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I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not..... Wedding rings have an EXTREMELY high margin, and almost infinite budget for advertising. If you google ring

I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not..... Wedding rings have an EXTREMELY high margin, and almost infinite budget for advertising. If you google rings once, you will continue seeings ads for YEARS, regardless of any conversations you have. Honestly if Facebook knows you are in a relationship for 3+ years and you are under 35, you are going to start seeing ads for engagement rings even without searching for anything. If you really think they are getting you through the microphone, start talking to your phone without anyone around, while browsing Facebook about Baby Diapers, Baby Formula, and Baby Toys. Don't search for anything baby related, and obviously use something else if you are a Father already.

giancarlostoro 9y ago
I'm mostly being a bit over dramatic about it, but I did suspect my mic being snooped on when it did happen, could you blame me / anyone? Hence this article was written. It's very reasonably a coincidence considering how often I would search for rings, but creepy nonetheless. Hadn't seen those ads prior to starting on my search though. My favorite is when you finally buy something and they still show you ads. Like a coworker mentioned, if I buy a refrigerator I don't need another one... I have one house! Come on! Maybe they do it in case you change your mind? Who knows how these ad companies think.
- ghostbrainalpha 9y ago
  They keep showing you ads for the fridge because they don't know you have purchased the fridge. The only way for them to know you have purchased a product is if you buy it online and get hit with the confirmation tracking pixel on the checkout page. Most people see ads for a fridge, but then go into a physical store to make and finance the large purchase.
  - JoeAltmaier 9y ago
    Oh no, that doesn't matter. I can search for something a buy it online, and be pestered with ads for the same product for days. The ad-placement folks have technology and patents and millions tied up in all that. And what do they come up with? "Show ads for what they just bought"
    - ghostbrainalpha 9y ago
      Its more complicated than that. You are probably included in separate funnels that can't communicate. The "fridge store" is doing a pixel based retargeting list, which is easy to take you off when the purchase is made. But they also might have a list of 'customers likely to purchase a fridge' from Google searches that you are being served ads to as well. You might be on a 'look-a-like' list from Facebook, because people in your demographic tend to buy new fridges. You could be removed from that list if Google shared the IP addresses of everyone on their list, but at a serious cost to your privacy. These walled gardens are ultimately good, but result in a ton of advertising inefficacy. I know its annoying but the advertisers are smart enough... we don't actually want them getting any better than they are now.
      - JoeAltmaier 9y ago
        I don't buy it at all. I buy a fridge; the next time I'm on a browser, its fridge ads all the way. No way it isn't 1:1.

giancarlostoro 9y ago

I'm mostly being a bit over dramatic about it, but I did suspect my mic being snooped on when it did happen, could you blame me / anyone? Hence this article was written. It's very reasonably a coincidence considering how often I would search for rings, but creepy nonetheless. Hadn't seen those ads prior to starting on my search though. My favorite is when you finally buy something and they still show you ads. Like a coworker mentioned, if I buy a refrigerator I don't need another one... I have one house! Come on! Maybe they do it in case you change your mind? Who knows how these ad companies think.

ghostbrainalpha 9y ago
They keep showing you ads for the fridge because they don't know you have purchased the fridge. The only way for them to know you have purchased a product is if you buy it online and get hit with the confirmation tracking pixel on the checkout page. Most people see ads for a fridge, but then go into a physical store to make and finance the large purchase.
- JoeAltmaier 9y ago
  Oh no, that doesn't matter. I can search for something a buy it online, and be pestered with ads for the same product for days. The ad-placement folks have technology and patents and millions tied up in all that. And what do they come up with? "Show ads for what they just bought"
  - ghostbrainalpha 9y ago
    Its more complicated than that. You are probably included in separate funnels that can't communicate. The "fridge store" is doing a pixel based retargeting list, which is easy to take you off when the purchase is made. But they also might have a list of 'customers likely to purchase a fridge' from Google searches that you are being served ads to as well. You might be on a 'look-a-like' list from Facebook, because people in your demographic tend to buy new fridges. You could be removed from that list if Google shared the IP addresses of everyone on their list, but at a serious cost to your privacy. These walled gardens are ultimately good, but result in a ton of advertising inefficacy. I know its annoying but the advertisers are smart enough... we don't actually want them getting any better than they are now.
    - JoeAltmaier 9y ago
      I don't buy it at all. I buy a fridge; the next time I'm on a browser, its fridge ads all the way. No way it isn't 1:1.