Citi Bank and "gay restaurants"

[mvan1]

I received an e-mail from Citibank this afternoon. There was an offer for a smart phone app that is unique in that you can visit certain restaurants and pay your entire tab (including the tip) by using your smart phone.

The app is called "Tabbed Out"

I think it is a good app but it leaves me puzzled.

The app lists available restaurants all over the U.S. but especially in the area where the phone is located, unless you tell the app to choose a different area. You can select any area with the app.

When I looked for a choice of restaurants near me, to my surprise, many of the restaurants have a note next to them saying "gay restaurant" which puzzles me. I do not live in a "gay" area.

Why in the world would Citibank recommend an app that spells out certain restaurants that are supposedly gay restaurants?

Moreover, why would a new app like this identify certain restaurants as "gay restaurants?"

I would think identifying restaurants as "gay" could cause problems for some of those restaurants. Not everyone is liberal.

Remember, the app goes to all Citibank customers and ostensibly, will go to customers of other banks as well.

Citibank does not own the app.

Below is a link to the web site of Tabbed Out.

Has anyone used this app or seen it?

Does anyone have an opinion different from mine?

Here is a screen copy of my e-mail that describes the app:

Leave Your Old Wallet at Home... We got this covered.

Say goodbye to waiting for your server at the end of your meal, and forget about waiting in that long bar line.

Here's How It Works
Haven’t used TabbedOut before? It's Easy.

• Open the app and find your location on the home screen.
• Open a tab at the venue.
• Order your meal or drink as usual, but remember to tell your server or bartender that you’re using TabbedOut, and tell them your name or unique TabbedOut code.
• When you’re ready to leave, simply hit “Pay Check,” adjust your desired tip (20%, 25%, 30% or write in your own), and hit “Pay Now.” TabbedOut will charge your credit card with the total bill, no need to hand your credit card over to your server.

Welcome to TabbedOut! We hope you enjoy your enhanced mobile payment experience.

Step-by-Step Guide

We’re excited to have you as part of the TabbedOut experience!

If you have any issues at any time, please don't hesitate to email us any questions.

Do you need to re-download? Visit our website.

[lookin]

Moreover, why would a new app like this identify certain restaurants as "gay restaurants?"

Targeted marketing and data mining no doubt. Mine all say "early bird special".

[mvan1]

Targeted marketing and data mining no doubt. Mine all say "early bird special".

Thanks lookin -

Of course, your answer makes sense.

It is easy to target a market based on cookies in a computer. The cookies identify the sites visited by the computer. This site and other escort sites leave lots and lots of "tell tale" cookies in a computer.

The app used the cookies to specify the restaurants.

Our privacy seems to be ebbing away at a fast rate.

Just curious, do you go to "early bird special" restaurants?

[lookin]

Well, mvan1, I was hoping I was just kidding, but I wouldn't put it past these guys to go rifling through my browsers if they could make a buck off of it.

With regard to TabbedOut, their sales pitch to the restaurant owner suggests the only information they collect is about the customer's purchasing history in that particular restaurant. So I wouldn't expect them to start bringing you a Shirley Temple as soon as you sit down.

But who knows? I read last year when Snowden was dropping his government snooping bombshell that it's nothing compared with the info private companies are collecting about us. It's pretty creepy to think about. As long as I don't start getting popup ads from Crisco®.

And, as far as early bird specials, can't say I do them every day, or even every week, but I can share that I'm not exactly a stranger to tapioca.