The Daily Ping

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October 4th, 2006

An Open Letter to My Amazon Gold Box

Dear Gold Box,

Please stop recommending Tom Petty albums to me. I think Tom Petty is all right, but I’m definitely not interested in buying his entire back catalog. I went ahead and removed my ratings of the only Tom Petty album I’ve ever bought from you, so you wouldn’t get confused. Apparently you still are; please stop.

I’m also not in need of a Prada wallet that somehow seems to be sold out by the time I see it. Nor do I need ugly earrings.

I’d even consider looking at the same lousy earrings for a while, so long as Tom Petty didn’t show up in the mix. I mean, 8 out of 10 Gold Box items were Tom Petty discs the other day. That’s pretty bad.

I like you, but you drive me nuts sometimes.

– Paul

Posted in Technology

Joseph October 4, 2006, 4:06 pm

Seems like old pings that were placed on Dumb-Ass Mode are now freed up again–like “Senior Pranks.” Was this an intentional thing or an omission?

I like Dumb-Ass Mode and I hate to see it go.

Adam October 5, 2006, 1:52 am

Yeah, those recommendations are usually pretty useless. That’s why I think it’s cool that Netflix is going to pay someone a cool million if they design the best new recommendation system. Ironically, Netflix is the one that I think works the best.

I never read the one from Amazon. And I’ve never bought any of the “you might also like these” items during a purchase either. I’d be curious to know what percentage of people do.

Andy October 5, 2006, 2:17 pm

The “normal” recommendations from Amazon have always been pretty good for me (and they have a new recommendation page that is pretty nice), but the Gold Box is goofy as Paul states.

It seems to think that I’m a hardcore project management freak that loves jewelry. And I’ve never bought or even looked at jewelry at Amazon. I did buy a couple of PM-ish books years ago though (Peopleware, etc).

Paul October 6, 2006, 11:32 am

Today? No Petty in the Gold Box. That’s a start!

I did have a Prada wallet, though. Red. Not my color.

Cecily November 15, 2006, 10:27 pm

You don’t have to live like a refugee, Paul. Simply tell Amazon “Don’t come around here no more.”

jk November 16, 2006, 4:45 am

Welcome, Cecily! Good one, indeed.

gordman October 9, 2007, 6:01 pm

It’s hard for me to trust big retailers like Amazon specially if we talk about jewelry. Actually I am afraid of fakes, I have no means to verify their authenticity and I need insurance that I buy right items.

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