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Harumph. I got a request from Google to review my recent purchase from Stewmac. How did Google know about that?

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Most likely, they are haven't been a family owned biz for several years now..... or your phone or computer is monitoring you, web browser perhaps?

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Gmail will track you as well!

T

Yes they do. Here is their policy page:

https://www.stewmac.com/PrivacyAndSecurity.html

StewMac appears to be using one of Google's analytics packages, as well as the 'customer care' stuff. I handle most of the ordering for the shop, and the Google pop-up which asks whether I want the Google warranty of satisfaction, etc. appears right after the order confirmation button is pushed. Keep in mind that Google is competing with Amazon for the 'Master of the Universe' title, so this sort of Orwellian control of thought and action just comes with the territory.

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A constellation only takes shape when one maps the whole.
- Beth Brower

Yes

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

ROFL! ^

Thanks for the responses.

A little clarification: During my last purchase at Stewmac, a dialog came up asking if I would do a review of my experience with SM. Being a longtime, appreciative customer, I answered yes, assuming that I'd be guided through the process. Nothing happened right then, but a week later, I got an email from Google, asking me to review SM. SM's privacy policy (thanks for the link, jfMckenna) starts with this sentence: "Our privacy policy is simple: we do not share customer address or contact information with any other company. When you request a catalog or place an order with Stewart-MacDonald, rest assured we won't pass your name or contact information on to anyone else." Further down the page, if we opt to review a product, it says that our email address will be kept private.

In the 40-odd years I've dealt with SM, I've never had even the slightest negative experience. Their privacy policy states clearly what I would expect from SM, and I'd trust them to do the right thing when it comes to privacy, as was stated, that they keep my email private when doing reviews. But they turn around and give it to Google. Granted, this is a small thing in the bigger picture of internet privacy, but it's sign of further deterioration of our ability to control what information about us is for sale.

I am disappointed. I'd have thought better of Stew Mac.

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I wonder if when they say 'address' they mean your physical address rather then your email address. I'd send a quick email to Stewmac about it, they will probably like to know what you think.

If it helps, your email, SS# and top 5 used passwords are likely already available to anyone that wants it.

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Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars

Brad, got any link to that? Or just inside info?

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Pat

When you make a post on Facebook

I'll dig up a few links for you. The reality is that getting the data is no longer the issue, it's using data mining techniques to draw correlation between disparate data dumps to create profiles that are usable. All before the data gets stale. I read recently that more than 50% of Americans use a maximum of 3 passwords across all sites they authenticate to. Exploiting your bank account is easier when you use the same password for the OLF.

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Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars

For those that don't like ads following them around on the Internet, here's an article about how to address the problem:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/15/tech ... v=top-news

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Tim Allen
"Never hurry, never rest."

Do you guys know who is running the marketing department at Stew-Mac now? You might know his name and that could explain why this is going on.

I didn't know who it was but a quick google search told me.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Same here, unfortunately I might be done with those guys.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

sure hope they don't adopt his shipping practices...

Who is it, and what is it we should know about him? I sense a big shift in StewMac, but i don’t have the insider knowledge to understand.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

My guess? Bezos.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince