Anyone else getting strange recommendations from Amazon?

Carruthers · 08-29-2014, 05:17 AM

My Amazon recommendations are becoming increasingly bizarre.

I'm at a loss to understand how they recommend the boxed set of Batman DVDs on the basis that I bought the book 'How Apollo Flew to the Moon'.

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More disturbingly, I was recommended 'In Plain Sight', an account of the loathsome Jimmy Savile and his eventual unmasking, on the grounds that I had purchased 'Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival'.

That's about the uncontained engine failure and subsequent crash landing of the United Airlines DC-10 at Sioux City, Iowa, in 1989.

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Have a look at your Amazon recommendations, and if there are any oddities, please share!

Griff · 08-29-2014, 07:01 AM

Amazon does well, but Pandora apparently thinks I'm a middle-aged Chicano.

Sundae · 08-29-2014, 07:44 AM

Spam mail thinks I want a bigger penis.

infinite monkey · 08-29-2014, 08:59 AM

Gmail has long thought I speak Portuguese.

manicotti · 08-29-2014, 10:03 AM

Tries to sell me pasta and pasta accessories.

Carruthers · 08-29-2014, 10:23 AM

I've just discovered two more. 'Curiouser and curiouser' said Alice.

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Perhaps if I purchase 'Zombie Death-Ray Flesh Eaters 2' it will trigger a recommendation for 'Pride and Prejudice'. Stranger things have happened.

glatt · 08-29-2014, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manicotti

Tries to sell me pasta and pasta accessories.

Well, can you blame them?

I can see how that would be offensive for pasta like you though. It's like slave trade or genocide or something. Selling one pasta to another.

manicotti · 08-29-2014, 11:29 AM

I've written letters but they won't respond.

BigV · 08-29-2014, 02:17 PM

Perhaps they're bummed because they can't start a letter.

manicotti · 08-29-2014, 02:22 PM

There's a lot of that going around.

chrisinhouston · 09-08-2014, 12:08 PM

I'm Amazon Prime and order stuff just about every week. The other day I logged in and it suggested all kinds of dog and cat food even though I have never gotten any from Amazon or even looked at any products like that.

Funny but I also sometimes look at Vegetarian and Vegan cook books and then I get lots of recommendations for Paleo books with pictures of meat on the cover.

Carruthers · 10-15-2014, 02:53 PM

It's still happening...

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Happy Monkey · 10-15-2014, 06:54 PM

I suspect that the weirdness of the suggestions is inversely proportional to the popularity of the "because you purchased" item. It probably lists all items that shared a shopping cart with it, weighted by frequency. A popular item is more likely to have a pattern, while a less popular item will give a grab bag of random items.

Carruthers · 10-15-2014, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

I suspect that the weirdness of the suggestions is inversely proportional to the popularity of the "because you purchased" item. It probably lists all items that shared a shopping cart with it, weighted by frequency. A popular item is more likely to have a pattern, while a less popular item will give a grab bag of random items.

Ah! A commercial version of guilt by association.

Carruthers · 07-07-2018, 07:23 AM

This morning's recommendation from Amazon:

'Toilet Roll Holder Wall Mounted Bathroom Tissue Holder Anti-Rust Aluminium with Mobile Phone Storage Shelf'.

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You have to put your phone somewhere while you catch up with your paperwork.

Look, someone had to say it.

Link

08-29-2014, 05:17 AM	#1
Carruthers Junior Master Dwellar Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Buckinghamshire UK Posts: 4,059	Anyone else getting strange recommendations from Amazon? My Amazon recommendations are becoming increasingly bizarre. I'm at a loss to understand how they recommend the boxed set of Batman DVDs on the basis that I bought the book 'How Apollo Flew to the Moon'. More disturbingly, I was recommended 'In Plain Sight', an account of the loathsome Jimmy Savile and his eventual unmasking, on the grounds that I had purchased 'Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival'. That's about the uncontained engine failure and subsequent crash landing of the United Airlines DC-10 at Sioux City, Iowa, in 1989. Have a look at your Amazon recommendations, and if there are any oddities, please share!

08-29-2014, 07:01 AM	#2
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Amazon does well, but Pandora apparently thinks I'm a middle-aged Chicano. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-29-2014, 10:23 AM	#6
Carruthers Junior Master Dwellar Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Buckinghamshire UK Posts: 4,059	I've just discovered two more. 'Curiouser and curiouser' said Alice. Perhaps if I purchase 'Zombie Death-Ray Flesh Eaters 2' it will trigger a recommendation for 'Pride and Prejudice'. Stranger things have happened.

08-29-2014, 02:17 PM	#9
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Perhaps they're bummed because they can't start a letter. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

10-15-2014, 06:54 PM	#13
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	I suspect that the weirdness of the suggestions is inversely proportional to the popularity of the "because you purchased" item. It probably lists all items that shared a shopping cart with it, weighted by frequency. A popular item is more likely to have a pattern, while a less popular item will give a grab bag of random items. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

08-29-2014, 07:44 AM	#3
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Spam mail thinks I want a bigger penis.

08-29-2014, 08:59 AM	#4
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	Gmail has long thought I speak Portuguese.

08-29-2014, 10:03 AM	#5
manicotti A rapscallion engaging in shenanigans Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 17	Tries to sell me pasta and pasta accessories.

08-29-2014, 11:29 AM	#8
manicotti A rapscallion engaging in shenanigans Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 17	I've written letters but they won't respond.

08-29-2014, 02:22 PM	#10
manicotti A rapscallion engaging in shenanigans Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 17	There's a lot of that going around.

09-08-2014, 12:08 PM	#11
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	I'm Amazon Prime and order stuff just about every week. The other day I logged in and it suggested all kinds of dog and cat food even though I have never gotten any from Amazon or even looked at any products like that. Funny but I also sometimes look at Vegetarian and Vegan cook books and then I get lots of recommendations for Paleo books with pictures of meat on the cover.

10-15-2014, 02:53 PM	#12
Carruthers Junior Master Dwellar Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Buckinghamshire UK Posts: 4,059	It's still happening...

07-07-2018, 07:23 AM	#15
Carruthers Junior Master Dwellar Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Buckinghamshire UK Posts: 4,059	This morning's recommendation from Amazon: 'Toilet Roll Holder Wall Mounted Bathroom Tissue Holder Anti-Rust Aluminium with Mobile Phone Storage Shelf'. You have to put your phone somewhere while you catch up with your paperwork. Look, someone had to say it. Link __________________

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