I really hate it when retailers does this.

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
05/07/2019 at 07:42 • Filed to: None

Clicked on a link to a site? Here’s in your email soon:

I wasn’t even logged on. This is the equivalent of having their sales people follow you home.

I know Best Buy does this, so does Staples. And the first one to do this crap was Sears Canada, and we know how that went.

DISCUSSION (14)

Arrivederci > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/07/2019 at 08:03

However, on other sites, I totally game it. On Diode Dynamics, if you add something to your cart and then leave the site, the next day they send you a coupon. So, if you’re ever planning on buying anything from them, you get a discount by waiting a day.

404 - User No Longer Available > Arrivederci
05/07/2019 at 08:10

Slight difference here: you were actually logged on when adding something to the cart, so you intended to buy it.

In this case I was just browsing for a TV for a friend and clicked on a link. I wasn’t even logged on, nor did I add it to my cart. And they decided to go full on tracking and linking my browser to my account, where they found my email address and spam me with this.

Ash78, voting early and often > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/07/2019 at 08:17

I put nothing past BB. They’re the ones who used to have fake websites in stores so they could trick customers into believing things weren’t on sale. Thankfully smartphones have fixed that, but that company will be forever tainted in my mind.

Also openly labeling customers as “angels” and “devils” based on whether they shopped sales or full price items.

Arrivederci > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/07/2019 at 08:19

That’s very true - that’s a little Skynetty. Would browsing in private mode fix it, or do you think they’ve logged your IP or something?

404 - User No Longer Available > Arrivederci
05/07/2019 at 08:23

Well digging further into my browser... turns out their domain has 62 cookies in my browser for some reason, EditThisCookie only cleared a handful of them. I’ve cleared those out now.

I’ll give them a slight benefit of doubt for now that they hired some really sloppy site coders...

Funny thing is it’s always these “traditional” retailers trying to go online that does this.

ateamfan42 > Arrivederci
05/07/2019 at 09:46

On Diode Dynamics, if you add something to your cart and then leave the site, the next day they send you a coupon.

That’s a pretty good incentive to try to make a customer come back. Unlike other places.

A lot of sites require you get all the way to checkout to see the shipping costs. When you exit in horror at how much they are going to gouge on shipping (and go purchase elsewhere), they send those “you forgot something!” emails. For laughs, I once tried replying to one and explained I didn’t purchase because their shipping was way higher than competitors. They of course only said “we don’t control shipping costs, our carrier does” and totally missed the point. If their competitors can negotiate reasonable rates, then they can try too. But they aren’t even willing to make the attempt.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/07/2019 at 09:59

This, ladies and gentlemen, is why people run things like uBlock, Ghostery, and the like.

Intrusive advertising campaigns only result in annoyed/angry customers who will never want to use your service.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/07/2019 at 10:07

Actually Sears Canada was doing okay... partly due to doing shit like this.

It was Sears USA that brought down the still-profitable Canadian operation.

The same thing *almost* happened with Toys R Us. But then Fairfax and some others swooped in, bought the Canadian operation from the US company in the bankruptcy/liquidation.

And now Toys R Us is a Canadian company that is looking to expand into the US.

I wish the same thing happened to Sears because it has always been one of the go-to places for me for appliances for my family for a long time.

CB > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/07/2019 at 12:16

Newegg does it all the time to me. I hate it.

“Oh, we see you were looking at computer parts!” No kidding, I’m always looking at computer parts. I didn’t buy them last time, I won’t buy them this time.

This is up there with getting ads for stuff I just bought. Yes, internet, I just bought tires. No, internet, it doesn’t mean I want more tires.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Arrivederci
05/07/2019 at 13:00

Advance auto

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Ash78, voting early and often
05/07/2019 at 13:02

Also thei 14 day return policy is Ridiculous

Ash78, voting early and often > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
05/07/2019 at 13:12

Wow...how is that even competitive? I haven’t been in one in 5+ years and not planning to start now.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Ash78, voting early and often
05/07/2019 at 23:26

Idk. I liked them when they first showed up. Circuit city was a joke. I thought they were really good, plus they had their reward points that were nice. Then when they switched to pushing all their in house brand I feel they went quickly downhill. One thing I cannot understanf is why they have soo many staff, like Home Depot. Hire 5 people that know their stuff instead of the dozen that just walk around

Ash78, voting early and often > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
05/08/2019 at 09:26

I just feel like I’m walking into a night club. Suddenly it’s all dark with thumping music, some bro walks up to me....and they sell toys? I’m so confused. I don’t miss Circuit City, but I think Best Buy would be much better if they had more competition.

I loved the novelty of them at first. It made Circuit City feel like Radio Shack! But I think they also share a lot of “talent” and strategy with Target (also based in Minneapolis) who is — logistically and strategically speaking — another really terrible company that has succeeded just because people don’t like their competition (Walmart).

On a standalone basis (on their own merits) , Target and Best Buy would probably go out of business.