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Jim Koepke
05-27-2015, 12:06 PM
Target stores has what may be one of the better crime investigation laboratories in the nation?

They also use their abilities to track customers:


Target tracks everything customers do and records these activities into a database — so, if you're a Target customer, chances are you have a Target Guest ID number in their computer systems. Andrew Pole, a statistician for the company, explained the expansiveness of the program to the New York Times: "If you use a credit card or a coupon, or fill out a survey, or mail in a refund, or call the customer help line, or open an e-mail we've sent you or visit our Web site, we'll record it and link it to your Guest ID. We want to know everything we can." They use that data, in part, to customize coupons which are mailed out to would-be shoppers. But sometimes that backfires. As Forbes noted, the company's algorithm once determined that a high schooler was a mother-to-be, and, dutifully, sent her a coupons for baby clothes — which her father opened. A few days after receiving an irate phone call from the young woman's father, a customer service representative called back to apologize again, but the father ended up the one saying sorry: it turns out the algorithm was right. His daughter was pregnant but had not yet told him.

http://nowiknow.com/targeting-crime/

jtk

Kent A Bathurst
05-27-2015, 12:31 PM
Orwell knew a thing or two.............

Jim Koepke
05-27-2015, 2:22 PM
Orwell knew a thing or two.............

What wasn't included in the quote is their camera surveillance system links images of people to their guest ID.

Pick something up in the store and look at it, put it back on the shelf and in the next few days you may get a coupon for the item to entice you back to spend more money.

jtk

Mark Blatter
05-27-2015, 3:15 PM
What wasn't included in the quote is their camera surveillance system links images of people to their guest ID.

Pick something up in the store and look at it, put it back on the shelf and in the next few days you may get a coupon for the item to entice you back to spend more money.

jtk

Many retailers are already doing this, or are setting it up. They want to know everything about you, so are tracking everything you touch or stop to look at. Reminds me and more of Minority Report and 1984. Big Brother is watching, but half the time Big Brother isn't the government, but your local store. It would be 'fun' to set up a large group that on the same day, all went to their local Target / Walmart / HD and all spent five minutes looking at the exact same item. Some really innocuous thing like a broom or bottle of soap, etc. With a large enough crowd, you could skew the Big Data enough to make things interesting.

Judson Green
05-27-2015, 5:24 PM
they might think it was a movement

Jerry Thompson
05-27-2015, 7:46 PM
Yes Judson it is a "Movement.":)

Julie Moriarty
05-27-2015, 8:35 PM
Orwell knew a thing or two.............

The NSA has him on staff.

Kent A Bathurst
05-27-2015, 9:22 PM
The NSA has him on staff.

Backwards, Julie, my dear - -

He has the NSA on staff.