Okay, Krogers has gone too far!

Seeing as I make money from the technology industry, you would think that I am all for the faster and faster expansion of the digital domain. In most cases, that is true. I love gadgets, and creative new toys that make our lives easier. However, I think we still have a long way to go when it comes to the whole "Product Recommendation" fuzzy logic thing.

If you're not familiar... When you buy products at certain retailers (Amazon) or watch certain shows (TiVo) there is a program running that looks at what type of product or show that was, and then tries to suggest other things to you that it thinks you may like. Problem is, these are spotty, at best. Amazon seems to think that just because I bought my sister a sewing book for her birthday once, I'm now moonlighting as a seamstress. Even though it is the ONLY thing remotely related to sewing I've ever looked at.

The worst though is Krogers Grocery. They are a major chain food store where I live. They look at what you buy and print out coupons for you. Sounds great right? A couple problems though... First, they are never for what you actually buy. They are for a competing product. "Look, if I wanted to buy the crap-ass generic, I would have bought it. How about giving me money off the stuff I actually buy?" Also, they hand them to you wrapped up in the receipt, and where does the receipt go right after its trip home stuffed in your pocket? Yup, the trash.

A really strange happened to me today. As I was walking out of the store, I couldn't help but be confused. Here's a brief run down of what I bought:
1. Bagels
2. Corn Chips
3. Water
4. Cheese
5. Burritos
6. Lunch Meat
7. Mustard

So, what coupon do you think they printed out for me? Maybe a new type of cheese? Maybe salsa for my chips? Maybe even some pork-rinds to top off my unhealthy feast? .... Nope, Tampons. Yes, something called "Gentle Glide" tampons. Now tell me, exactly what about what I purchased would suggest to them that I would be in the market for tampons?

Must have been the bottled water....