Customer completely irritated: Does Hamburger Rewe force customers to submit data?

Created: 01/13/2023 12:08 p.m

By: Lia Stoike

The Rewe employee only wants to collect if the customer tells how she got into the business.

Can he do that?

© dpa/ Rolf Vennenbernd

Rewe customer irritated: In an Altona branch, she is only allowed to pay for her purchase if she reveals how she got the business.

Is that legal?

Hamburg – A Rewe customer in Hamburg is puzzled: When she wants to pay for her supermarket purchase in a Rewe branch in Altona-Nord, the employee refuses to pay.

The reason for this: You have to state how you came to the market.

"I asked the cashier why this information is relevant," writes the Hamburg native on the Rewe support page on Facebook.

According to the employee, this is necessary so that the checkout process can continue.

The lady finds that strange.

Especially for people who do not speak German or have hearing problems, this procedure is extremely problematic from their point of view, having to provide such information when shopping.

The customer does not want to contact the affected branch with her request.

"The question was not answered in the store," writes the Hamburg resident.

Market management explains: Rewe survey should further develop the location in Altona

"What if you are of the opinion that it is simply not Rewe's business how you move through the city?"

Another Facebook user, on the other hand, replies and assumes: "Companies want to know how customers can reach them in order to respond to needs, for example more parking spaces, bicycle stands or charging stations."

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"Don't have to give any information" - Rewe store manager apologizes for misunderstanding

And that's right: The market manager of the affected branch in Altona-Nord made it clear to a 24Hamburg.de request: "The customer does not have to provide any information." There is currently a survey in the affected market to further develop the location.

The store wants to know whether the customer came by car or on foot.

"If there were any misunderstandings, I can only apologize," he emphasizes.

May disclosure of customer data be forced?

Consumer center clarifies

In theory, it is possible to force customer data when shopping, according to the Hamburg consumer advice center.

"Since the seller is free to decide with whom he does business, he could theoretically make the conclusion of the contract dependent on the customer giving him a postal code, for example," explains spokeswoman Julia Rehberg.

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Consumer center makes it clear: Shops can decide who buys

However, such an incident is new.

So far, the consumer advice center has not received any complaints that the purchase of the goods has been refused if customers do not want to provide any information, according to Rehberg.

Customers can also choose which store they shop in.

In principle, any information on site is voluntary.

"Consumers should not feel pressured," says Rehberg.