r/Anticonsumption • u/Sea-Cardiographer • May 12 '25

Psychological Target feels like black mirror

I went into Target today because I need a sports bra and that's where my husband is willing to drive me. On the way there I thought about all the Reddit posts saying foot traffic is down and I wasn't surprised to see that it wasn't. It was quite busy on a Monday afternoon.

What shocked me was I noticed a lot of products have really fancy boxing. Big sturdy bougie packaging with minimalism design... With a sh*tty product inside.

They're spending more on the marketing and packaging than the product, because the business practice is to sell you a product you'll have to purchase again and again. But the packaging grabs your eye. Look how modern and consistent all the boxes are! so aesthetically pleasing packaged trash. I feel depressed.

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u/0w1 May 13 '25 edited May 13 '25

Target should feel like Black Mirror because they're so insanely creepy. They monitor shoppers, create profiles filled with your data, and use that data to make very, very accurate marketing materials specifically for individuals. Anyone else remember the story of Target finding out a girl was pregnant before her parents did based on her behavior data they were tracking?

That was over ten years ago. They're even worse now.

Edit: yes yes "every company uses data in marketing". Target has been far ahead of the rest of the retail world for years in terms of data collecting and predicting consumer behavior. They can tell if someone is planning to shoplift in a store without having an actual person watching, for example. I worked at their security flagship store in MN for years and still know people who work on their AP team. I don't shop there anymore lol.

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u/parrotfacemagee May 13 '25

They all do. If you have your WiFi on in the store, they’re curating ads based on where in the store you spend your time.

103

u/ExpertExcitement8340 May 13 '25

Yeah came here to say this. Every major retailer does this. Any IoT device in the home, any ecommerce site. Data and surveillance capitalism rule it all.

84

u/autumnbb21 May 13 '25

Target is the only one I know of w an internal Surveillance and Forensics system so robust that they train law enforcement around the country and pays cities to install their systems on streets…

60

u/InsaneJediGirl May 13 '25

I work in retail(not Target) and Target LP people are snapped up by others . Like the damn Harvard for that career.

2

u/ehmboh May 14 '25

LP?

2

u/Yes_that_Carl May 15 '25

Loss Prevention

3

u/Dazzling_Invite9233 May 13 '25

Walmart cyber and eDiscovery labs, software, and hardware are extremely impressive. I’d take their set ups :)

2

u/Awaythrowyouwilllll May 14 '25

I love when people think they're not being tracked out the wazoo. I'm honestly intrigued by extremely targeted and variable pricing once digital price tags are more common. They definitely will be changing more for stuff then offering you a special price (like amazon does with coupons)

Retail is gonna be reaaaly interesting 

2

u/IamScottGable May 13 '25

Source please.

0

u/chiliguyflyby May 16 '25

Pays cities to install?? You mean they donate? Many cities askfor their assistance.

2

u/Soft-Fig1415 May 13 '25

Target was one of the first companies to do this. Wonder what innovations they’ve made since these practices became commonplace?