Use "Jenny's" number to get grocery club discounts
Ah, the 80s! My big music decade, so I recognized this hack right away. You? Am I dating myself?
From May:
We find supermarkets a great place to feed our kids when we are out of town. Some supermarkets only give the sale price to people with a club card. Don't bother signing up for a card or paying full price. Supermarkets can look you up by phone number: use Jenny's! 867-5309 works every time. Invariably, someone has signed up with this number to avoid giving out their real phone number.
Don't blame me if you're humming this song for the rest of the day.
Related: Grocery coupons: balancing time spent with money saved
More: Meal planning hacks
what about the area code, though?
Posted by: tami | 06 July 2011 at 12:11 PM
Most don't ask for one but if they do, use the local area code.
Posted by: May | 06 July 2011 at 04:01 PM
Go old-school and use 634-5789.
Posted by: Roger Pence | 06 July 2011 at 10:17 PM
This is also great to use at supermarkets that give fuel discounts based on rewards spending. I've been using this for almost 10 years as I travel a lot for work and for fun.
Posted by: Eric | 07 July 2011 at 07:13 AM
That's a great idea, but don't use it for fuel discounts! Those are often limited--like, I spent $50, so now next time I fill up I get $0.10 off per gallon ... but you already used it!
Posted by: Lissa | 07 July 2011 at 09:33 AM
For those who don't get what Roger is layin' down:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/634-5789_(Soulsville,_U.S.A.)
Posted by: Stu Mark | 07 July 2011 at 09:56 AM
Or use 6060-842 ...
Posted by: Zoltan | 07 July 2011 at 10:51 AM
@Eric So, you're basically stealing someone else's fuel rewards? Nice. I know we save up our fuel points every month - they're cumulative - so that I can fill up my 35 gallon tank at up to $1 off per gallon. I'd be pretty pissed if someone had plugged in my phone number and cost me my $35 in savings.
Posted by: Scout | 07 July 2011 at 12:02 PM
Or Pennsylvania 6-5000.
Posted by: Deb | 07 July 2011 at 12:04 PM
Most supermarkets have those cards and the applications sitting at the registers - just ask for a new one, tell them you'll fill it out at home, and you're set. The cards work right off the paper, and you don't *have* to fill out the application. I've been using the same card for years at home, and I've *never* filled out an app for one.
Posted by: Erik | 07 July 2011 at 01:23 PM
Might as well go back to the source and use Beechwood 4-5789.
Posted by: Tom | 07 July 2011 at 03:52 PM
If people were saving up rewards to use themselves and didn't want their rewards stolen, they shouldn't give a fake phone number. Conversely, if someone uses your rewards and *doesn't* get the free one, then their purchase is contributing points towards *your* next reward.
Posted by: Psych | 08 July 2011 at 09:42 AM
I created a google voice number that's easy to remember and just use that so I can still use my fuel points.
Posted by: Jennifer Spera | 08 July 2011 at 12:15 PM
How can you be sure that number (867-5309) is not an actual number in your area code? If it is I'm those folks are glad you gave there number instead. Better to use a 555 exchange.
Posted by: Marcusa | 08 July 2011 at 12:29 PM
Some area codes have Jenny numbers in use. It seems that most people don't enjoy getting called by random strangers, so 867-5309 is usually unused. It's not a fake number; it doesn't fall into any of the reserved number groups, and it exists in every US area code. http://www.oldskoolphreak.com/tfiles/phreak/jenny07.txt
As far as fake numbers go, I like 212-555-0212, but I use my Google Voice number for free sign-up stuff, as I have it set to only forward calls from my contacts.
Posted by: Tim | 08 July 2011 at 02:52 PM
To be fair, if you want to protect your savings it would be wise to use your actual number. Because most people are not able to get, nor want to keep Jenny's number - I think this is the cost of using a false yet well known number.
This number should be considered a hackers delight.
Posted by: Reed | 10 July 2011 at 01:20 AM
I still have that 45!!!!
Posted by: Kathee | 14 July 2011 at 06:29 PM
This trick may still work in RI, but it will likely be recognized as Gem Plumbing who infamously uses that number in our area code.
Posted by: Tom (not Tutone) | 01 August 2011 at 03:32 AM
What is it with plumbers? There's one in northern NJ that has Jenn's number too.
Posted by: Nancy | 03 August 2011 at 04:24 PM
When I was looking up a place to come fix our fire sprinkler their number was 867-5309. I was wondering where I had heard that number before when the song came into my mind. One of my favorites! http://8217kk95.myutilitysite.com
Posted by: Lyla Burns | 10 August 2012 at 10:11 AM