Strange Amazon book recommendations

Purple Lady · 03-01-2014, 06:42 PM

I have had some weird Amazon book recommendations before, but none as strange as this:

Recommendation in Science Fiction and Fantasy - Oz: The Complete Collection (All 14 Oz Books, with Illustrated Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Exclusive Bonus Features). *Recommended because you purchased Top 30 Swedish Vegetarian Recipes in Just And Only 3 Steps and more.

They recommend the Wizard of Oz because of a cookbook? It must be because the cookbook is vegetarian and Doctor Oz is for healthy stuff. Still a pretty funny mistake.

Lazybones · 03-01-2014, 07:09 PM

I've given up trying to figure out Amazon's recommendations system. In my case it's complicated because my wife often visits the site while my account is signed in. It's hard for us to buy gifts for the other without Amazon spilling the beans.

AnemicOak · 03-01-2014, 11:14 PM

Ever since the Kindle came out and there have been all the various freebie books available the recommendation engine has been a bit messed up.

Yolina · 03-02-2014, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Ever since the Kindle came out and there have been all the various freebie books available the recommendation engine has been a bit messed up.

Yeah, I think the recommendations are at least in part based on the "other people who bought this also bought..." so when people hoover up freebies and cheap offers randomly, it goes all over the place

I've certainly had some very strange Kindle books recommendations. Gave up on them a long time ago.

Purple Lady · 03-02-2014, 12:56 PM

I thought the problems with free books came because it may have been a book you wouldn't normally be interested in. This just seems to be an incorrect association. I just Googled Dr. Oz Sweden and found perhaps another incorrect connection - Emanuel Swedenborg.

He has been influenced by the mysticism of Sufi Muslims,[35] as well as the ideas of Emanuel Swedenborg, the Swedish scientist, philosopher, and Christian theologian.

Dr. Oz - Wizard of Oz
Emanuel Swedenborg, the Swedish scientist - Swedish vegetarian food.

Grace Elliot · 03-02-2014, 05:18 PM

I miss my weekly Amazon recommendation for 'Artisan Breadmaking' - it came through regular as clockwork for years (after I bought hubs a breadmaker from Amazon - so not completely random) - but it has stopped this year.

GA Russell · 03-05-2014, 02:22 AM

An internet friend of mine named Chris Albertson wrote a book about the '30s blues singer Bessie Smith.

On the Amazon page for the book, it said, "People who bought this also bought..." a vacuum cleaner!

Apache · 03-05-2014, 11:39 AM

Amazon keeps offering me Romance novels even though I have never shown an interest.
Apache

Grace Elliot · 03-05-2014, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

An internet friend of mine named Chris Albertson wrote a book about the '30s blues singer Bessie Smith.

On the Amazon page for the book, it said, "People who bought this also bought..." a vacuum cleaner!

Must have cleaned up with a recommendation like that

BookCat · 03-07-2014, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

An internet friend of mine named Chris Albertson wrote a book about the '30s blues singer Bessie Smith.

On the Amazon page for the book, it said, "People who bought this also bought..." a vacuum cleaner!

susan_cassidy · 03-07-2014, 12:17 PM

I sometimes give Amazon feedback via the product page on weird recommendations like this, as I feel there is something wrong with their database entries for the book(s).

Grace Elliot · 03-07-2014, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

An internet friend of mine named Chris Albertson wrote a book about the '30s blues singer Bessie Smith.

On the Amazon page for the book, it said, "People who bought this also bought..." a vacuum cleaner!

Sorry - came back to post more hoover puns but realised what I was doing and restrained myself.

BookCat · 03-11-2014, 10:32 PM

Don't restrain yourself, I love puns.

AlbertaCowboy · 03-12-2014, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

Emanuel Swedenborg, the Swedish scientist - Swedish vegetarian food.

Can't make Swedish food without a Swedish Chef!
BØRK BØRK BØRK

GA Russell · 05-15-2014, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

An internet friend of mine named Chris Albertson wrote a book about the '30s blues singer Bessie Smith.

On the Amazon page for the book, it said, "People who bought this also bought..." a vacuum cleaner!

HBO announced this week that it will make a movie about Bessie Smith based upon Chris Albertson's book, starring Queen Latifah.

03-01-2014, 06:42 PM	#1
Purple Lady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,698 Karma: 16542228 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Huawei MediaPad M5, LG V30, Boyue T80S, Nexus 7 LTE, K3 3G, Fire HD8	Strange Amazon book recommendations I have had some weird Amazon book recommendations before, but none as strange as this: Recommendation in Science Fiction and Fantasy - Oz: The Complete Collection (All 14 Oz Books, with Illustrated Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Exclusive Bonus Features). Recommended because you purchased Top 30 Swedish Vegetarian Recipes in Just And Only 3 Steps and more. They recommend the Wizard of Oz because of a cookbook? It must be because the cookbook is vegetarian and Doctor Oz is for healthy stuff. Still a pretty funny mistake. Last edited by Purple Lady; 03-01-2014 at 07:25 PM.*

03-02-2014, 12:56 PM	#5
Purple Lady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,698 Karma: 16542228 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Huawei MediaPad M5, LG V30, Boyue T80S, Nexus 7 LTE, K3 3G, Fire HD8	I thought the problems with free books came because it may have been a book you wouldn't normally be interested in. This just seems to be an incorrect association. I just Googled Dr. Oz Sweden and found perhaps another incorrect connection - Emanuel Swedenborg. He has been influenced by the mysticism of Sufi Muslims,[35] as well as the ideas of Emanuel Swedenborg, the Swedish scientist, philosopher, and Christian theologian. Dr. Oz - Wizard of Oz Emanuel Swedenborg, the Swedish scientist - Swedish vegetarian food. Last edited by Purple Lady; 03-02-2014 at 01:09 PM.

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03-01-2014, 07:09 PM	#2
Lazybones Groupie Posts: 162 Karma: 1719250 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sacramento Device: Kindle	I've given up trying to figure out Amazon's recommendations system. In my case it's complicated because my wife often visits the site while my account is signed in. It's hard for us to buy gifts for the other without Amazon spilling the beans.

03-01-2014, 11:14 PM	#3
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Ever since the Kindle came out and there have been all the various freebie books available the recommendation engine has been a bit messed up.

03-02-2014, 05:18 PM	#6
Grace Elliot Groupie Posts: 186 Karma: 1317334 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London Device: kindle	I miss my weekly Amazon recommendation for 'Artisan Breadmaking' - it came through regular as clockwork for years (after I bought hubs a breadmaker from Amazon - so not completely random) - but it has stopped this year.

03-05-2014, 02:22 AM	#7
GA Russell Ticats/Als, Riders/Lions Posts: 7,717 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	An internet friend of mine named Chris Albertson wrote a book about the '30s blues singer Bessie Smith. On the Amazon page for the book, it said, "People who bought this also bought..." a vacuum cleaner!

03-05-2014, 11:39 AM	#8
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Amazon keeps offering me Romance novels even though I have never shown an interest. Apache

03-07-2014, 12:17 PM	#11
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	I sometimes give Amazon feedback via the product page on weird recommendations like this, as I feel there is something wrong with their database entries for the book(s).

03-11-2014, 10:32 PM	#13
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Don't restrain yourself, I love puns.