Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Target Begins Testing Beacon-Based Deals and Recommendations in 50 Stores

My Target, where my credit card number was stolen (AND used) at least once if not twice, still frequently has hand-written notes on some of the card swipers saying "DO NOT USE." Their registers are messed up. Give me Apple Pay!
 
From what I gathered about beacon technology, it could also help provide in-store navigation. This would be beneficial for many users, but especially those persons with disabilities who have difficulty with navigating around a store or a shopping mall. It would be lovely if *that* became a reality rather than merely an additional means to supply adverts and coupons.
 
PotatoLeekSoup said:
I turned off all Target notifications after it showed up on my lock screen with something like "there's a Target nearby!" - like no ****? There is a Target nearby like 20% of the time I'm anywhere. What irks me is the arrogance of someone who decides to program their app in such a way that it alerts me every single possible chance it gets. It's like a giant middle finger to their customer.
Click to expand...

iOS automatically does that geofencing icon for lots of apps. It's not really an app opt-in thing. Our app uses location permissions and those icons just started showing up without us doing any work.
 
All I want from this beacon technology is to find out exactly where to find something I already want.
 
We shall see how this works considering most of the Target's I've been in have wifi issues and cell reception issues doubt this is going to really gain in popularity in their stores.
 
ravenstar said:
I'm curious, is anyone really using this? If I go into a store, it's to buy what I want, not what the store wants to push me to buy. This just seems like a way to encourage impulse buying which only benefits the store. Why as a customer would I want this?
Click to expand...
Exactly my thoughts. If a store thrusts an advert at me, I'm enough of a barsteward to avoid buying that thing at all costs.
I go into a store to get a defined thing not browse the shelves. In, get item, pay and get out.
Adverts (of every kind) are IMHO a blot on the landscape and frankly the world would be a better place without them.
 
ravenstar said:
I'm curious, is anyone really using this? If I go into a store, it's to buy what I want, not what the store wants to push me to buy. This just seems like a way to encourage impulse buying which only benefits the store. Why as a customer would I want this?
Click to expand...
currently writing my Bachelor Thesis about that. i will get back to you in early October :D
 
Dumb idea. Why would I want to recieve ads on my phone? If you want to advertise to me in the store, put up a sign.
 
xero9 said:
And more along the topic of this post.. I'm all for new technologies and everything, but iBeacon to me seems of no interest to consumers and all about additional ways businesses and make money by shoving ads down our throats.. Am I missing something?
Click to expand...

Yes! I am sick and tired of all companies shoving ads down my throat. I have a new rule. Anything advertised I will purposefully not buy. This has no value to consumers whatsoever and I believe was originally designed to be a way for consumers to see more information about something they are looking at; or like museums.

Don't you have to download the Target app for iBeacon to do anything? And if not, how do you disable that crap?
 
ravenstar said:
I'm curious, is anyone really using this? If I go into a store, it's to buy what I want, not what the store wants to push me to buy. This just seems like a way to encourage impulse buying which only benefits the store. Why as a customer would I want this?
Click to expand...

I think these morons don't understand that push marketing just doesn't work anymore; people get mad and loyalty goes down. Pull marketing is where it's at.
 
aloshka said:
Yes! I am sick and tired of all companies shoving ads down my throat. I have a new rule. Anything advertised I will purposefully not buy. This has no value to consumers whatsoever and I believe was originally designed to be a way for consumers to see more information about something they are looking at; or like museums.

Don't you have to download the Target app for iBeacon to do anything? And if not, how do you disable that crap?
Click to expand...

Oh and by the way, big reason why I use apple instead of android. I'm not a fanboy of either.
 
I can imagine such applications being useful with the Apple Watch. Having to hold your phone going through all the aisles of a store feels cumbersome... Looking at your shopping list from your wrist would be nice and easy.

Also, possibly they could tailor the deals / alerts to the purchase history of customers, creating at the same time some sort of loyalty / reward program.
 
Last edited:
bn-7bc said:
what is it about people in the US and their need to buy everything with credit?
Click to expand...

- "points" earned ($0.01-0.05 returned on each $1 spent)
- not having to worry about how much is in the account
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back