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- faskill, on 10/12/2007, -3/+27Why are people so willing to give out their personal information? I was asked for my zipcode at the local Best Buy, when I said, "you don't need that..." the clerk looked at me funny and tried persuading me to give out the information.
Amazon has proven useful in the past, but you don't need to know someones ethnicity or sexual preference to sell them a product they are searching for (I say that they are searching for them because that's typically how I use the service).
Just my two cents. - halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -2/+21I always give my Zip code as 86753, and if the teller pick up on the fact that it's the start of the "Jenny" number, I tiredly reply "Yes, all of us are sick of that Joke, and before you start, yes, it's the ZIP code for Springfield Wyoming, and no, Marge and Homer don't live there."
The key to the joke is the tired, "Said this a thousand times before" tone and cadence. It really shuts down most clerks and gets them to move on with the transaction. - afex, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17because you think neither of those companies do any data collection?
- jdimstrbean, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16I've never minded giving my zip code at a store, but I never give my number when they ask (I either just say it's unlisted or simply refuse).
I get enough spam calls as it is, I don't know why they want my number, but I'm sure it won't benefit me any. - MonkeyOverlord, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14I'm sure their marketers will love "my profile:"
Race: Eskimo
Sexuality: Everything (not picky)
Religion: Allah's Buddhist Witness of the Jedi Order of the Triple Goddess
Gender: None.
Nationality: Neanderthal Cave Dweller. - theoallardyce, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13Sorry, not in Europe they're not. Amazon UK can kiss my ass because I have a legal right to see any personal information they have on me, and they have a legal obligation to make sure no-one else does.
- noodlez, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9how could amazon build this database unless people were willingly giving all that information up?
instead of reading alarmist stories and getting worked up about what they're doing, don't give them your information. - LudicrousSpeed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7I don't mind providing my zip code, especially for local stores. It's my phone number that I refuse to give. Rather than make a scene, I just simply give them the same false number every time.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Stores in the US ask you for personal details? That's pretty amazing, I don't think I've ever been asked that question. If so, I'd refuse and then if pushed I'd but whatever it was elsewhere.
- Weakling, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@PJBonoVox: not only in the US. I live in The Netherlands and have been asked to tell my zipcode a lot of times as well.
I don't mind telling where I live approximately. It is not like they cannot track your buying habits already if they wanted to. I mean: pay with a CC or bankcard or discount pass or something and they have a perfect record of who buys what.
Thankfully however we do have a law that protects our personal information from being used for the wrong purposes, but I do not know if and how that would count if I bought something from a US company. Which rules do apply then? - demonicume, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5that information is completely useless. it's an evil lie that you need it. youre just nosey. i could tell you i'm a straight black male, 1 child, systems admin at a school district - and it wouldnt help you sell a damn thing. were their 300,000 people just like me living in the same area, it still wouldnt mean a damn thing. best buy has been collecting info for years, and i havet seen a single change in the store.
wanna cater to your clients' needs? ask them what they want and then give it to them. trust me, if buying a couple hip hop records and a copy of 'Enter the Matrix' changes your business model, then i'll happily watch your business go down.
someone explain why Bestbuy needed my SSN, my DL, my address and a capture of my signature to sell me DVD+Rs? I signed the sigcap machine left handed just to see what happened. *BEEP* signatures didnt match. WTF? why is bestbuy keeping my original signature? it cant be for security - you scan your own card - and that fat-assed bouncer by the door cant arrest anyone... - shmatt, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7but what if that person pulled up a spreadsheet and started entering your details into his database? that would raise an eyebrow, wouldn't it?
- aliceinreality, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4this reminds me of being in high school and giving the army recruiters false contact information to avoid being harassed over my ASVAB scores.
- ahhell, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7I don't see how they have the right to gather that type of information.
That database is just screaming to be abused. - duck1123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@ccanni1028
How is Target any better than Amazon... seeing as Amazon power's their database and all - lexbaby, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Because they applied for a patent.
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220060178946%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20060178946&RS=DN/20060178946 - sentanta, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I don't know that they are public per se, but there are companies like Acxiom or Experian that buy information from a ton of sources (I believe they include information from magazine subscriptions, financial institutions, etc). They then combine all of that information into one profile and resell it to direct marketers.
But don't worry these companies don't get hacked into all that often.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/07/21/cyber.theft/ - dubiousalibi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3It never ceases to amaze me a) why companies attempt to do this via clandestine methods (loyalty programs et al) and b) why individuals can't also see the potential benefits of profiling. This is a very long argument, but basically why don't companies pay individuals for this information as long as the individual gets to control how it's being used. I feel there's massive market for people will to give personal information for cash and they decide who gets it.
If I'm in the market for a canoe, rent my details and I'll tell you about it and the rest of me. The sports retailers can pay me for that exclusive information and they get access to it for 3 months (or whatever I choose) and then it expires. They get an active buyer. I get paid for the shopping privilege and I get exclusive competitive offers. The retailer can spend less marketing cash of broad wasteful advertising to the 99.9999% not interested in the slightest about canoes. If you ever contact me again after the period is over, you'll be gone for data infringement. - hlampert, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Other than the big brother aspect what bothers me is that they are getting a "patent" on collecting this information. Information wants to be free - Software patents are ludicrous and stand in the way of progress.... imagine if IBM had patented the concept of the command line, or Xerox had patented the concept of the mouse as a controller. Just ludicrous.
- Jetfire, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I ave no problem giving my Zip code since they us it to determn where to locate new store. Keeps me from from driving so far when they put in the new store near me. saves gas and the environment.
- halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I'm glad I don't drink anything while reading digg.
You are my retail hero. - jmholloway, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Im glad to hear from the article that it is voluntarily given information. I would have been slightly more upset if amazon just started heaping all their customers into it.
- tonyspencer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The right to collect it and the right to use it are two very different things. In many countries it breaks privacy laws. In the UK this would be against the Data Protection Act.
Still what's new? Companies seem to think they have a God given right to do what ever they want, whether it breaks the law or not. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Buried for FUD. Amazon isn't talking about developing this, they are simplying trying to get a patent. Most of the information would have to come from you voluntarily in the first place. And anything the rumored system would get from other places is already there. More digg FUD and sensationalist submissions.
- themilk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2what are these publicly available databases i always hear about? does anybody have any links or names of the departments that run them or anything?
- jvin248, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Just don't give out your information.
For those concerned about the database, remember that it's a large corporation, with many, many inputs and differenet people typing in the information. Most of these databases get corupted data in them (ever typed your password in twice to change it? It's because repeating and comparing the inputs is a good safety check against typos). The IRS has you self-report your taxes and then does spot-check audits.
A company can learn about zip codes, but they are not specific enough for effectuve merchandizing (any zip code can have houses ranging from $50k to $5M, the diverse incomes to support those house payments and fluctuating consumption as well depending on the owners' perceived job security).
Can there be data to mine? Sure, but that assumes someone is really analyzing it. Supermarkets have tried "shoppers clubs" for years and they are no better off now than when they started. Many are abandoning these cards.
Or consider Automotive - the car companies track purchase patterns too - and what they always find is small cars (like the neons, PT cruisers, cobalts, civics, and corollas etc) always have a really high age group purchasing them (like averaging 54 years old). Then they run around trying to figure out how they missed their target consumers (was it the trim, the music package, were the advertisements in the wrong magazines or on the wrong tv shows, etc?) - the problem is their data. They have 54 year olds buying those cars for their sons' & daughters' first car. There are fewer 30 year olds buying cars for 16 year-ld kids than 54 year olds.
So your front-line defense is don't share personal information (hard to resist those phishers too?). The second is to remember that data is corrupt. The third safety nets is inappropriate analysis.
Then worry less.
For the companies - stop over at www.privateproductivity.com/weblog for some help. - hagrin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Although I guess at some point it must have been a volunatry action on your part to release that information, the disturbing part about this is that Amazon will crawl other public databases for your "already existing on the Internet" information, combine it and create this super, Big Brother-esque database on you. Now, considering it IS all public information, I guess I don't have a huge issue with it (since anyone smart enough could have done this already), but even still these data mining experiments are starting to become a little over ambitious if you ask me.
- roblem, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5They have the *right* to collect any information they want, just like you and
I do (at least in the US -- your mileage may vary)
But that's very different from making it the "right" thing to do! Unless I hear
otherwise, Amazon's on my blacklist. NewEgg and Barnes & Noble get all
the business now. - op12, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1While the patent is obviously a dangerous sign, Amazon is not currently implementing such a database (as they mentioned in the article), so the summary is inaccurate.
- astutissimo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1wow mbabauer, something just like that happened to me, too! 2 years ago. Since then I try not to buy stuff from them, although it's sometimes unavoidable.
- tizz66, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The way I look at this, if Amazon didn't patent this idea, some other company could have, and Amazon having my info is a lesser evil than many other companies I don't trust at all having it.
- mbabauer, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I would personally love to drop Amazon, but I can't seem to find a replacement. Granted, there are sites for books, sites for toys, even sites for tools. But there are not many sites that allow me to buy a books, 2 dvds, a drill, a set of kitchen knives, and a gift for my mother in law all in the same transaction.
But, Amazon to me is the Walmart of online retail. Its all about servicing as many people as you can, not servicing that one customer right. For example, I bought almost $300 in books and DVDs about 6 months ago, and one of the books was on back order. Instead of shipping all the other books except the one that wasn't in, my entire order was delayed for 8 weeks. When I called, I was told "Too bad...you should have checked the box that says to split the order". I ended up canceling the whole thing. - webwidejosh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Sometimes information is used for your own good. Its a hassle to keep track of any recalls. Companies may try to find people when they have safety related recalls, to limit their liability. It just could be a recall that could keep your house from burning down.
I give my phone number out when I make purchases, if I'm too lazy to fight it. I've never received a call regarding any sale I've made outside of business related purchases at work on a business account. I usually shut down those time wasters rather quickly. - PoorYorick, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Don't we all live in 90210?
- fak3r, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's sick, and if people complain they'll likely off a "one time 10% off your current order!" offer. People will happily give up their info for a few bucks off anything. The fact that they want ethnicity and religious details? Hmm...what's wrong with this picture? If I was going to give it away I would be honest and say white/angnostic, but I'm sure that'd set off some bells. Wonder what the 'shopping advisor' would come back with?
On a related note, my dad who I don't think has every shopped online now has someone out of state trying to get a loan in his name. Problem is likely the old drivers' license numbers they used; it included your social! Talk about things ready to be abused, and I think this idea of Amazon to get a 'leg up' on the competition by knowing their shoppers better is going to backfire, we're not that naive (or stupid?) anymore.... - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1mbabauer,
Wow...you're either an idiot or a bigot. How could you tell someone is black or jewish or gay from their purchases? "Gee...looking at this pattern I'd guess we have an Asian Lesbian Mormon". Right. - MechaFenris, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's not so much that people want to know so much about us, it's the methods by which they intend to get these things that has me pissed off. If I don't want them to know, well by God, they aren't going to know. If I have to avoid using sites that glean such information, or stores that require such to shop there... well, I'll shop elsewhere. Too many people are complacent about their information, even the simple demographic stuff, simply because they don't think about the implications down the road.
Do I care if they market things correctly to me? No. I'm not a number. I'm not a statistic. I'm a person. And when companies boil you down to a stat or a blip on the radar, you no longer amount to much in their eyes. This information will not help them make better products, safer products, or more affordable products. No, this is simply a money-making opportunity for them, and they aren't about to pass it up. They can kiss my ass, frankly. They make enough money off me by product sales. I refuse to participate in a "grand experiment" where everyone is marginalized, categorized, and minimized... Ever see the TV show, "The Prisoner"? When you're a number, you're not free.
Why should I be a lab rat so CEO X can buy another giant home or yacht or small island? Customers are no longer the focus of business... and boy it shows. Forget the tinfoil hat information for the moment and simply look at the practicality of it. They're turning you into a thing... a commodity. Why would you NOT give two *****? - dron55, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i don't really care since i either wouldn't give them the info or give false info.
- dblood, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2The only benifit I have ever seen from a store asking for a phone number is Circuit City. They keep all your purchases on file so you don't have to keep the reciept. Maybe a lot of you have no problems keeping your reciepts, but I throw mine away as quickly as possible. As far as marketing materials sent to my address or phone calls from them, I haven't gotten either. I have moved several times, once out of the country without a forwarding address so they may have tried.
Anyway it is nice to know they have a record of the overpriced service plan I purchased for my video card that may just happen to go out before the warrenty expires. Outside of the service plans and large items you don't know if you really want (That large plasma may not match your 60's couch) I don't see a need for giving them my number. - mzhao, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This is similar to MySpace, except that in MySpace people give out their personal information voluntarily so that it can be shared.
Tell me again, who would want their personal information shared with everyone who happens to stumble upon their name? - heavyd14, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1You realize you have the right to not give them this information, right? If they refuse to sell to you, you have the right to take your business elsewhere.
- EyeoftheMind, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1There's an easy way to combat this:
DON'T GIVE AWAY INFO THAT YOU WOULDN'T MIND FOR AMAZON TO SHARE! - heavyd14, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If I have to give a phone number, I use my Dorm's number because it isn't hooked up ( I have a cell) and it saves some confusion cause its a local number.
- mike503, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0if anyone thinks this is anything new, you've been living in a cave. all companies collect as much information as they can get.
personally i could give two ***** if anyone knows my religion, income, sexual orientation, etc. to make better product decisions.
how many of you have already ordered from amazon? you don't think they already have your name, address, probably a decent amount of browsing history, etc? really, who gives a rip?
buried for being more overzealous conspiracy *****. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -7/+7...so I get dugg down now just because I don't care what information people have about me?
- Acrion, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I understand how this benefits publishers, directors and writers to know exactly who their product caters most to. I know that I wonder that about the software I produce. I know that it is mostly used by women but other than that, I have no clue even what country they are from.
The only downside is that it will likely be person-identifiable and leakable. This information would be worth a lot of money. More than their current name/address database anyway. It would provide a lot or people with the ability to look up a name and know a lot... too much, in my opinion. - Odweaver, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3Article is speculation, as stated in the article amazon.com has no intention of implimenting a database such as this.
- millixaw, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"Why are people so willing to give out their personal information?"
I don't know... ask the millions of people who use MySpace. - shmooth, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"but it's unknown how many copies of the sensitive information were made."
so much for the mass media doing some fact-checking. they know how many times it's been downloaded - a bazillion times, but the major local corporate newspaper is not going to rip one of its biggest partners in crime. - op12, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Agreed. I don't know how the summary says they are developing a system when the article that is linked has a quote from Amazon that states the exact opposite.
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