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I remember being at Amazon in ‘98-99 when we referred to it as predictive ordering. This was in reference to the concept of providing just in time delivery of

I remember being at Amazon in ‘98-99 when we referred to it as predictive ordering. This was in reference to the concept of providing just in time delivery of commodity household consumables with the intent of customers voluntarily committing to indefinite duration deliveries for basic household needs, becoming more accurate over time with bigger comparative data sets, and able to proactively predict household consumable requirements. Toothpaste, toilet paper, soap, laundry detergent, etc. If I recall correctly, Amazon only had between 1 and 5 million customers at the time. Closer to the former than the latter. It never went anywhere that I’m aware of during my time and tangential involvement with it. I really don’t like the idea of behavioural psychology and economics being mashed up with AI and machine learning to maximise profit targeting me. It’s bad enough having to engage with and overcome aggressive human salespeople adept at deflecting objections. I don’t like being rude to people in the game of kabuki sales theatre. But I really don’t like the idea of a T1000 Sales Terminator bot that is 5 steps ahead of my objections and preying on my specific personality vulnerabilities. I’ve already got approx 100 Kindle book deals sitting unread.

AstralStorm 8y ago
At least when it's an actual robot you can destroy or vandalize it. With Amazon, even an advanced ad blocker is not a guarantee.
escherplex 8y ago
Seems it's also time for many to wake up to the reality that Amazon, et al, aren't in the business because they love you but to sell you stuff at minimal corporate cost and thereby maximize stockholder equity. If visiting the Amazon site to purchase specific items or just data mine for some project ideas then enter with the mindset that attempts will be made to manipulate you. If presented with superfluous recommendations interwoven into your searches and 'wanna buy?' prompts, a simple practical solution is NO.
tareqak 8y ago
Reading your second last sentence made something click for me: potential customers in the market are being exploited in more than one meaning of the word. From https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/exploit https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/exploit verb [with object] Pronunciation /ɪkˈsplɔɪt//ɛkˈsplɔɪt/ 1. Make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource) ‘500 companies sprang up to exploit this new technology’ 2. Make use of (a situation) in a way considered unfair or underhand. ‘the company was exploiting a legal loophole’ 2.1 Benefit unfairly from the work of (someone), typically by overworking or underpaying them. ‘these workers are at particular risk of being exploited in the workplace’ noun Pronunciation /ˈɛksplɔɪt/ 1. A bold or daring feat. ‘despite a series of colourful exploits, his agents obtained little intelligence of value’ 2. A software tool designed to take advantage of a flaw in a computer system, typically for malicious purposes such as installing malware. ‘if someone you don't know tweets you a link, it's either spam, an exploit, or probably both’
skybrian 8y ago
It's easy to save a Kindle book for later by downloading a sample. I never buy a Kindle book without reading to the end of the sample first. This beats any savings you would get from deals.
- chriselles 8y ago
  I am the same. I always check out the preview/sample first. Then I buy them. Then it sits in my reading queue. I purchase books at 10x the rate I can realistically read them. Now I have a physical library(virtually my entire home) and a virtual. Someday I’m going to learn guitar as well as read my entire library.

AstralStorm 8y ago

At least when it's an actual robot you can destroy or vandalize it. With Amazon, even an advanced ad blocker is not a guarantee.

escherplex 8y ago

Seems it's also time for many to wake up to the reality that Amazon, et al, aren't in the business because they love you but to sell you stuff at minimal corporate cost and thereby maximize stockholder equity. If visiting the Amazon site to purchase specific items or just data mine for some project ideas then enter with the mindset that attempts will be made to manipulate you. If presented with superfluous recommendations interwoven into your searches and 'wanna buy?' prompts, a simple practical solution is NO.

tareqak 8y ago

Reading your second last sentence made something click for me: potential customers in the market are being exploited in more than one meaning of the word. From https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/exploit https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/exploit verb [with object] Pronunciation /ɪkˈsplɔɪt//ɛkˈsplɔɪt/ 1. Make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource) ‘500 companies sprang up to exploit this new technology’ 2. Make use of (a situation) in a way considered unfair or underhand. ‘the company was exploiting a legal loophole’ 2.1 Benefit unfairly from the work of (someone), typically by overworking or underpaying them. ‘these workers are at particular risk of being exploited in the workplace’ noun Pronunciation /ˈɛksplɔɪt/ 1. A bold or daring feat. ‘despite a series of colourful exploits, his agents obtained little intelligence of value’ 2. A software tool designed to take advantage of a flaw in a computer system, typically for malicious purposes such as installing malware. ‘if someone you don't know tweets you a link, it's either spam, an exploit, or probably both’

skybrian 8y ago

It's easy to save a Kindle book for later by downloading a sample. I never buy a Kindle book without reading to the end of the sample first. This beats any savings you would get from deals.

chriselles 8y ago
I am the same. I always check out the preview/sample first. Then I buy them. Then it sits in my reading queue. I purchase books at 10x the rate I can realistically read them. Now I have a physical library(virtually my entire home) and a virtual. Someday I’m going to learn guitar as well as read my entire library.