I tried to think of a funny Thread Title then realized that the truth was good enough.
On our last trip to Wal-Mart, the brood and I found ourselves accosted at the front door by a Pepsi machine sporting an odd sign. I don’t remember it exactly, but it said something close to:
"Call this number for a free soda."
So, being curious, I did. I had my PCS Phone with me and I dialed the number… it was a voice-menu system that said something clever like, “For Pepsi, press one. For Diet Pepsi, press two…”
I wanted Diet, so I pressed two and was informed that my selection was sold out. There were other slots identified as Diet-Pepsi, so I tried those too… but they were also sold out.
Then I noticed that the orange “sold out” lights were illuminated next to the Diet Pepsi buttons on the machine before me. Could it be? Yes - every soda identfied as “sold out” on the machine was also sold-out on my telephone. When I finally settled for Fat Pepsi, I was only mildly surprised to find that the machine, on cue, coughed up a bottle of Pepsi.
This astounded me.
Obviously the fact that the soda was free was just a gimmick to get me to try the thing on for size. Has anyone else seen this technology anywhere (outside of that great commercial)?
How does it work? When they charge me, will the cost of the soda appear on my phone bill?
Will they charge you? No, the sign said “free”. They’re just advertising.
The phone number you called was unique to that beverage machine. The machine itself had a phone line connected to it (which is how ‘they’ communicated your request to the machine). You didn’t actually connect to the machine. You connected to the same ‘hub’ as the machine. The ‘hub’ (‘router’) ‘talked’ to both you and the machine, in effect ‘told’ the machine what buttons you were pressing on your phone.
Just something to make you sleep easier at night… your financial profile (credit, bank accounts, etc.), along with your ‘consumer profile’ (what kinds of things you purchase with the credit/debit cards issues by your financial services provider), your tax returns (your Social Security number ties it all together neatly), and probably your dog’s middle name have all been linked long before now. However, NOW they know that you prefer Diet Pepsi but will accept regular Pepsi if Diet’s not available. Be on the lookout for Pepsi coupons in the mail. I’ll bet you $10 you get some within the month.
Not too long from now you will be able to do this for more and more things, and eventually practically any consumer product. Driving down the highway, see a McDonald’s sign in the distance, dial the phone number provided, order, pick-up from the (automated) window, and it’s all charged to your phone bill. Don’t worry, soon you won’t have separate phone/credit card/E-Zpass accounts, you’ll just have one.
“Don’t resist, son, you’ll just ruin your credit rating.” (Bonus points to those who can identify that quote.)
Freak out if you want, but if a company can collect data on my shopping preferences, they can use it freely. Please, make my life easier, have fun. Figure out my preferences, and make it more convenient. I hate it when obvious consumer preferences are ignored.
Just don’t call me in the morning when Im’ trying to sleep after a long night and try to get me to buy things.
hmm a University in the US used to have something similar on its network you could check if the coke machine was empty and if not were the cokes cold , for a while you could check it online and even buy the cokes online , course being 14000 miles from the can machine doesn’t help in procuring the item