Net Marketers Worried as Cookies Lose Effectiveness

Saint Aardvark writes "The Globe and Mail reports that Internet marketers are worried about the decreasing persistence of cookies. Almost 40% of surfers delete them on a monthly basis, says Jupiter Research -- a fact one marketers attributes to incorrect associations with spyware and privacy invasion. United Virtualities' Flash-based tracking system is mentioned as a possible substitute...though they don't mention the Firefox plugin that removes them, or talk in any meaningful way about why people might want cookies gone. Still, the article is a good overview of life from the marketer's perspective."

Personally...

[Shadow Wrought]

I blame the Atkins craze for the sudden diminishing of cookies. On a side note, as a general rule, I'm pretty happy with any behavior that makes marketer's lives more difficult. Just one of those rules of thumb.

Belly size

[AutopsyReport]

Judging by the size of the average American belly, I can't see how cookies have lost their effectiveness.

Cookies are a SOMETIMES thing! -- Cookie Monster

[Anonymous Coward]

Even the Cookie Monster on Sesame Street has been forced to admit, "Cookies are a SOMETIMES thing!"

Re:Yes, yes it does.

[justforaday]

Have you SEEN their editing abilities?

They have editing abilities?

Tony Soprano said it best.

[base3]

"That cookie shit makes me nervous."

Re:The other side of things.

[Loonacy]

Because IP addresses don't go that high, duh.
(Although I completely agree with the general idea.)

Re:The other side of things.

[justforaday]

Because obviously somebody is spoofing their IP address...

Re:Marketer's perspective?

[Shadow Wrought]

Oooh! Something shiny! ...

Wanna buy it?

Re:Tracking customer behavior

[Anonymous Coward]

agreed. Best Buy has been doing this for some time. The clerk said she had to have my phone number and I said that she didn't. Turned out she was wrong and I was right. Still left the store without purchasing.....oh shit!

Duh!!! She was asking for my phone number!!!

**Idiot**

Gotta get back to Best Buy.

Later

Re:Tracking customer behavior

[Just Some Guy]

Boy, you sure showed them.

Here's how I handle it:

Cashier: May I have your phone number?
Me: Sure! It's $(friend's ex-wife's phone number), and I'll love to hear more about other promotions you may have in the future.

Re:Why not?

[TCM]

You got a +4 insightful for not reading the post you were responding to???

You must be new here. :)

Re:Tracking customer behavior

[hawkeyeMI]

Why do you have your friend's ex-wife's number? Or maybe that's why she's his ex-wife.

Re:Tracking customer behavior

[Just Some Guy]

Found it on the bathroom wall. It's common knowledge in these parts.