Submitted by MitchTobol on

Anticipatory

Categories
Tech News

Of all the news that crossed my desk this week, this one was especially interesting and a bit scary at the same time. No it's not the new contact lens from Google that will automatically read your blood sugar levels from your tears and alert you...it's Amazon's new patented system called "anticipatory shipping."

 

Yes...they will ship your stuff before you order it.

 

In fact, their system decides what to ship by considering your previous orders, what you searched for, any wish lists you created, your shopping-cart contents, what you've returned and the neatest trick...how long your cursor hovers over an item.

 

So watch out...the next Amazon box delivered to your front door by a drone may be just what you were thinking about buying. But no worries, they have a great return policy.

Comments

Corey Bearak

Guess I'll be rather careful with that cursor. Imagine though how that entire process might be co-opted by so-called competitors seeking to get Mr. Bezos to spend further and maybe strain the mega-online mall into a cash-induced crisis.
A side-bar to this, folks be wary of where you allow auto-billing of credit and debit cards and bank accounts.
Kelly Welles

Are you sure they don't require your permission? Or is this a negative option, meaning that somewhere in signing up one has unwittingly bought the store. Good question for
Consumer Reports and Consumer Protection advocates. Thanks Mitch! Kelly Welles
Rona Gura

I'm a big user of Amazon Prime. But I must say that its still a bit freaky when they "suggest" products for me based on my purchase history and they're so right. What you suggest is even scarier. Big Brother is watching.

Submitted by SoniaSaleh on Sat, 01/18/2014 - 07:55

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Sonia Saleh

I'm with Rona on this!
Mitch Tobol

Rona and Sonia, Big Brother is here and has been watching for quite some time :)
Mitch Tobol

Fred they actually ship the product to the local warehouse and are considering coupons or discounts so you keep the item.

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Mon, 01/20/2014 - 03:49

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I am certain that Amazon will not ship anything, if they don't have a valid credit card number on file for you. Using a "Shop Safe" credit card number, auto-generated for online purchase, pretty much prevents auto-shipping. And people wonder why I don't like to give out my actual credit card number... :)

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