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Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores

latimes.com

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Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores

#21

Post by wavefunction »

thephyber wrote: post #3

I was under the impression that Google already did this. A Googler already described this to me years ago as "closing the loop", where Google's ad network already exposed a customer to a brand/product, but Google only gets credit for the conversion if it happens in the same browser session online. By tying together stats between impression and conversion (purchase, even in-store), the ad network becomes more valuable…

This sounds like some bullshit to me. Not that Google claims to be able to close the loop, but that a Google ad actually influenced me in any way, let alone a physical purchase in a brick-and-mortar.

PPC Ad-words perhaps influences me if I'm researching a product or service, but that's mostly a function of search results placement rather than . Usually I scan down below the first few search results because those are people trying to tell me they're what I'm looking for and they usually aren't.

I will readily admit that I have to consider that I am a freakish outlier, though.

Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores

#22

Post by wavefunction »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #8
jforman wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lots of companies have been improving attribution online. Offline is quite a different beast.

I remember reading an article a few years ago about Facebook doing this. It's also why some merchants will ask for your phone number, even if you pay in cash. With your phone number, the merchant can identify you. In Facebook's case, they know what ads they show you online, then they can tie any subsequent purchases tagged with your phone number back to your FB account.

Sounds like another company claiming credit for something it didn't actually do.

facebook showed me ChristianMingle ads for years despite marking myself as agnostic. I have a fair amount of experience with the Ad-words network and all I can see of facebook's ad network and target is that it sucks. I've never seen any place I've worked have much success deriving any meaningful value from facebook ads.

Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores

#24

Post by teaneedz »

adjkant wrote: post #20
paradite wrote: post #12

Now I will have to seriously consider getting off the Google ecosystem now. Deactivating facebook was okay, but Google might be tricky considering many of website accounts use Google authentication.

Okay, this is a small rant that is not directly aimed at you, so nothing personal. This is aimed generally more at people in the privacy at all costs camp and the like. If there's some viewpoint I'm missing here I'd also love to hear it, so it's not really a mean-spirited rant either. Google owns the internet at this point. For general use purposes, they ARE the internet. So avoiding them should really have at least…

I think the point is that we will give our data and maybe trust to other companies. I don't care if Google is hurt or not. Another company that is more privacy-centric and not creepily tracking everything (anonymized or not) will benefit though.

Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores

#25

Post by CameronBanga »

adjkant wrote: post #20
paradite wrote: post #12

Now I will have to seriously consider getting off the Google ecosystem now. Deactivating facebook was okay, but Google might be tricky considering many of website accounts use Google authentication.

Okay, this is a small rant that is not directly aimed at you, so nothing personal. This is aimed generally more at people in the privacy at all costs camp and the like. If there's some viewpoint I'm missing here I'd also love to hear it, so it's not really a mean-spirited rant either. Google owns the internet at this point. For general use purposes, they ARE the internet. So avoiding them should really have at least…

"Hey, they did feed us our whole lives, and gave us room to run for a bit. And they're a farm, so it's your fault for not realizing they were going to kill you for meat the entire time. And we're practically halfway to the slaughter house right now, so why would you even try to put up a fight. Just give in and let them end it nice and quick."

Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores

#26

Post by yborg »

thinkling wrote: post #4

FTA: "Google says it has access to roughly 70% of U.S. credit and debit card transactions through partnerships with companies that track that data." Wow.

I'm actually surprised that retailers haven't started surcharging people paying in cash by now in order to drive all of individuals' transaction data into the panopticon.

Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores

#27

Post by qwerrtytest »

adjkant wrote: post #20
paradite wrote: post #12

Now I will have to seriously consider getting off the Google ecosystem now. Deactivating facebook was okay, but Google might be tricky considering many of website accounts use Google authentication.

Okay, this is a small rant that is not directly aimed at you, so nothing personal. This is aimed generally more at people in the privacy at all costs camp and the like. If there's some viewpoint I'm missing here I'd also love to hear it, so it's not really a mean-spirited rant either. Google owns the internet at this point. For general use purposes, they ARE the internet. So avoiding them should really have at least…

What are you talking about?

Personally I use a few Google services - search, News, Products, YouTube, without logging in and don't see why you'd ever NEED an account. If you have to use something like their analytics or cloud, just spin up a VPN-ed VM.

Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores

#28

Post by cyberhigh »

inesta wrote: post #11

Hmm I was wondering how some stores show up on Google maps even though I did not use Google maps to get to those places. God damm Google.

That is because you have location services enabled on your phone. Google collects your phones location with this on. You can see the details by going to your location history.

Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores

#29

Post by leesalminen »

wavefunction wrote: post #22
hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember reading an article a few years ago about Facebook doing this. It's also why some merchants will ask for your phone number, even if you pay in cash. With your phone number, the merchant can identify you. In Facebook's case, they know what ads they show you online, then they can tie any subsequent purchases tagged with your phone number back to your FB account.

Sounds like another company claiming credit for something it didn't actually do. facebook showed me ChristianMingle ads for years despite marking myself as agnostic. I have a fair amount of experience with the Ad-words network and all I can see of facebook's ad network and target is that it sucks. I've never seen any place I've worked have much success deriving any meaningful value from facebook ads.

It works for us. But we cater to a small niche that's fairly easy to target.

Re: Google starts tracking what people buy in physical stores

#30

Post by [deleted] »

CameronBanga wrote: post #25
adjkant wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Okay, this is a small rant that is not directly aimed at you, so nothing personal. This is aimed generally more at people in the privacy at all costs camp and the like. If there's some viewpoint I'm missing here I'd also love to hear it, so it's not really a mean-spirited rant either. Google owns the internet at this point. For general use purposes, they ARE the internet. So avoiding them should really have at least…

"Hey, they did feed us our whole lives, and gave us room to run for a bit. And they're a farm, so it's your fault for not realizing they were going to kill you for meat the entire time. And we're practically halfway to the slaughter house right now, so why would you even try to put up a fight. Just give in and let them end it nice and quick."

[deleted]
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