Resisting the market research menace

[Wolfsheim]

Hi Guys & Gals,

anyone here too, who resists consumer intelligence and market research tactics of big corporations?

I often find all these phone calls by market researchers intrusive into my privacy as large companies only try to figure out what I buy, where and when. They are using these data to customer-profile me and throw more personalized advertising at me.  I outright refuse any type of consumer research and I am deeply sceptic of the alledged benefits.
Also, there are various tactics, where consumers are "rewarded" for their marketing strip-tease. Such as cashback programmes and cash back CCs that actually track what kind of expenses I made. Or customer loyalty cards, where you need to rack up 10000 points or 1000s of $$$ of purchases to be rewarded with clutter and useless stuff like a Chinese toaster, that costs 6 dollars to produce and set your home on fire. No, thanks, I am not part of some corporate market research programme. Anyone else who is allergic against these tactics?

[Jamesqf]

Haven't gotten a single marketing research call since I gave up the land line.  For the rest, as I said in your other post, why should I care how companies choose to waste their money?

[Wolfsheim]

Because I find it strange and scaring that a corporation knows where I go, what I do, what I look at, what I like and what I buy. This the total surveillance state and very dangerous. Its just not anyones business.

[cbr shadow]

I do roughly the exact opposite of what you're saying here :)
I sign up for market research studies.  I'll even fill out surveys to qualify for market research "focus groups" that pay me for my opinions on products, habits, etc.  So far this year I've made $2700 doing this.  Basically I schedule them for after work hours and I'll get paid ~$100/hr and get a free meal out of the deal.  Sometimes it's paid in cash, sometimes a check, and sometimes a Visa Gift Card.  I end up using the Visa card for groceries anyway.
I dont really understand what the problem is (outside of annoying phone calls that it sounds like you're getting).  I give my opinion and it adds to my stash.  This process doesn't make me want to spend a bunch of money on new products or shop more, so I see it as a positive thing.

[Jamesqf]

Because I find it strange and scaring that a corporation knows where I go, what I do, what I look at, what I like and what I buy. This the total surveillance state and very dangerous. Its just not anyones business.

But the corporation does not know anything about you, and wouldn't care if it did.

I honestly don't give a damn about what corporations might or might not know about me.  Worst case, they will just do targeted marketing, which IMHO would be a great improvement on broadcast spam & junk mail.  Best case, they might figure out I don't respond to their marketing, and save themselves some money and the environment a few dead trees.

Now if you want to get upset, start with everything the government has, and makes accessible to the general public under the heading of "background checks".  Or the vast repository of genealogical info maintained by the Mormons, or the searchable photo databases which law enforcement could use to accuse you of a crime, simply because of a fancied resemblence...

[oldtoyota]

Because I find it strange and scaring that a corporation knows where I go, what I do, what I look at, what I like and what I buy. This the total surveillance state and very dangerous. Its just not anyones business.

Um, well, if you are online, the NSA knows. That means, corporations know too. Do you use Gmail or other Google products, Yahoo, or Apple? If so, they know.

As for the phone calls from corporations, at least you can say no.

[GuitarStv]

If they're offering something good, I'll fill out surveys and give lots of information about my buying practices.  I usually give false information to try and throw off their numbers though . . . it's a little bit of anti-advertising that I wish more people subscribed to.  The worse the market data they receive, the worse their products will be targeted to vulnerable consumers, the better off everyone is.

Sure I make 20 k a year and spend 11k of it on female underwear products!  I'm also a 90 year old male who lives at home with his mother.  On the Nautilus.  Under the sea.

[Jamesqf]

I usually give false information to try and throw off their numbers though . . . it's a little bit of anti-advertising that I wish more people subscribed to.  The worse the market data they receive, the worse their products will be targeted to vulnerable consumers, the better off everyone is.

I absolutely can not see the logic here.  Surely if businesses use this information to produce bad products, everyone is worse off.  Nor can I see why consumers should be thought to be "vulnerable"...

I sometimes fill out consumer surveys, but for exactly the opposite reason.  My tastes tend to differ from the mainstream, and so I hope (probably in vain, but hope usually is) that my input will cause them to make products I might actually want.

[Gerard]

I sometimes fill out consumer surveys, but for exactly the opposite reason.  My tastes tend to differ from the mainstream, and so I hope (probably in vain, but hope usually is) that my input will cause them to make products I might actually want.

This. I'm actually signed up with a company that pays me a pittance for completing these, and I think it's useful for them (and their clients) to realize that some people don't own cars, don't carry a credit card balance, and vote for socialists.