That time a targeted ad actually saved me a ton of money on a truck part

Last Tuesday, my work truck's alternator went out in the middle of a job in Tacoma. I was looking at a $400 part at the local shop. While I was waiting for a tow, I got a targeted ad on my phone for the exact part, on sale for $220 from an online retailer I'd never heard of. I bought it, had it shipped overnight, and was back on the road in 48 hours. Everyone talks about data collection like it's only a bad thing, but that ad saved me $180 and a lot of downtime. I know it's creepy how they knew what I needed, but the practical help was real. Has a piece of your data ever actually worked out in your favor like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

nguyen.morgan6d ago

Ever wonder if they let the part fail on purpose to sell it?

jamief676d ago

So what's the line between a cheap part and a planned failure?

sage_moore376d ago

Yeah, it's that feeling when a cheap plastic part snaps after a year, but the rest of the thing is fine. Like a fridge shelf that breaks under normal weight, or a washer's plastic pump impeller that shreds. That's just cheap. But when a whole expensive unit dies right after the warranty ends, and the fix costs almost as much as a new one, that feels planned. They could've used a better bearing or capacitor for pennies more.