[Am-info] Video System Tracks Customer Behavior

[Geoffrey]

Erick Andrews wrote:

> On Mon, 14 Jan 2002 11:58:25 -0500, Fred A. Miller wrote:
> 
> 
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>>Hash: SHA1
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>>This is intrusive, boys and girls.....a beginning of "NASTY" stuff to 
>>come!
>>
>>Fred
>>
>>Video System Tracks Customer Behavior
>>
>>With the wide array of clickstream data-analysis tools 
>>available today, online stores can tell who comes to their Web 
>>site, what products they look at, how long they stay, which 
>>promotions they respond to, what they buy, and how many
>>leave without making a purchase. Brick-and-mortar retailers, 
>>however, are largely limited to analyzing transaction data, 
>>leaving them in the dark when it comes to understanding their 
>>customers' shopping experience.
>>
>>
> <snip>
> 
> Like "cookies" and "buglets" from the Web.
> 
> Not only is it intrusive, it clearly shows that they either don't
> know how to offer help or are afraid to ask the customer what 
> he wants.


Because that's not their intent.  Companies don't want to help the 
customer.  These devices are intended to help the companies figure out 
how to better present their wares or track sales information.  It has 
nothing to do with helping the customer.  Customer service is dead 
folks.  Take your Kroger card.  You folks have Kroger grocery stores 
where you're planted?  Here's the deal, you can't get any merchandise at 
sale price unless you have your bar coded Kroger card.  How do you get 
it?  You fill out a form, giving them all your personal info.  It's not 
so you can get the sale price, it's so they know exactly EVERYTHING you 
buy, when and where.


--
Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric@3times25.net

"...the system (Microsoft passport) carries significant risks to users that
are not made adequately clear in the technical documentation available."
- David P. Kormann and Aviel D. Rubin, AT&T Labs - Research
- http://www.avirubin.com/passport.html