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Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?
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Author:  Pat Foster [ Mon Aug 13, 2018 11:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

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

Author:  B. Howard [ Tue Aug 14, 2018 4:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

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?

Author:  Tommy K [ Tue Aug 14, 2018 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

Gmail will track you as well!

T

Author:  jfmckenna [ Tue Aug 14, 2018 8:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

Yes they do. Here is their policy page:

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

Author:  Woodie G [ Tue Aug 14, 2018 10:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

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.

Author:  dzsmith [ Tue Aug 14, 2018 11:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

Yes

Author:  jfmckenna [ Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

ROFL! ^

Author:  Pat Foster [ Tue Aug 14, 2018 10:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

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.

Author:  jfmckenna [ Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

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.

Author:  bcombs510 [ Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

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

Author:  Pmaj7 [ Wed Aug 15, 2018 3:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

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

Author:  jfmckenna [ Wed Aug 15, 2018 10:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

pat macaluso wrote:
Brad, got any link to that? Or just inside info?

When you make a post on Facebook laughing6-hehe :D

Image

Author:  bcombs510 [ Thu Aug 16, 2018 6:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

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. ;)

Author:  TimAllen [ Fri Aug 17, 2018 10:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

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

Author:  Barry Daniels [ Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

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.

Author:  Bryan Bear [ Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

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


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

Author:  Jim Watts [ Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

Bryan Bear wrote:
Barry Daniels wrote:
Do you guys know who is running the marketing department at Stew-Mac now? You might know his name and that would explain why this is going on.


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


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

Author:  windsurfer [ Thu Aug 23, 2018 12:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

Barry Daniels wrote:
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.


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

Author:  rlrhett [ Thu Aug 23, 2018 12:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

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

Author:  Chris Pile [ Thu Aug 23, 2018 2:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Does Stewmac give customer info to Google?

My guess? Bezos.

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