The Customer is Always Right

After seeing the movie Erasing David and seeing all the information that just Amazon had on him was amazing. In my eyes, it’s showing that they cared about what David was interested in and that they were organized because they kept records of the purchases he has made. 

Thinking of my own purchases on Amazon, and other sites that save similar data like Ebay or Netflix, places where I have bought things or used their services, it makes me feel secure knowing that that information is saved somewhere because if I’m ever needing that information then I know exactly who to contact. 

Thinking about these types of sites and the databases they create, I often compare it to how as a waitress I create similar databases. Throughout the week, I often see the same faces coming in and ordering the same things. Because these people come in so often we call them our “Regulars”. I keep a mental database of who they are, who they normally sit with and what they normally order.  

When my “regulars” come in and I go right to get their drinks, they feel special because I remembered them and what they like. This makes them feel welcomed and cared about as a customer. This idea has been going on for a long time in restaurants and other places of business because they want their customers to feel like they matter so that they will return and also so they will spread the word about the service they got with that business. Comparing this face to face action to how websites use their databases, I can understand why Amazon or Netflix would keep so much information about the users of their site. They want their users to feel welcomed and cared about as customers by making their site specifically reflect what that user wants.

These sites also go the extra mile by suggesting things that the customer might like based on other things they have bought or used through that site. I think this is really neat because as a user I love seeing what else is available when it comes to similar products to what I have just bought or seen. 

I don’t find a big problem with these sites having information about me as long as they are not abusing this information. By suggesting products that are similar to what I have already bought or used is not something that I would put under the category of abuse.