# Bizarre "You might also like" suggestions from Amazon **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 27, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236 "2012-11-27T03:17:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/1 "2012-11-27T03:17:52Z")
It appears if you look up the Welsh cheese “red dragon,” Amazon thinks you might want to eat that while reading _The Initiation: A Billionaire Gangbang_ on your Kindle. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/2 "2012-11-27T03:56:58Z")
Apparently, if even one other person has ordered that cheese and that ebook, even if the person ordered the items separately, Amazon’s software thinks that you, too, are interested in both items. I’ve ordered kids’ things, because I have nieces and nephews, including some pretty stereotypically girly stuff. Amazon kept insisting that I’d probably like the Disney Princess brand of everything. Not just movies, but dolls, sheets, playsets…if it was marketed as a Disney Princess item, it was suggested to me. And I got a lot of suggestions for Barbie merchandise, too. I don’t know whether I hate Barbie or Disney Princess more. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/3 "2012-11-27T04:01:58Z")
I bought a used Organic Chemistry textbook for my daughter on Amazon this August. Amazon now suggests that same textbook, in various editions, every time I log on. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/4 "2012-11-27T04:11:14Z")
FWIW - and if anyone cares - you can tell amazon to ignore a specific purchase. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/5 "2012-11-27T04:14:28Z")
I’ve told this before, but for some reason Amazon once thought I would want a book entitled something like “The Art of Vaginal Fisting”. Thanks, Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/6 "2012-11-27T04:48:59Z")
Some merchants are more aggressive than that. If I look for anything musical on _any_ site, soon Sweetwater Sound puts ads on _many_ different sites I visit, showing similar products for weeks. I think there may be some cross-fertilization thru Google or Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/7 "2012-11-27T12:09:30Z")
doesn’t seem worth it’s own thread but lately I’ve been wondering what happened to Amazon’s listmania and “so you want to” lists. they are still there, but not like they used to be. or so it seems to me. used to be when I was looking at books it lead to me tons of lists people had made and I could happily browse them for hours. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/8 "2012-11-27T12:26:24Z")
The one I still can’t get over is when they recommend the exact item I’m looking at. Also, is it so difficult to check that they do not recommend stuff I’ve already bought or placed in my basket? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/9 "2012-11-27T12:49:42Z")
I sell used books on Amazon, and so I search up a lot of odd titles (to see if they are worth buying for resale). I buy more gifts for others than items for myself from Amazon. The suggestions based on search and purchase history are completely worthless for my personal tastes, and I have ignored them for at least three years. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/10 "2012-11-27T13:26:33Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > I’ve told this before, but for some reason Amazon once thought I would want a book entitled something like “The Art of Vaginal Fisting”. Thanks, Amazon. Did you enjoy it? 😉 I showed my husband how to get rid of suggestions after his experience buying gifts last Christmas. His family does a “Give one, get one” approach to gift giving, and his recipient was his nephew. His nephew has what one might call…eccentric tastes, and almost a year later, Amazon was still suggesting things to my husband based on those purchases. Every once in a while he would be at the computer and I would hear him mutter, “Fucking Amazon. Fucking \.” ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/11 "2012-11-27T13:39:14Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > FWIW - and if anyone cares - you can tell amazon to ignore a specific purchase. I care. How? > [@lorene](#): > > I showed my husband how to get rid of suggestions after his experience buying gifts last Christmas. I’m not proud. Show me. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/12 "2012-11-27T13:50:10Z")
When you first log into Amazon, scroll down past the list of items you have recently viewed. There will be a link on the left side that says “view or edit your browsing history”. That gives you a list of every item you’ve clicked on, and you can delete it on the right. In fact, there is also an option to sort by category, delete your entire browsing history, and turn off browsing history. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/13 "2012-11-27T13:52:25Z")
I can’t wait to see what recommendations pop up after my last session. I browsed the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Swiss Army knives, and the books _The Heroin Diaries_ and _Wonderland Avenue_, both of which are about hard-core heroin addictions. Amazon must think I’m a crazy, strung out, suicidal junkie. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/14 "2012-11-27T14:00:26Z")
Also, when you get recommended an item, there’s a link somewhere on the recommendation that says “Why was this recommended to me?”, which will show you the particular items that triggered it. Then, on those, you can click “Don’t use this for recommendations”. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/15 "2012-11-27T14:22:46Z")
Everything that’s coming up for me is stuff that you guys linked to over the past few days. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/16 "2012-11-27T14:33:19Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I’m not proud. Show me. > [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > When you first log into Amazon, scroll down past the list of items you have recently viewed. There will be a link on the left side that says “view or edit your browsing history”. That gives you a list of every item you’ve clicked on, and you can delete it on the right. > In fact, there is also an option to sort by category, delete your entire browsing history, and turn off browsing history. > [@Chronos](#): > > Also, when you get recommended an item, there’s a link somewhere on the recommendation that says “Why was this recommended to me?”, which will show you the particular items that triggered it. Then, on those, you can click “Don’t use this for recommendations”. These are good suggestions, but the best way to see your history (especially your purchase history) and turn off these recommendations is to go to “Your [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com)” and click on “Improve Your Recommendations” (it will be in a string of links across the top of the page, just under the search box). This will bring up the “Edit Your Collection” page where you have the option of displaying “Items You’ve Purchased”, “Items You’ve Marked ‘I Own It’”, “Items You’ve Rated”, etc. You can rate each item, or check either the “This was a gift” or “Don’t use for recommendations” checkbox to prevent the recommendation engine from using it in their algorithm. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/17 "2012-11-27T18:37:32Z")
I ordered fragrance-free bubble bath, because of my allergies, and it kept recommending baby products for me. I ain’t got no baby. When it told me I needed a Snotsucker® nasal aspirator, that’s when I finally arsed myself to go in and fixed the history. I bought a CD of brass band music, and it told me I needed a box of red rubber noses. I swear this is true. I am pretty sure that it is because there were several cuts of circus music on the CD, like “Entrance of the Gladiators.” ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/18 "2012-11-27T19:08:55Z")
> [@](#): > > it told me I needed a box of red rubber noses. But doesn’t EVERYONE need a box of red rubber noses? You never know when a situation will arise that desperately calls out for a clown nose. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/19 "2012-11-27T20:21:45Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > I can’t wait to see what recommendations pop up after my last session. I browsed the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Swiss Army knives, and the books _The Heroin Diaries_ and _Wonderland Avenue_, both of which are about hard-core heroin addictions. Amazon must think I’m a crazy, strung out, suicidal junkie. Never mind Amazon. I’d keep a sharp eye out for the FBI if I were you. Maybe you need a rubber nose to throw them off? I hear Lynn has a few spares. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236/20 "2012-11-27T20:37:56Z")
I’ve always said Amazon needs a blanket “Do Not Recommend” option. That way I could black-list games, certain authors, calenders and other such nonsense from every cluttering my browsing. As it is every time I order something I have to spend the next few days clearing out the bogus recs Amazon sends. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-you-might-also-like-suggestions-from-amazon/642236.md?page=2)