Amazon may soon be able to predict our purchases.

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by Apache

But you would think that they could suggest books in genres that I have actually purchased or viewed on Amazon.
Apache

Amazon already suggest eBooks based on my past reading in History and Biography. They also recommend MP3 songs for me to buy based on my listening genres of Folk and Gospel.

Netflix does the same recommending video based on my ratings of other videos I've already watched.

[Apache]

If I remember correctly, if they send you something that you did not order you can keep it.
Apache

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

One-click is just a more sophisticated form of online checkout.
And the patent has held up.
(Shrug)

If the rules of the game allow something, the smart player will run with it.

I'm not clear on what makes this more sophisticated than the method that already exists.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Apache

If I remember correctly, if they send you something that you did not order you can keep it.
Apache

That's certainly true in the UK. If a firm sends you "unsolicited goods" deliberately, you can keep them - they are treated as an unconditional gift.

I beleive that if the delivery was made by accident, you need to contact the sender so that they can collect the goods from you. If they're not collected in a reasonable time you can keep them. You're under no obligation to send them back yourself. But I haven't found the regulations that cover this situation in the UK.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

That's certainly true in the UK. If a firm sends you "unsolicited goods" deliberately, you can keep them - they are treated as an unconditional gift.

I believe that if the delivery was made by accident, you need to contact the sender so that they can collect the goods from you. If they're not collected in a reasonable time you can keep them. You're under no obligation to send them back yourself. But I haven't found the regulations that cover this situation in the UK.

True here in the US. You can't be sent something you didn't order and then have payment demanded. That was apparently a big mail order scam in the past.
As for mistakes, like you order one item, they charge you for the one item, but there were two stuck together in the box when you get it, I don't know if there is a law that addresses it, but my personal sense of ethics says I inform them of the mistake and if they want the item back, as long as they pay for the return shipping and don't make it a hassle for me, they get it back.
By the way, the few times this has happened to me, always with relatively inexpensive items, the companies have always said "Thanks for letting us know. Keep it with our compliments."

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by ApK

True here in the US. You can't be sent something you didn't order and then have payment demanded. That was apparently a big mail order scam in the past.

Yes, there was that same scam in the UK as well. It was that which prompted the change in the law.

Originally Posted by ApK

As for mistakes .... the few times this has happened to me, always with relatively inexpensive items, the companies have always said "Thanks for letting us know. Keep it with our compliments."

That's happened to me several times with my local supermarket's home shopping service. For some reason, they often deliver whole coffee beans when I order ground coffee. When I complain, the always give a refund but let me keep the beans. If it goes on much longer, it will be worth my while investing in a coffee grinder.

Mike

[Barty]

Originally Posted by Apache

If I remember correctly, if they send you something that you did not order you can keep it.

Apache

I'm going to write a script to browse HDTVs all day.

[jlynton]

I hope they don't sue me for not buying what they predicted!

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by Barty

I'm going to write a script to browse HDTVs all day.

too bad Amazon doesn't sell cars

[LovesMacs]

"Amazon may soon be able to predict our purchases."

Yes, in my case, the prediction method is also called "The Big Deal" sale.

[Angst]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

I'm not clear on what makes this more sophisticated than the method that already exists.

In this case Amazon is predicting someone in zip code xxxxx will buy a widget in the next two days. Amazon ships the widget (with no street address) to zip code xxxxx. When someone in the zip code orders the item, the street address is then added to the package, (while the package is in transit), and delivered.

If predictive shipping works, you could literally order an item that is located in a warehouse on the other side of the country and have it delivered in just a couple of hours, (assuming Amazon predicted someone in your area would order the item soon).

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Angst

In this case Amazon is predicting someone in zip code xxxxx will buy a widget in the next two days. Amazon ships the widget (with no street address) to zip code xxxxx. When someone in the zip code orders the item, the street address is then added to the package, (while the package is in transit), and delivered.

If predictive shipping works, you could literally order an item that is located in a warehouse on the other side of the country and have it delivered in just a couple of hours, (assuming Amazon predicted someone in your area would order the item soon).

So it's sort of like (or maybe exactly like, not knowing the algorithms involved) they are using their own recommendations to optimize their supply and logistics processes. Kind of cool.

[Fluribus]

Originally Posted by ApK

True here in the US. You can't be sent something you didn't order and then have payment demanded.

Depends on how much weaponry the drone will be packing.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by Angst

In this case Amazon is predicting someone in zip code xxxxx will buy a widget in the next two days. Amazon ships the widget (with no street address) to zip code xxxxx. When someone in the zip code orders the item, the street address is then added to the package, (while the package is in transit), and delivered.

If predictive shipping works, you could literally order an item that is located in a warehouse on the other side of the country and have it delivered in just a couple of hours, (assuming Amazon predicted someone in your area would order the item soon).

No, if it works, the item would be in a warehouse near you when you order it, not on the other side of the country.

[barutanseijin]

They can predict my purchases easily enough:

zip, zilch, nuttin', nada