WAY OFF: Insidious business practices

[Paul Mather]

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001, Jon Jarrett wrote:

=> On Wed, 28 Mar 2001, Paul Mather wrote:
=>
=> > Incidentally, haven't you realised that WWW sites have been doing this
=> > for ages (assuming you have cookies enabled)?  It is becoming more
=> > prevalent as folks jump on the "personalisation" bandwagon.
=>
=>         Yes, but people can't bombard an IP address with commercial
=> junkmail. Well, they can, but unless you web-browse from your mail-
=> server it won't do them any good. I realise there are lots of problems
=> with cookie-tracking (and reasons for it too), but this at least is one it
=> doesn't have that your Reward cards or whatever do.

Okay, whilst we're on the subject of what "Reward cards" can and can't
do:

- They can't follow your every movement through the store, keeping a
  note of every aisle you walk up and down.
- They can't keep a record of every item you pick up or consider buying.
- They can't keep a note of how long you spend in certain areas of the
  store.
- They can't tailor the in-store ads depending upon where you've just
  been and where you've been in the past
- They can't physically re-model the store layout depending upon your
  past shopping profile.

...at least not yet. :-)

Given that many WWW sites will no longer work without cookies enabled
(and increasingly, many *require* you to register with them), I would
say WWW sites are far more intrusive on privacy that "Reward cards."

Unless I am missing something obvious, nothing compels a shopper to use
a "Reward card," or coupons, or any store money-saving incentive.  All
stores I know of can be shopped with or without "Reward cards," yet the
same is often not true of WWW sites.  As for junk mail, give a
fictitious address on the application if you don't want any.

The fact that DMVs have started selling photo ID data to private
organisations willing to pay the asking price irks me a lot more than
"Reward cards."  That, and the fact that Virginia Tech insists on
putting my SSN and date of birth on my student ID (I'm sure mother's
maiden name is next:)... :-(

Cheers,

Paul.

e-mail: paul at gromit.dlib.vt.edu

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