“Has No Friends”: Amazon Is Keeping Amazingly Detailed Records on Its Customers and They Are Downright Insulting: Here's how to check yours.
4 days ago by eicker to c/technology
Dude, there are so many places online you can get free insults from, I mean you are already here so why not post about the Ukraine war on lemmy.ml or mistake Star Trek for Star Wars or something.
mistake Star Trek for Star Wars or something.
One's got space magicians and the others got space wizards
This is funny.
As an avid fan of both, I'm not sure which is supposed to be which. Star Trek has all the pazzaz of a magician, psuedo science and technobable explainations. But it also has characters who are literally magical. Meanwhile, Star Wars has old people in secret societies performing rituals in robes - all very wizardly. However, in universe, their "magic" is very well understood, continuously studied, is testable, and even reproducable. They use their well established abilities to trick people, and that's very magician.
mistake Star Trek for Star Wars
There is a difference?
waits for the incoming storm
Yeah mine was super bland too which surprised me given I've bought stuff off them for 15 years or so. Really only references last couple of years.
I'm sus that they may have closed the exposure that is being reported
might wanna get checked for lactose intolerance then
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.
Systematically building electronics component inventory
Possible goal: self-hosting, possibly webshop. Possible future competition.
Concussion: nip in the bud.
Action: sending black ops team…
I was impressed by how many categories I made about cheese.
It thinks I really, really like Japanese curry.
And it's goddamn right.
It was a boring dud for me, just that I prefer grey ELEGOO filament for my 3D printer.
I don't buy much on Amazon, but it should be more than just filament. No notes about headphone choice or random one-of items I have bought?
I’ve bought sooo many sex toys on Amazon, they definitely didn’t engage with that part of my uhhh “legacy.”
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
I’m a professional carpenter. I buy a fair amount of tools on Amazon. But I don’t have a home workshop, I just use this stuff at work. I live in a tiny apartment haha. I just think it’s funny that amazon thinks this is all a hobby for me.
My first item "uses Linux"... But does it know I use arch btw?
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.
Make sure to add this note to your files about Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.
People discovering their apps watch them.
Amazon is definitely going to plug that hole.
Yeah they have removed it - between when I looked at it on my phone this morning while procrastinating about getting out of bed and now it has been removed from the UK website - the below link still works (modified to .uk)
Either that or they "haven't collected any data on me yet... "
The "manage your information" section doesn't exist where I'm at.
(Yes, I did a text search)
Instead, we have "request your data" which likely would give you complete files of all data they have on you. I'm not going to crawl through that right now.
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.
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.
Facebook took about 2 months back then for me, but this was shortly after the GDPR was enacted.
Issue is probably not the database query, but that it is a bunch of databases, and that they are not willing to assign more than a skeleton crew to these things, because they only cost them money and they wouldn't do it if it were possible to deny it at all.
It took reddit a month (to the day IIRC) to send me my data as well (like everything I'd ever written on the site) when I requested all my info just before I left. Must be some law that says a month in it somewhere.
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."
Oh that’s it. I did not see it as described in original article.
Mine shows nothing wildly wrong or insulting(which I was hoping to see). It knows I grill, fix household stuff, (“Systematically maintains homes systems”) thinks I have a singular child (I have many), that I am “invested in the Apple ecosystem), what brand of car I drive and that I have a GE stovetop. Alll things I have bought items for off Amazon.
Honestly I expected to see a lot more.
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.
This definitely seems to be US-based at the moment. The relevant page doesn't exist on the Australian site, but if I log into the Amazon US site, it is there (albeit blank in my case, which is interesting).
It's in the UK version. On iPhone: You --> Account (along the top) --> Your Shopping preferences (under Personalization) --> About You (at the bottom).
I live in the UK and used the UK web version, it has nothing. Maybe because I have almost entirely stopped using Amazon?
- Side bar --> You Account (see all)
- Scroll down to Account Settings --> Shopping Preferences
It was pretty accurate about my interests which I saw no problem with ("prefers reliable open source ecosystems"), but took issue with it guessing the size of my family, so I updated it to say that I live in an underground bunker with 10 others in a polycule.
I also updated my halloween decoration preferences to suggest I fight crime at night
Can't wait to see what my next searches are like 👀
I found it on the UK web version but I had to use the browser's search function to find it on the page.
It had nothing, which I'm hoping because I've previously opted out of analytics?
For me, it was directly under account, there was an about you tab a few options below shopping preferences.
It says that I have an 11-year old child. Unless you count household pets, there ain't no such thing.
Also, it knows about two out of eight RAM sticks that I bought from Ebay. It mentions other AI assistants learned about me, and asked if I wanted to share. I think assistants from other websites are already sharing.
...ah. I used someone else's PC and account to ask Google questions about my computer build. My personal Amazon account is under the Prime account of that person.
It's also not in the app when logged into the Brazilian store, the American one has it though.
These are pulled from the item descriptions. OP probably bought something 'for flat butts' and boom it goes in their preferences.
Mine is literally just all things I bought from amazon. So yeah.
It thinks I'm married with two kids, because well, I buy lots of toys and things for women for the holidays... well yeah because I have nephews/nieces and two sisters... so of course I buy things for kid and women regularly as gifts.
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.
Seems to be a US-thing. I see the preferences, but they're all empty.
So the question is, is the data not collected on you, or is it not presented to you?
The second interpretation seems more likely given the context.
It might depend on which country you're in as to what they're allowed to actually collect. Personally I suspect that they'd have built a profile on me, but they just haven't rolled this out to Australia yet.
Since we can still request data
Its definitely the latter
Same for me.
Must be an American thing where no rules for corporations exist. Nothing on my swedish version.
Be glad. Otherwise the Amazon suggestions probably:
Well this is embarassing. How did you find my search history but amazon wouldnt show me?
Same. I was hoping for some GlaDOS burns!
I logged into my old US account. It didn't have anythin on me, but did have this:
LOL. Fuck no.
Yeah mine is the same. Plan to keep it that way. I don't know how it got that way, probably saw an article like "opt out of all these AI features" and then did all of them without even thinking.
You know who has no friends?
Douchebag Jeff Bezos. That's who.
Everyone fucking hates you dude.
It also claimed someone kept a “seasonal rotation of decorative goose outfits,”
Now I'm interested
That reminds me that I need to get some new seasonal outfits for MY decorative goose...
This whole thread is just astroturfing for big seasonal goose and you fell right into their trap!
And here I was looking to dress my goose in decorative outfits..
Amusingly mine had probably lives at [previous suburb] and an item for relocation stuff but they should know my current address...they ship to it regularly
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.
Edit: I should add that I don't own or use any of their Alexa products or any related technology. Those might spy on people a little more thoroughly.
i dont realky have other options for ecommerce
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.
ebay is filled with people that care about their reputation score, and alot are doing amazon or walmart or wherever dropshipping triage. Basically using gimmicks and other loopholes to sell from one place on ebay as their own and just fill in the address of the ebay shopper. The shops dont want to deal with returns so they will usually find the best items with the best price with the lowest return rates and have impeccable service.
i did this for a few months and made some money, i just hated dealing with customers and the margins some of these guys work on i think they were compiling it with CC points or some other compounding offer.
I still like ebay just pay attention to reputation and make sure you click free returns in the search
ebay is effectively unusable where I live, 0 local adoption, which means everyrhing is shipped overseas, which means crazy fucking shipping fees
Oh, everyone look how cool and unique this guy is!
Nope, never wanted to support them. The other 2 in my house? Constant deliveries
Just about.
There is no "about you" option on the Canadian version 🤔
This should shock no one and if anything the shocking thing is transparency (though that is likely a ploy as I guarantee based on these articles plenty of people will go view it to correct the record, giving Amazon a great source of refinement for ad tracking)
Literally every major website (and basically every website that run JavaScript for that matter) tracks and profiles you. Your tv does the same, as does your phone and almost all the apps on it, etc. and the profiling they don’t show you definitely exists: race, political affiliation/leaning, income estimates, address, educational level, health issues, etc
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.
Yeah, I don't buy off them, but I did check, there's nothing there on me.
It is amazing,the difference between want and need. I quit them cold turkey, thought it would be hard, but turns out, no. Not really, they had nothing I had to have. I save money, and prevent waste. And avoid supporting Amazon.
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.
Yeah, the instructions from the website didn't work. I had to hover over Account & Lists, then click on Shopping Preferences, then scroll down to click on Manage Your Information under About You.
Mine said they didn't have any info on me, since I haven't shopped there since 1998.
I found it in here
Maintains personal grooming routines
OMG, how embarrassing!
(inside)
Well thanks for putting that hilarious image in my head of what (outside) looks like!
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.
My naive/ innocent assumption would be that if you happened to purchase mechanical keyboard supplies you might be interested in blank key caps since you don't need the glyphs.
If you have a webcam, is it possible they had some kind of software watching your eyes while you were typing? Or am I just being paranoid now
It can be set not to turn on the light. Had an incident on an HP workstation where it said camera was off but it was broadcasting. Had to do some command line low level stuff to set the state of it to actually off. LED came on and off when toggle for web calls, but turning the camera off wasn't actually doing that.
Speed of typing, time between clicking on the search bar and beginning to type, and how fast you correct typos since that requires you to be looking at the text while typing. Maybe also some theory-free inference if they're handing your browsing activity to ai, which they probably are. I'm not sure what else, but a lot of storefront time is typing, so they'd be able to build a lot of confidence about what your typing method is. It's one of the few things they could learn by directly observing your actions rather than browsing history.
I found it in the location the article said. I had to enter from the browser in "desktop mode" with my phone, but the section was empty
How did they know I like anime and tech? Couldn't have been all the body pillows and hardware?
"About you: We haven't saved anything yet."
As it should be.
Ok it's not just me then.
Either it is hidden from Canadians or the two of us are profoundly uninteresting.
I tracked down the shopping preferences area but it was blank, I don't tell them about me, I don't buy clothes from them so they don't know my size, in don't buy pet things so they don't know my pets info.
I buy random things a few times a year if they aren't available locally.
Me too, but I'm also profoundly uninteresting.
I’m in the USA and don’t see it. Thiugh there is some ither thing to “Request Your Data” which says it “should not take more than a month”
I was sort of unimpressed with mine. It was all variations of:
-Likely lives in
-Likely owns
And then for some reason it thinks I own a Dodge Ram. I have four vehicles saved to my account. None of them are a Dodge Ram.
Where did you find it?
I found it using my phone’s browser and I can’t remember how different the mobile page and desktop page are, so YMMV, but:
I clicked my name and a menu popped up. On that menu under “Your Account” I clicked “See all options” and it took me to a page that had “Hello” in the upper left, and beneath that a link that said “About You”, which took me to the page with that stuff.
Yeah, mine was what anyone could glean looking at my purchase history.
Ok
I use one-off email addresses for each company, and I use Firefox with containers so even if they get passed Firefox and high tracking they will only ever see other Amazon page hits.
I have about 50 items on mime, all based on my shopping and browsing history. No problems here
Lol I have "invested in the Apple ecosystem". I've never bought an Apple product my whole life but ok.
It's not insulting. It's just the first time you see the truth.
Doesn't enjoy shopping with: Amazon
I looked and it said I’m a photographer and likely to buy board games.
Fuckin’ nailed it.
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 https://www.boardgameoracle.com/ or https://boardgameprices.com/
I usually buy my stuff in person.
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
It probably depends on what state or country you live in. Mine was also boring and mostly factual.
mine didn't have anything fun either :(
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.
Is it because I don’t use an Alexa or have Fire tablets?
No. I have multiple Alexa’s, a fire stick, and used to have multiple Fire tablets. Maybe they actually follow through when you set preferences to not track
Mine is similar. I have several Alexas and a Fire tablet, too.
My data is mostly correct and based on my purchase history, with a couple of entries seeming to be inferences based on my history, and most of them are wrong (it thinks I have an infant under 1 year old; no idea why it thinks that). All my entries are pretty boring.
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.
I find it interesting too. I think the absolutism and inflexibility we're seeing are consequences of the Information Age. Endless content is available 24/7, and people have become addicted to whatever feel-good chemistry they get out of wallowing in it. They maximize their consumption by minimizing 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. Judgement is streamlined by thinking in absolutes - every issue just takes a simple 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.
"Amazon is actually just mid" would just be a strange take.
yeah like they're genuinely super evil but there's a reason so many people have prime subs. 30 minute delivery really is really fuckin handy in a lot of situations
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.
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
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
Is this only for Amazon US? I don't see anything similar for Amazon México.
"Please don't tell anyone how I live."
Mine is all about chickens, cats, and then a bunch of things listed as “extensive” indoor plant cultivation, climate control focus, food processing, etc.
Other than chickens and cats, it’s mostly a wishlist of hobbies I don’t actually have but have purchased supplies for through amazon, and then assumptions based on a couple brands I did buy (due to a friend getting the same, so we could intermingle the things, not because I liked it myself)
All in all, lol
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.
And her reaction, posting under her full name btw, is "Haha they're right"?
Some people deserve to have their identities stolen...
Yeah, mine was just wrong. It says "likely lives in name of vacation spot," even though I went there just twice this year and had some stuff shipped. The rest of the site knows my actual address but this "about me" section doesn't.
"Invests in waterproof bed protection"
adds "Successful Investor" to resumé
damn... they said I'm a virign with small dick. very insulting
Non issue. The crap I do buy there is defined perfectly. Nothing even remotely like my ass is flat. Sigh
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...
How did they ever get this groundbreaking information?!
ha! mine ain't got shit!
The moment that Amazon not only blocked my account from ordering after some payment hiccups, but also that of my girlfriend, who was living at a different place at the time, was the moment I disabled my Amazon account completely.
I at the time also had a look into what I could find in the settings about what they still stored about me:
They still had my detailed order history dating back to 1996, when I first used the service to buy books, giving a nice, very personal overview about what topics I had been interested in over the decades.
This has been in 2011 already, so unfortunately nothing new.
Weighs 398 lbs, that's all they got and it's wrong
How do you check this?
Huh, just a bunch of "Probably own.." and for some reason it thinks I own a Land Rover.. I do not own a Land Rover.. I didn't correct it.
Anyone know an alternative seller of bulk needles? I really want to get off Amazon and this just confirms it for me.
I use Amazon solely for ahem adult items. This will be interesting.
Where is this fucking page? I want to know where!
It's in the part that says "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.”'"
Here
It could be that it isn't there on the Canadian version?/
You guys didn't delete that crap yet?
I didn't see any summary. I just saw likes and dislikes. I share the account with my father. So it's kind of funny to see the likes and dislikes, because we are very different people.
After shopping a lot from them for 22 years now, what a letdown:
About you
We haven't saved anything yet. As you shop on Amazon or chat with Alexa, we'll save helpful information to personalize your experience.
Once we have saved some details, you can manage them here.
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"
Mine is basically just a list of products I have bought.
Likes backpacking
Yeah well I bought a full kit off Amazon so that tracks..
"Established spice collection building", What? The only thing I can think of that would contribute to this is I got Orange Blossom water once, and canisters for loose tea. I haven't even gotten a coffee or spice grinder, not even a pepper mill.
I removed one related to relatives and gave the reason as life event or loss, so now it will probably offer grief related books or some weird trick to buy more stuff lol! I should cancel it really.
I don't use Amazon more than maybe twice a year so all they say about me is the town I live in (duh, that's where they send my orders), that I buy men's clothes, and own a honda.
Mine only had that I like women's fashion. Update: we haven't saved anything of you yet.
Seems to be an american thing. Sadge. :(
Europ people are not in the same wagon.
I already call Bezos a bald pedo fucktard so it goes both ways.
Mine seems to think I'm super serious about indoor gardening
According to the screenshots, there should be an "About You" button at the bottom of this page, but personally I don't see it (I'm in the EU). https://www.amazon.it/slc/hub
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)
There is absolutely nothing (amazon.de). I am pretty anal about privacy settings so I do regularly go through them for a check up to make sure they don’t have anything of this sort. Good job, Pringles of the past!
"Has no friends", I'd be furious if it wasn't true...
I have to say, this was an accurate and non-offensive assent of my spending habits.
Of course, that was just what they felt comfortable sharing, I know I've made purchases through Amazon they could have called me out on.
Mine said I'm a pedophile. I'm very insulted. That's not the right word. I just look at all the feet products! Toe creases are the meaning of life, ok!
None of my accounts are linked. Amateurs.
Okay, I can say with 100% certainty that many of the data points they publish on me are details I packed into Amazon product reviews, as I participate in Amazon Vine.
I recognize the Expressions I used, and know the anecdotes I pulled from. I'm not saying it's the only source, but they have over 500 entries in the stack here that I'm looking at, as I'm deleting them one at a time I'm remembering what reviews they're associated with.
Since I noticed alexa was mentioned here is the firefox addon that removes it from amazon: https://addons.mozilla.org/...
We all are guilty in some way, because - let's say it all together:
"There is no ethical consumption under capitalism"
We all have to make choices where we invest our energy and money. Many people do not have the time to search for the "least worst" option for getting what they need, because this takes ages nowadays - researching every crappy thing every vendor or manufacturer has done and weighting them is hard work with a very small personal benefit, while often leading to larger expenses for the same products.
Also, dependent on where you live and what you need, some things are not available in brick&mortar stores in your area or at such a high markup that you'd rather decline to buy there if it isn't an emergency.
We also have the category of people who are physically dependent on delivery services.
I try to look for smaller and/or local vendors where possible for my needs, but there is a substantial amount of things that don't leave me with many choices, and those are then mostly Amazon, Temu, Shein and Aliexpress. All of them are garbage, but with Amazon i can at least be sure that returns are a non-issue, and it also doesn't take the goods months to arrive.
Many people do not have the time to search
“There is no ethical consumption under capitalism”
every day im more and more starting to believe this is a convenient excuse to get out of putting effort in
it’s a copy and paste to put that slogan out while the real work gets ignored because everyones just so busy these days (says the chronically online pc gamer)
or at such a high markup
welcome to the real cost when you don’t have slaves in china making your shit for you
amazing how quickly communists go straight back to capitalism when reality hits
I'm a socialist, not a communist. And yes, i am chronically online and a gamer. I am also on disability, which gives me the luxury to do as i said and try to buy local and from smaller vendors whenever in my financial power (which is pretty meager - my income is only a little bit over the living wage in this country). I also have the luxury of not wanting a lot of stuff in general outside of a few things i focus on, and having an very inexpensive living style. My last vacation is now close to 10 years back, and that was a 3-day-trip i won. I do not have a car, and my largest expense outside of simply living is my therapist and my cats. I rarely if ever get food delivered outside of getting a coupon which reduces the costs to an acceptable level, cook all my meals for myself and am even getting back into baking my own bread (which will be a part of how i will heat my living space this winter).
If you really want to make the most ethical buying decisions, you have to invest a fuckton of time researching both vendors and manufacturers, and practically make a table where you list +/- for every single one of them. Even if the manufacturer works ethically, this still does not mean you can acquire their goods through an ethical vendor. Your worldview is VERY black and white.
People working 2,3 jobs or having children do have a substantially smaller time budget for these things than me, and they have to decide to either go the route that is pretty cheap and saves them a lot of time (and i mean a lot - getting something from amazon, if you know what you need, is done in under one minute. compare that to finding a smaller, ethical vendor with comparable prices and then having to do the dance of creating a new account, depositing your data and payment info, confirming your email-address so you can finally order) or cutting back on something that might be more important.
And in a time where rising cost of living is eating the poorer part of society alive, paying 80% markup to support a B&M business might not even be an option. I know it isn't for me even for goddamn groceries these days. This development will eat B&M stores outside of the premium segment alive, and it is not the fault of the common people - It is the fault of the people who fuck with our world economy, the people who drive down wages and fire half their staff, and who hoard money and therefor remove it from circulation - the latter 2 also reduce tax volume in countries, making it harder for states to support their populace.
I logged into my amazon account. It's been 15 years or more since I used it. Here's what it has on me:
Here's how to check yours.
Look inside.
Article does not contain instructions on how to check yours.
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.
It's not available in every country
/u/zkfcfbzr@lemmy.world posted the link and that works.
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.”
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.”
I’m shocked that Amazon or any business would guess what I like based off my shipping history. SHOCKED!!!!!!
Edit: holy shit I gave this garbage a scan and bit I’m happy I did.
‘It contained, to her horror, a “page of assumptions that Amazon has made about me based on my purchases and I’m literally speechless.”’ 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 what a moron subject for a nerds first horror story 🤣
Nerds not liking accurate descriptions of their lives 🤣.
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This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
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I was hoping to find some saucy info on myself, but instead I got things like "prefers premium coffee brands with consistent flavor profiles" and "likely has a workshop"
save