[fredysmama]

This was on the Yahoo! front page

So true, because the year I was supposed to start college my household received a college mailer. I don't even know what we bought that triggered it but no matter how much I really want those mailers it is really creepy.

[jgcobb]

As soon as I read that I thought of AFC! It really is wild that they can predict so much based on buying patterns.

[couponlaydee]

THAT is creepy! Interesting though.. Thanks for sharing!

[deneisetorres]

It gave me chills, but I was not surprised. A lot of companies, not just Target, are data-mining their customers purchasing habits. In my mind it is just a hair's breadth away from invasion of privacy. Spooky, but it's the reality of the times we live in.

[breaIam]

I actually dont find data mining creepy. I don't mind that I get those mailers...lawn mower to diaper coupons....all the stuff I would need to buy and use a q for it. A lot of other companies data mine...not just retailers.

What about an actuary? They sit in the basement of insurance companies predicting when people will die based on their claim history.... that is a little creepier imo.

[TJ_2008]

[AmandaDavenport]

I buy alot of cocoa butter, cotton balls and vitamins, but I am not pregnant, LOL. I don't know how they can profile someone on things they buy, but I will take the coupons.

I don't know how, but I got a huge baby magazine in the mail last week, I don't know how they got the whim to send that, but I usually pay with cash, but now knowing they profile what you buy I think I will start using my card more to get coupons sent.

[sassyonemn83]

I think they get this information from the census everyone fills out or those grocery surveys that come in the mail. I know we got this survey a few weeks back and they asked like 4-5 pages worth of questions. It was a lot to fill out

[Nictehaa]

This isn't about Target but I had to share. I was shopping at Walmart about a year ago and got a phone call from an out of country number (I looked it up later and it was India). The connection was so bad that I could barely hear. The guy said 'Good day ma'am, we noticed that you were shopping at Walmart today, and wanted to offer you a $500 gift card in exchange for you checking out the stores customer service'. He then proceeded to tell me that he simply needed my bank account # so they could deposit funds to cover the giftcard. It is the only time in my life that I have ever been paranoid about invasions of privacy. I was so creeped out that I left my cart and got the heck out of there! Lol

[dhwriter]

Originally Posted by Nictehaa

This isn't about Target but I had to share. I was shopping at Walmart about a year ago and got a phone call from an out of country number (I looked it up later and it was India). The connection was so bad that I could barely hear. The guy said 'Good day ma'am, we noticed that you were shopping at Walmart today, and wanted to offer you a $500 gift card in exchange for you checking out the stores customer service'. He then proceeded to tell me that he simply needed my bank account # so they could deposit funds to cover the giftcard. It is the only time in my life that I have ever been paranoid about invasions of privacy. I was so creeped out that I left my cart and got the heck out of there! Lol

I would have run out of the store too!

What kind of phone do you have? There's a big news story now about Google ignoring the privacy settings on certain types of phones and being able to track you wherever you are. I don't know how else the guy would have known you were in Walmart, if you hadn't already checked out--maybe he works for Google and got your location--or hacked in. I guess it's possible that it was a "lucky" coincidence.

[Jacksonsmommy]

Somehow my husband got on the coupon mailer list, LMAO. He NEVER shops at Target. When the first mailer came my jaw just dropped and he was like "whats the big deal".

[kholan]

Originally Posted by dhwriter

I would have run out of the store too!

What kind of phone do you have? There's a big news story now about Google ignoring the privacy settings on certain types of phones and being able to track you wherever you are. I don't know how else the guy would have known you were in Walmart, if you hadn't already checked out--maybe he works for Google and got your location--or hacked in. I guess it's possible that it was a "lucky" coincidence.

That's no coincidence. Thanks for the info about Google. Another way companies are data-mining are through children's apps for iPhone, Android, etc. The kid plays a game and on the other end they can tell where you are, who your contacts are, etc. It's kind of creepy but at the same time it's a genius marketing strategy.

[Robbo]

Originally Posted by breaIam

I actually dont find data mining creepy. I don't mind that I get those mailers...lawn mower to diaper coupons....all the stuff I would need to buy and use a q for it. A lot of other companies data mine...not just retailers.

I don't either... I just don't care It's not like they know it's ME personally, just one customer's shopping habits out of millions of customers. If my excessive cheese buying benefits me or the store in any way, by all means. Record every purchase...

My DH calls his Google phone his Google Stalk Me device. He said he hopes someone finds him interesting enough to follow him around and turned ON all of the stalking features I love that guy...

[nwfrugalista]

I shop at Target at least once a week (and always pay by debit card, just got a red card debit) so I don't doubt that they know my habits (I think the SM knows me too, we were chatting while he was walking the line before the doors opened on BF ).

I get most of the mailers, still get the baby ones even though DS is in kindergarten (but he has special needs, so he still wears pull ups at night and I stockpile wipes too).

My sis wasn't so happy when she started getting the baby mailers (after she bought a baby shower gift for someone at work) since she doesn't have any children, so their formula is not exactly perfected yet

[tilamuse]

Haha! I bought a ton of Curel a while ago and did get the baby mailer, even though we never buy baby stuff!

[Macchiatomom]

So, if someone registers for a baby shower would they start getting these mailers?

[dsaenz6]

Originally Posted by Macchiatomom

So, if someone registers for a baby shower would they start getting these mailers?

I've registered 3 times (3kids) and have yet to get any type of mailers from them other than when a new ST opened near my house.

[nwfrugalista]

Originally Posted by Macchiatomom

So, if someone registers for a baby shower would they start getting these mailers?

You would think so, since that is basically confirming that you are indeed pregnant and you are even supplying them with your due date! But it seems they trust their formula more !

[megbeachgirl]

Originally Posted by nwfrugalista

You would think so, since that is basically confirming that you are indeed pregnant and you are even supplying them with your due date! But it seems they trust their formula more !

I registered with them to and don't get any mailers at all with coupons how do I get those

[nmm8605]

i've signed up for the baby registry back in 2010 when my daughter was due 1/4/11. i have yet to receive any baby mailers in the mail. really dissappointed about that. I am excepting my second daughter in 13 weeks (due 6/2/2012) and I have already registered at target again since my mom and sister are going to throw me a diaper shower. at least they give you a nice goodie bag when you sign up for the registry. hoping to get lots of huggies!

[megbeachgirl]

Originally Posted by nmm8605

i've signed up for the baby registry back in 2010 when my daughter was due 1/4/11. i have yet to receive any baby mailers in the mail. really dissappointed about that. I am excepting my second daughter in 13 weeks (due 6/2/2012) and I have already registered at target again since my mom and sister are going to throw me a diaper shower. at least they give you a nice goodie bag when you sign up for the registry. hoping to get lots of huggies!

I didn't get that either uggggggghhhh now I am soooooooo mad. The only thing I got was a headache while I registered ( the scanner kept not scanning slash freezing every other second and would freeze up for several minutes finally it died so I had to finish up with a second scanner and it also messed up right before I finished. What kind of goodies do u receive in the bag? Is it from the store u sighn up when u sighn up or something they send I.n the mail? Wondering if I should ask corporate

[cmjones311]

What creeps me out is that I haven't bought anything that could even possibly be construed as "baby" something, but yet I've now gotten a baby catalog and a baby coupon mailer.

Now my roommate is giving me the side eye, thinking I'm pregnant!