The seven habits of highly ineffective product recommendation algorithms

Ping...ping...You know, I have nothing against ABBA or musicals based on the works thereof. But the e-mail I got from Amazon UK this morning just makes no sense. See if you can follow the logic here:

We recommend: Mamma Mia! [DVD] [2008]

DVD ~ Meryl Streep

RRP: £21.99
Price: £7.98
You Save: £14.01 (64%)

Recommended because you purchased or rated:
* Doctor Who – The Mark Of The Rani [DVD] [1985]
* Doctor Who – The Claws Of Axos [DVD] [1971]
* Doctor Who – Vengeance on Varos [DVD] [1963]

I have a feeling that only the broadest connection possible applies here: you bought shiny round things from us a few years ago, therefore you simply must be interested in this shiny round thing, because everyone who likes shiny round things at all likes this particular shiny round thing. Trust us. We’ve asked them. All of them.

I know marketing is an inexact science, but come on, the logic on this one is grope-in-the-dark voodoo, people. 😆

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  1. 1
    Flack

    About two years ago I bought Susan a Creative Zen Stone MP3 player from Circuit City. They were out of holders, so I ordered a holder (pink) off of Amazon. About once a month I get an e-mail from them stating the following: “Based on your purchase of the following item (Creative Zen Stone Case: Pink) we are suggesting the following items: Creative Zen Stone Case: Black, Creative Zen Stone Case: Blue, and Creative Zen Stone Case: Red.”

    Why do they continue to suggestive sell the ONE THING I already bought from them??!?

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