In this thread I put a link to a product on Amazon. This morning I noticed that I had not followed the link, which I knew I had because I checked it on preview. So I clicked on it today, and it’s a link to the same product on Wal-Mart’s website.
I know I used the Amazon link because it was two a package of six of the items and I thought, ‘I don’t need to find a link for a single packet. I’m just showing the product.’ Also, I don’t shop at Wal-Mart and wouldn’t have chosen a Wal-Mart link. There’s nothing indicating the thread had been edited.
I deleted the cookies for straightdope and walmart. This time I closed my browser afterward. I went to the thread and on mouseover I saw that the link was pointing to amazon.com. When I clicked on it, the URL box on the browser said about:blank and there was a blank page, then it went to the Wal-Mart page.
Normally clearing the cookies does the trick when something is wonky. I don’t like clearing the cache because I use different usernames and passwords for everything and it would be problematic logging into certain sites. Is there a way to ‘surgically remove’ things?
I think you might be a bit confused. Sites remember your logins by leaving cookies. They’re stored differently from sites in your cache. Clearing your cache usually fixes any wonkiness with your browser.
You can also do a browser deep refresh when you are on the web page with the suspect link. Depending upon your O/S, try this key combination:
[ul]
[li]Windows <CTRL>-<F5>[/li][li]Mac/Apple: Apple + R or command + R[/li][li]Linux: F5[/li][/ul]
Wouldn’t be surprised if you have a browser hijacker
Paste the link you end up at on the Wal Mart site. A hijacker might take all retail links and send you to Wal Mart using their affiliate code and then get money if you buy.