everyone. The removal of the loyalty system perplexes me as well.

Couple that with the sparse subscription benefits and it seems like ZOS isn't really all that concerned with keeping or gaining subscriptions. Which is a shame and is actually surprising. Having subscriptions provides a somewhat stable view of future revenue.

Yes, subscriptions fluctuate, but not nearly as much as Cash Shop purchases will. Unless ZOS is planning on releasing $30-45 DLC every 3 months I just don't see how the Cash Shop will provide sustainable revenue. There can be only so many mounts and costumes in the store. What's more is Cash Shops will have to continually release bigger and better things. Once Senche mounts are available, how many people are going to buy a horse? Furthermore, without fresh DLC, what is there to entice people into coming in and trying ESO after the initial flood of console players?

It's not F2P, it's B2P, so they are going to miss out on people who are just checking the game out BECAUSE it is free. ZOS really needs to beef up their subscription model. The players that play ESO without a subscription should be ENTICED to pay the subscription each and every time they play.

I get not wanting people to hit pay walls, which I commend. I get not wanting Pay to Win.

I commend that, also. I am not suggesting either of those things. What I AM suggesting is subscriber specific taverns, the ability to make guilds, early access of Costumes and Mounts, and early access to DLC.

People thing this sort of thing is un-fair. But the name of the game is making ZOS money so they can build the future of ESO. If it's a cosmetic thing or 'social' thing that doesn't give players a DIRECT advantage over non-subscribers, I say put it behind the subscription!

Heck, there could even be some things that are ONLY available to subscribers. Like being able to make an Imperial. Put THAT behind a subscription. Remove the imperial edition from the Crown Store and the ONLY way players that DON'T have the imperial edition can create an Imperial is to be subscribed.

Heck, there could even be some things that are ONLY available to subscribers. Like being able to make an Imperial. Put THAT behind a subscription. Remove the imperial edition from the Crown Store and the ONLY way players that DON'T have the imperial edition can create an Imperial is to be subscribed. Such things won't work and only hurt your game in the long run. They obviously know that as well and already avoid trying make such 'offers'. How would your system work?

Rather than selling the Imperial Edition as a 21$ upgrade you'd require a subscription. So some player pays one month for 15$, creates an Imperial and never pays again. Considering the Imperial Edition Upgrade seems to be worth 2,100 crowns, we can assme that 100 crowns are around 1$. Given that ratio subscribers already have a huge advantage over one-time payers. The spend 15$ a month and get 15$ in crowns back. In addition to that, they also receive the 10% bonuses and free access to all DLCs.

That's a significant bonus and far from nothing. So there's a clear incentive. We just don't know how expensive crowns will really be.

Heck, there could even be some things that are ONLY available to subscribers. Like being able to make an Imperial.

Put THAT behind a subscription. Remove the imperial edition from the Crown Store and the ONLY way players that DON'T have the imperial edition can create an Imperial is to be subscribed. Such things won't work and only hurt your game in the long run.

They obviously know that as well and already avoid trying make such 'offers'. How would your system work? Rather than selling the Imperial Edition as a 21$ upgrade you'd require a subscription. So some player pays one month for 15$, creates an Imperial and never pays again.

Considering the Imperial Edition Upgrade seems to be worth 2,100 crowns, we can assme that 100 crowns are around 1$. Given that ratio subscribers already have a huge advantage over one-time payers. The spend 15$ a month and get 15$ in crowns back. In addition to that, they also receive the 10% bonuses and free access to all DLCs. That's a significant bonus and far from nothing.

So there's a clear incentive. We just don't know how expensive crowns will really be. The number of players that would subscribe for $15 and KEEP the subscription would likely more than enough to offset the removal of the Imperial Edition upgrade. ZOS needs to consider the long game here. Who knows how many more players would be willing to 'try out' the Subscription for a month if they were able to create an imperial. I explain here that they still support the Imperial Edition as is. But for future players who didn't buy the imperial edition, have them subscribe if they want to create an imperial.

Mind if I ask if how placing the ability to create an imperial behind a subscription would hurt the game in the long run? Do you have examples of this? Watch ESO Live from 21st January. Basically they wanted to reward people for their continued subscription that way: Get them some small gifts. But at some point they realized that such a strategy doesn't really fit the whole 'do whatever you want' concept of Elder Scrolls, so they changed their strategy to the free crowns for the crown store, which allows everyone to pick their own rewards although they're no longer exclusive. DING DING DING, WE HAVE A WINNER!

Yes Crowns are your new Loyalty Reward. Now You can pick your own rewards. Watch ESO Live from 21st January. Basically they wanted to reward people for their continued subscription that way: Get them some small gifts. But at some point they realized that such a strategy doesn't really fit the whole 'do whatever you want' concept of Elder Scrolls, so they changed their strategy to the free crowns for the crown store, which allows everyone to pick their own rewards although they're no longer exclusive. DING DING DING, WE HAVE A WINNER! Yes Crowns are your new Loyalty Reward.

Now You can pick your own rewards. Except that, for the most part, you won't be able to. Because that's how 'crowns' work. They give you just enough to entice you to buy more.

The removal of the loyalty system perplexes me as well. Couple that with the sparse subscription benefits and it seems like ZOS isn't really all that concerned with keeping or gaining subscriptions. Which is a shame and is actually surprising. Having subscriptions provides a somewhat stable view of future revenue.

Yes, subscriptions fluctuate, but not nearly as much as Cash Shop purchases will. Unless ZOS is planning on releasing $30-45 DLC every 3 months I just don't see how the Cash Shop will provide sustainable revenue.

There can be only so many mounts and costumes in the store. What's more is Cash Shops will have to continually release bigger and better things. Once Senche mounts are available, how many people are going to buy a horse? Furthermore, without fresh DLC, what is there to entice people into coming in and trying ESO after the initial flood of console players? It's not F2P, it's B2P, so they are going to miss out on people who are just checking the game out BECAUSE it is free.

ZOS really needs to beef up their subscription model. The players that play ESO without a subscription should be ENTICED to pay the subscription each and every time they play. I get not wanting people to hit pay walls, which I commend.

I get not wanting Pay to Win. I commend that, also. I am not suggesting either of those things. What I AM suggesting is subscriber specific taverns, the ability to make guilds, early access of Costumes and Mounts, and early access to DLC.

People thing this sort of thing is un-fair. But the name of the game is making ZOS money so they can build the future of ESO.

If it's a cosmetic thing or 'social' thing that doesn't give players a DIRECT advantage over non-subscribers, I say put it behind the subscription! Heck, there could even be some things that are ONLY available to subscribers. Like being able to make an Imperial. Put THAT behind a subscription.

Remove the imperial edition from the Crown Store and the ONLY way players that DON'T have the imperial edition can create an Imperial is to be subscribed. Not crazy about the idea of putting MORE things behind a pay wall.

Because I've seen how that ends up. Of your suggestions I do like the perk of early DLC access.

I also happen to think that any DLC released during the time you are paying a sub should be yours to keep regardless of if you allow your sub to lapse at some point. Now THAT would be an enticement.

There was already a thread regarding this but either I simply can't find it anymore or it's been removed. At any rate, ZOS has announced that it is ending the loyalty rewards for subscribers after this last one, which is some sort of mask. At least it's not a vanity pet I don't want. Now while I was never impressed by these rewards nor personally wanted them I know other people liked them a great deal. But what mattered was the fact that this little perk told us, 'Hey long term subscriber, we appreciate your patronage.' Now, with ESO going B2P but still offering a subscription model, you're ending the loyalty program.

What does this tell us? To me, it tells me that those who continue to pay a subscription are no longer appreciated. Yes, there are some perks associated with paying a subscription, but that does not have anything to do with thanking your players who have been with you since launch and before. So, I'm curious. Why are we no longer worthy of your thanks? The current loyalty program was an utter joke, when your forced to pay to play the only way to make people feel appreciated is either treat them better (ZoS is to busy to do that) or create vanity items to reward those that subscribe.

Apparently the 100 crowns you get for each month your subscribed for the new B2P model basically sums up what ZoS thinks about loyal supporters who were with them since launch, just like this past loyalty program. There was already a thread regarding this but either I simply can't find it anymore or it's been removed. At any rate, ZOS has announced that it is ending the loyalty rewards for subscribers after this last one, which is some sort of mask. At least it's not a vanity pet I don't want.

Now while I was never impressed by these rewards nor personally wanted them I know other people liked them a great deal. But what mattered was the fact that this little perk told us, 'Hey long term subscriber, we appreciate your patronage.' Now, with ESO going B2P but still offering a subscription model, you're ending the loyalty program.

What does this tell us? To me, it tells me that those who continue to pay a subscription are no longer appreciated. Yes, there are some perks associated with paying a subscription, but that does not have anything to do with thanking your players who have been with you since launch and before.

So, I'm curious. Why are we no longer worthy of your thanks? The current loyalty program was an utter joke, when your forced to pay to play the only way to make people feel appreciated is either treat them better (ZoS is to busy to do that) or create vanity items to reward those that subscribe. Apparently the 100 crowns you get for each month your subscribed for the new B2P model basically sums up what ZoS thinks about loyal supporters who were with them since launch, just like this past loyalty program. Well although I did not personally like the vanity pets they gave us it at least made them do a tiny amount of work and use some creativity and as long as the program was in place I could hope we'd eventually get a few things I WOULD like. But apparently everything they do must generate cash in the shop now. Watch ESO Live from 21st January.

Basically they wanted to reward people for their continued subscription that way: Get them some small gifts. But at some point they realized that such a strategy doesn't really fit the whole 'do whatever you want' concept of Elder Scrolls, so they changed their strategy to the free crowns for the crown store, which allows everyone to pick their own rewards although they're no longer exclusive. DING DING DING, WE HAVE A WINNER! Yes Crowns are your new Loyalty Reward. Now You can pick your own rewards. Except that, for the most part, you won't be able to. Because that's how 'crowns' work.

They give you just enough to entice you to buy more. 1500 crowns is enough for a mount or multiple other selections. Watch ESO Live from 21st January. Basically they wanted to reward people for their continued subscription that way: Get them some small gifts.

But at some point they realized that such a strategy doesn't really fit the whole 'do whatever you want' concept of Elder Scrolls, so they changed their strategy to the free crowns for the crown store, which allows everyone to pick their own rewards although they're no longer exclusive. DING DING DING, WE HAVE A WINNER!

Yes Crowns are your new Loyalty Reward. Now You can pick your own rewards. Except that, for the most part, you won't be able to. Because that's how 'crowns' work.

They give you just enough to entice you to buy more. 1500 crowns is enough for a mount or multiple other selections. Wait and see.

Watch ESO Live from 21st January. Basically they wanted to reward people for their continued subscription that way: Get them some small gifts. But at some point they realized that such a strategy doesn't really fit the whole 'do whatever you want' concept of Elder Scrolls, so they changed their strategy to the free crowns for the crown store, which allows everyone to pick their own rewards although they're no longer exclusive. DING DING DING, WE HAVE A WINNER! Yes Crowns are your new Loyalty Reward. Now You can pick your own rewards. Except that, for the most part, you won't be able to.

Because that's how 'crowns' work. They give you just enough to entice you to buy more. 1500 crowns is enough for a mount or multiple other selections. Wait and see. Jump on PTS and find out for yourself. Watch ESO Live from 21st January. Basically they wanted to reward people for their continued subscription that way: Get them some small gifts.

But at some point they realized that such a strategy doesn't really fit the whole 'do whatever you want' concept of Elder Scrolls, so they changed their strategy to the free crowns for the crown store, which allows everyone to pick their own rewards although they're no longer exclusive. DING DING DING, WE HAVE A WINNER! Yes Crowns are your new Loyalty Reward.

Now You can pick your own rewards. Except that, for the most part, you won't be able to. Because that's how 'crowns' work.

They give you just enough to entice you to buy more. 1500 crowns is enough for a mount or multiple other selections. Wait and see.

Jump on PTS and find out for yourself. Store prices are object to change. Crown cost is object to change. Monthly crown allottment is object to change.

If 1$ equals 100 crowns, the current monthly reward for subscribing is rather high and prices in the store rather low. While that is unusually fair for a cash shop and sub system, it also almost seems too good to be true. So I have my doubts it'll stay that way. Watch ESO Live from 21st January.

Basically they wanted to reward people for their continued subscription that way: Get them some small gifts. But at some point they realized that such a strategy doesn't really fit the whole 'do whatever you want' concept of Elder Scrolls, so they changed their strategy to the free crowns for the crown store, which allows everyone to pick their own rewards although they're no longer exclusive. DING DING DING, WE HAVE A WINNER! Yes Crowns are your new Loyalty Reward.

Now You can pick your own rewards. Except that, for the most part, you won't be able to. Because that's how 'crowns' work. They give you just enough to entice you to buy more.

1500 crowns is enough for a mount or multiple other selections. Wait and see. Jump on PTS and find out for yourself.

Store prices are object to change. Crown cost is object to change.

Monthly crown allottment is object to change. If 1$ equals 100 crowns, the current monthly reward for subscribing is rather high and prices in the store rather low. While that is unusually fair for a cash shop and sub system, it also almost seems too good to be true. So I have my doubts it'll stay that way. Those prices arent going to change. If so they would have already adjusted them. They want the sub to mean something.

I think you are used to playing f2p games. This is a buy to play game. So without meaning to the sub there is no point to it.