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Atman

(31,464 posts)
7. It's not creepy, per se...just marketing.
Fri Feb 17, 2012, 01:26 PM
Feb 2012

I was in on one of these firms from the very beginning, when stores used to ask for your phone number. Using that, they did the same kind of stuff Target is doing now. But it's become much more sophisticated, especially with the advent of super powerful computers and such. Target isn't doing anything but looking at what is being purchased and discerning patterns. Some people actually like the coupons and offers. If you don't want your purchases tracked and data-mined, pay in cash and don't give the cashier any personal information. There are ways to opt out. Anyone in this day and age who is surprised that this stuff is going on simply hasn't been paying attention.

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This Target data mining and advertising ohheckyeah Feb 2012 #1
They are data mining the information they collected.. snooper2 Feb 2012 #3
That doesn't make it any less creepy. Brigid Feb 2012 #5
That's why everybody says to pay with cash- snooper2 Feb 2012 #6
Or at least a few prepaid debit cards with fake names :) n/t arcane1 Feb 2012 #11
I didn't say it was illegal or nobody else does it. ohheckyeah Feb 2012 #16
Was this guy creepy too? jberryhill Feb 2012 #4
Good point... redqueen Feb 2012 #13
It's not creepy, per se...just marketing. Atman Feb 2012 #7
I mentioned this on another thread RZM Feb 2012 #9
Pay cash and they have no way of knowing who you are. n/t Fla Dem Feb 2012 #10
A story I remember from 20 years or so ago ... zbdent Feb 2012 #2
It's a little creepy, but I get a big laugh when I buy baby food for my cats MH1 Feb 2012 #8
ahahahaha MadrasT Feb 2012 #26
My aunt always bought baby food for her beloved Siamese cat. Rhiannon12866 Feb 2012 #33
Simple cure to data mining-pay cash. hobbit709 Feb 2012 #12
It won't be completely effective jmowreader Feb 2012 #21
But they won't be ads tailored to you specifically. hobbit709 Feb 2012 #25
I actually LIKE tailored ads jmowreader Feb 2012 #27
95% of my mail never gets past the recycling can on my way back into the house. hobbit709 Feb 2012 #30
Can you fix the link? tammywammy Feb 2012 #14
sorry. Should be fixed n/t n2doc Feb 2012 #17
cotton balls? n/t orleans Feb 2012 #15
Another reason, besides saving car trips, to shop for friends saras Feb 2012 #18
I fail to see what Target did wrong joeglow3 Feb 2012 #19
Pay cash. When they ask for your zip code, say 90210. Thwart the basstids. nt MADem Feb 2012 #20
If you really want to fuck with them, buy baby food and rat poison Major Nikon Feb 2012 #22
Aaagh! nt MADem Feb 2012 #23
thanks for this information, it's helpful HeiressofBickworth Feb 2012 #24
I'd do it, better safe than sorry. Lunacee2012 Feb 2012 #29
I'd get to the bottom of it. Iris Feb 2012 #31
Wow, that's really creepy! Lunacee2012 Feb 2012 #28
Guess what? Politicians (particularly the GOP and Rove's and the Koch's various PACS) . . . ProfessionalLeftist Feb 2012 #32
I ordered Pizza Hut online an hour ago and got on DU now...guess what I find joeglow3 Feb 2012 #34
That you should have got on an hour ago...before you ordered the pizza? jmowreader Feb 2012 #35
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