lemmy - Link to source

“Has No Friends”: Amazon Is Keeping Amazingly Detailed Records on Its Customers and They Are Downright Insulting: Here's how to check yours.

"Has No Friends": Amazon Is Keeping Amazingly Detailed Records on Its Customers and They Are Downright Insulting

Customers are discovering the dossiers that Amazon is building on their shopping habits, and what they find is downright insulting.
Frank Landymore (Futurism)
#technology
in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

eicker

Amazon has spent years turning customer surveillance into a business model, and now we discover it apparently keeps detailed records while insulting the very people funding its empire. Nothing says customer obsession quite like treating customers as data mines and punchlines. Bezos built a trillion dollar machine that knows your shopping habits but apparently never learned basic respect.
in reply to paranoid
lemmy - Link to source

AliasVortex

I think my favorite was "Systematically building electronics component inventory", but pretty much the same, mostly just my brand preferences and the stuff I tend to buy.

I'm also really deliberate in how I shop Amazon though: sift through my options in a private window and once I narrow down to what I want, copy the link, remove the tracking garbage, open it in my regular window, add it to my cart, rinse and repeat. It's probably a paper shield at best, but good to know it helps curb the "[spends an inordinate amount of time comparing items, two thirds of which are also available on Ali Express]" inference.

in reply to TAG
lemmy - Link to source

AA5B

It has to be looking for trends, rather than one-offs, otherwise the list would be endless for some of us.

The one I find interesting is “prefers premium shampoo brands”. My first thought was: what? But I buy “salon size” so I don’t have to buy frequently, and my kids apparently like nice stuff, so technically true but may not mean what they think it does

in reply to OwOarchist
lemmy - Link to source

ch00f

If you’re curious what kind of haphazard observations Amazon is keeping on you, you can pull up the page by clicking on the “Account” link under the Account & Lists drop down menu. Scroll to the bottom of the page you land on and click a small link that says “manage your information” and there you have it. On mobile, you click on the profile account icon on the bottom bar, hit “Account,” then “Shopping preferences,” and then “About you.”


It doesn't tell you. You have to read the words.

in reply to OwOarchist
lemmy - Link to source

YoFrodo

It does

If you’re curious what kind of haphazard observations Amazon is keeping on you, you can pull up the page by clicking on the “Account” link under the Account & Lists drop down menu. Scroll to the bottom of the page you land on and click a small link that says “manage your information” and there you have it. On mobile, you click on the profile account icon on the bottom bar, hit “Account,” then “Shopping preferences,” and then “About you.”
in reply to OwOarchist
lemmy - Link to source

AliasVortex

It's sort of buried in the middle:

If you’re curious what kind of haphazard observations Amazon is keeping on you, you can pull up the page by clicking on the “Account” link under the Account & Lists drop down menu. Scroll to the bottom of the page you land on and click a small link that says “manage your information” and there you have it. On mobile, you click on the profile account icon on the bottom bar, hit “Account,” then “Shopping preferences,” and then “About you.”
in reply to Armand1
lemmy - Link to source

sorter_plainview

I selected the request to get advertisement related. Theb they sent a freaking email with a confirmation link. I decided to go through.

After selecting that, they say something like, "it should be completed in a month, but it can take more time because of high request volumes."

Yeah a database query is going to take a month.

Esta entrada fue editada (anteayer, 5:39)
in reply to sorter_plainview
lemmy - Link to source

Armand1

I've done data requests to Google to get all my YouTube and Google photos data in the past. Both took less than a few days, despite the latter covering over 100GB of data.

The former I did so I could get all my subscriptions into a third party client, the latter was so I could easily get all my photos with their metadata into an alternative hosting platform. These data request tools can be useful.

in reply to Armand1
lemmy - Link to source

raspirate

I was able to find it by following the mobile app instructions. Mine was pretty boring. It had stuff like "Likely lives in (city where I ship my orders)" and "Likely favors (brand of thing that I've bought multiple times)". I guess the most invasive thing is that it guessed I live alone, or rather that I "likely has one adult."
in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

PineRune

Looking through the info they have on me, it seems entirely made up of information regarding past purchases and shipping locations. It mentioned having 2 people at my address, but said other person has an account linked to mine and with the same shipping address, so it's all relatively shallow information. I didn't see any deep dive "HOW DID THEY GET THAT??" stuff that would otherwise be alarming.
in reply to Tanis Nikana
lemmy - Link to source

TAG

Amazon has no idea about my board game addiction because I don't typically buy games on Amazon. They have a reputation for selling low quality bootlegs as legit. Besides, I can often find a better price on comparison shopping sites like boardgameoracle.com/ or boardgameprices.com/

Board Game Oracle | Search and Compare Board Game Prices

Find and compare board game prices across the US. Search for board games, card games and tabletop games from over two dozen shops in United States. Browse the best daily sales, discounts, deals and prices.
Board Game Oracle
in reply to furry toaster
lemmy - Link to source

BrianTheeBiscuiteer

That's the hardest part of quitting. Looking for simple shit the top 10 search results are usually all Amazon. And after that the next 30 results are equally bad retailers. IDK how awful eBay is but that's where I often buy things from, and even then the product probably came from Amazon anyway.
in reply to hperrin
lemmy - Link to source

Krumm

Jeff Bezos understands it very well, it's why Amazon worked so well... It is us morons who are convinced that a trivial PURCHASED gift will make us happy. It won't and it doesn't it. I'm glad you all enjoy the cheap goods made by children in a sweat shop as a means of caring for your friends and family.
in reply to bruce965
lemmy - Link to source

thanksforallthefish

Mine has "Manage your information" in a very small font below the large About You, if you click on it you go to the correct page

If that doesn't work try this (amend link to appropriate domain if needed)

amazon.it/slc/hub?useAiMode=1

Accedi

www.amazon.it
Esta entrada fue editada (anteayer, 8:17)
in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

betanumerus

To find such information for ourselves, the link says "you can pull up the page by clicking on the “Account” link".
- But there is no such “Account” link when I look, only a "Your Account" link and the difference matters.

under the Account & Lists drop down menu.
- yes I have "Account & Lists" option.

Scroll to the bottom of the page you land on and click a small link that says “manage your information” and there you have it."
- no such “manage your information" for me.

That's why online software instructions are rarely useful, they most often mention options that are not availabel when I look for them. Possibly because things are updated too often.

in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

cardboardboxfort

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Jeff Bezos hosted Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to his private, invitation-only, weekend at a resort he rented out. Bezos had many close ties to Epstein. Bezos also had numerous private dinners with Epstein.

The photo is from a party where Ghislaine Maxwell hobnobbed with him but make no mistake they were close friends.

in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

aceshigh

If you’re curious what kind of haphazard observations Amazon is keeping on you, you can pull up the page by clicking on the “Account” link under the Account & Lists drop down menu. Scroll to the bottom of the page you land on and click a small link that says “manage your information” and there you have it. On mobile, you click on the profile account icon on the bottom bar, hit “Account,” then “Shopping preferences,” and then “About you.”
in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

AA5B

Am I the only one not insulted by “about you”? Or are you guys retrieving all your data?

I’ve been using Amazon for decades but more heavily since Covid: I expect it to know a lot about my purchases. “About you” lists only 32 items and every one of them is a true fact related to my shopping. It does not show any dossier agregation or outside data. Nothing about me personally

The biggest privacy issue is knowing what type of car I drive, but I volunteered that info because I was so frustrated with their “smart” search trying to sell me similar parts for other car types

As long as they’re only using my purchase history with them, only using facts and not selling it, I’m fine with that

in reply to AA5B
lemmy - Link to source

BigPotato

Right? Of all the things Amazon should know about me, how does it only know that I like to buy things I've bought off Amazon? Is it because I don't use an Alexa or have Fire tablets?

Like "invested in the Nintendo Switch." Yeah, of course they'd know that. There's no "is a dweeb" or "bought Catherine: Full Body" or anything fun like that. "Bought ND filters for a camera." The weirdest one claims I buy "high end" audio equipment when I bought one of their cheapest pre-amps.

in reply to Echo Dot
lemmy - Link to source

aceshigh

How they got that observation makes sense. There must be some assumptions about that then - like that perhaps I’m more tech savvy than most people (apparently 20% of people can do that), or perhaps I make more money than average and my prices should be higher. That’s probably it.
in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

hardcoreufo

Mine seemed horribly out of date. Had constantly buys liquid death, but I havent in years since they switched to stevia. Also got constantly upgrading PC storage, not in 2026. Everything else was has work shop, likes precision tools, has a fujifilm camera, has fender guitar, works on guitar, upgraded server rack, invested in raspberry pi ecosystem. Most of what would give them that data was from accessory purchases, as the big purchase was probably local (guitar, camera). None of those aside from guitar strings would have been bought in 2026.
in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

TrackenDaKracken

I haven't logged into my Amazon account in ten years, and this won't make me do it.

Learn the difference between need and want. Stop buying crap you don't need. And, never knowingly buy anything off Amazon.

Fuck Amazon, and Jeff Bezos. All excuses people make to willingly buy off that fucking site are bullshit.

in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

ipkpjersi

I find this thread kind of weird, how like, we have people practically saying Amazon is the best thing ever and then we have people saying Amazon is the most evil thing/company ever etc.

There's no in between, no nuance, nothing - it's either one or the other. I find that pretty interesting.

in reply to ipkpjersi
lemmy - Link to source

Lovable Sidekick

I find it interesting too. I think the absolutism and inflexibility we're seeing are consequences of the Information Age. With endless content available 24/7, people have become addicted to whatever feel-good chemistry they get out of wallowing in it. They maximize their consumption they've minimized the time and effort spent on each little scrap - take in just enough information to make an instant value judgement and scroll ahead, case closed. Thinking in absolutes reduces judgement to a simple mental swipe left/right. Uncertainty and rethinking are avoided by making all judgements final. Bad behavior is irredeemable.

Like any good delusion, this kind of absolutism is self-reinforcing. It says anyone who doesn't share it is complicit in evil. I don't see any way it's going to change.

in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

treesquid

It used none of my years of purchases before I canceled my Prime membership, and now only has stuff related to what I buy with the Amazon gift card my mom sends me every year. It really thinks I like power tools now. I mean, I do, but it has like 8 categories related to power tools now. "Likes power tools" "Maintains outdoor property actively" "likes established brands of power tools" "prefers electric outdoor equipment" "focus on outdoor maintenance"
in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

rumba

mine:
uses 915Mhz radios not related to helium mining interest
Likely prefers JoyServe for food storage containers
Electronics Components and Cables
RF and Antenna Equipment
Engages in RF and wireless communications
Works on electronics projects
Repairs household appliances
Consistently maintains robotic vacuum systems
Likely owns multiple iRobot Roomba vacuum systems
Likely prefers bulk purchasing for consumables
Increased electronics component purchasing
Values waterproof and durable outdoor equipment
Builds and maintains smart home systems
Likely has a comprehensive smart home automation system
Likely chooses Fisher Space Pen for writing instruments
Likely favors technical precision tools and components
Likely owns a Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE calculator

I own one Roomba, but as noted, it prefers bulk consumable purchases.
other than those and the food containers, there's not a lot of stuff on that list that I'm likely to buy.

I prob should have cross-posted to dull men's club

in reply to rumba
lemmy - Link to source

Thebeardedsinglemalt

I prob should have cross-posted to dull men’s club


Mine would be too boring for Dull Men's Club

Brands: Likely prefers Logitech peripherals
Departments: Novelty socks
Brands: Likely values cable management and organization
Interests & Hobbies: Likely builds and maintains custom computers
Departments: Computer Components

Departments: Hot sauces

Departments: Gaming Accessories

Home & Family: Likely has an outdoor space

Departments: Lawn and yard Care

Product Preferences: Shops from men's clothing departments

Departments: Emergency preparedness

Brands: Likes Anker for charging solutions

Home & Family: Likely has a garage

Interests & Hobbies: Plays video games

Product Preferences: Consistently repurchases favorite snack

Product Preferences: Prioritizes sweat managements products

Brands: Prefers SweatBlock for antiperspirant products

Product Preferences: Build home audio system over time

Departments: Home audio equipment

Product Preferences: Likely favors ergonomic computer peripherals

Esta entrada fue editada (ayer, 3:04)
in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

Jeffool

If this is as good as they get, they should be embarrassed about how much money they've spent on this stuff. Oh, I prefer the brand of product that I bought multiple times? Shocking!

I'm not surprised though. I bought a microwave through Amazon about a year ago. They showed me other microwaves for like a month after. So dumb.

in reply to eicker
lemmy - Link to source

Warl0k3

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This is the only thing that isn't "likely interested in electronics [because I buy some niche parts off amazon]" or "likely uses [brand of phone I have occasionally bought screen protectors for]"

Aaaaaand it's wrong! So, a little disappointed there. Was hoping for something super judgemental. Man though, it'd be interesting to see what this service would make of my lemmy profile...