Online Vendor sold my personal info.

[KGB7]

Today in the mail, the snail mail, i received a large envelope from VUSE with a two page add for a new product and it was addressed to my name.

Now i know i havent used their product and i havent signed up to receive any info from them (VUSE). I also bought all my gear online from various vape vendors and none of it was VUSE or any type of chepo vape cigs. So one of the vendors went behind my back and sold VUSE my info. I dont know which vendor but one of them did, looks like ill be getting more junk in my mail box.

 

[Rickajho]

So... Didja ever smoke? And didja ever trade in cigarette UPC codes or points coupons for any merchandise?

 

[KGB7]

So... Didja ever smoke? And didja ever trade in cigarette UPC codes or points coupons for any merchandise?

I did smoke for many years, but never traded in any kind of points for any gear. I never gave my info to any tobacco companies or to any companies related or deal with big tobacco companies.

I have bought juices at local B&M, but they only have my email and ph# for juice discounts, and i haven't even received a single email from any of the B&M shops.

I fly under a radar, so i do my best to keep my info private when ever possible.

 

[Ou2mame]

I got a vuse thing the other day. I've only shopped at 4 shops online, wanna compare? Lol

 

[KGB7]

I got a vuse thing the other day. I've only shopped at 4 shops online, wanna compare? Lol

Good idea. I saved all my email receipts, will take some time to make a list.

Not sure what we can do or what to do, if we find the culprit.

 

[stevegmu]

Definitely a vape shop-BT conspiracy here...

 

[Ou2mame]

I'm just curious.. I got the vuse with the coupon. It sucks

 

[dbrandt01]

I doubt it was a vendor. I was receiving that junk before I even started vaping. If anything, it was a tobacco company in my case at least.

 

[freeall]

So... Didja ever smoke? And didja ever trade in cigarette UPC codes or points coupons for any merchandise?

You just like saying didja, don'tcha.

 

[KGB7]

I doubt it was a vendor. I was receiving that junk before I even started vaping. If anything, it was a tobacco company in my case at least.

I have received large fliers from Camel, but it was ages ago for about 6 month. I also never bought Camel. And for the past 5 years i only bought and smoked Black and Milds.

So i cant think of anyone else that might have my personal info.


Its possible, that VUSE copied Yellow Pages and mass sent fliers to everyone in a high populated area that has a large population of smokers. But thats just a theory of top of my head.

 

[Ou2mame]

They had my name though, and I'm not in any pages. It was a little weird that I got a coupon for vuse, when I don't get any junk mail like that before vaping. Not that I care really, but I don't think it's a coincidence that I started buying products online and I started getting coupons out of nowhere for the same type of product.

 

[GinnyTx]

do you participate in any type of "customer loyalty" type deals?

there's no expectation of privacy anymore

 

[KGB7]

do you participate in any type of "customer loyalty" type deals?

there's no expectation of privacy anymore

Nope.

As i said before, my local B&M has my ph# and email for juice discounts, other then that, i only used my personal info when i ordered vape products online which require me to fill out a shipping form.

Ive bought tires online many times over the past two decades, but i only get a tire catalog from the company that i ordered from. Heck, i bought car parts online for the past two decades, and i have never received any type of fliers from any car parts companies.

 

[gpjoe]

I got a Sears catalog, somebody's following me too.

In today's age, with all of the tracking that goes on, even when you do a Bing search, you think the only way was that a vendor sold your info? Kind of a stretch, IMO. If you TRULY want to "fly under the radar" you wouldn't have a credit card or a membership here.

 

[KGB7]

I got a Sears catalog, somebody's following me too.

In today's age, with all of the tracking that goes on, even when you do a Bing search, you think the only way was that a vendor sold your info? Kind of a stretch, IMO. If you TRULY want to "fly under the radar" you wouldn't have a credit card or a membership here.

I hear what you saying dude. Sears mass bombards people with fliers as they can afford to do so.

I work in IT security so i know how to keep a low profile, unless you think my CC companies are also selling my personal info. Then im extremely uppset do to discrimintion, as i havent received any discount coupons for personal lubricants. lol

 

[beckdg]

I hear what you saying dude. Sears mass bombards people with fliers as they can afford to do so.

I work in IT security so i know how to keep a low profile, unless you think my CC companies are also selling my personal info. Then im extremely uppset do to discrimintion, as i havent received any discount coupons for personal lubricants. lol

There's a small chance some of them are vapable too. Lol

Tapatyped

 

[sacullen]

Read the privacy policies of the vendors where you shop. Even ECF states they "generally" don't share information.

 

[retired1]

You'd be surprised at how much information you've provided inadvertently.

Do you have any rewards type cards used at grocery stores? Those are the absolute worst as far as privacy is concerned.

So before you start pointing fingers, you need to sit back and think about how much info you've provided through the years to other agencies.

For some rather eye opening reading, you may want to read this Forbes article.

How Target Figured Out A Teen Girl Was Pregnant Before Her Father Did - Forbes

More eye opening information here: Credit Cards Sell Purchase Data To Advertisers - Business Insider



And, as this is beginning to turn into a witch hunt, closing.

 

[Oliver]

Read the privacy policies of the vendors where you shop. Even ECF states they "generally" don't share information.

Meaning that we don't share information unless law enforcement gets in touch and we have no choice.

We certainly do not share ANY information that could be personally identifying in any way shape or form with anyone. Indeed, we try to collect as little personally identifying information as possible except in the case of verified members using the classifieds system - this is stewarded by one individual and not shared with anyone.

 

[Oliver]

My 2c - I also find it doubtful that online e-cig sellers have sold your data to their competition. But it's not beyond the bounds of plausibility.

As Tom has speculated above, there really are many, many ways that companies get profiles on potential customers. The tobacco industry is known to have highly sophisticated marketing strategies, and this includes the stewardship of databases with millions of names.