Possibly Social Engineering...

[Razor1138]

Ok, I was watching several shows on Rev3 and one sponsor that came up a few times was Adagio Tea. So as I always do to new sponsors, I went to the website and checked out different blends and so forth. I decided that, what the heck, I'll buy some. As I looked and found one I wanted, I placed it in my cart and proceeded to check out. Getting to the check out I was, I think, one click away from buying it and I think someone called me and I never finished the order. (closed the window completely)

2-3 days later Adagio Tea sends me an email that says "We see you attempted to place an order of tea with us recently, but did not complete the transaction. We hope this complimentary $5 gift certificate encourages you to reconsider." Bickity BAM! On one hand, $5 off for waiting it out...I gotcha. On the other hand, I still spend money...did they socially engineer me?

[masherscf]

On the other hand, I still spend money...did they socially engineer me?

Social engineering, or clever marketing...is there even a difference? Did you buy a product that you didn't want? Did they lie to you?

Online retailers notice that there is a lot of refusal in that last step of a transaction. Think about it, in a brick-and-morter store, how many people walk-away from a purchase after the item has been rung up and the sales clerk asks payment?

This is why Amazon's "one click buying" was such a boon. Overcoming that last minute refusal is a huge thing for Adagio. I don't think you've been swindled.

[shwooddotcom]

I don't think it's a swindle, but that's classic social engineering. Brilliant, actually.

Did you use the gift card?

[Razor1138]

Did you use the gift card?

Oh yeah, just used it and saved my $5.

[acidburn]

I've seen other stores online doing this to, so sometimes I'll leave a site that I want to buy from without ordering to see if I get a popup window offering a coupon code. It's happened enough times that it's worth my time to try it when I'm shopping online.

[Murphy1d]

Recently got a "We want you back" e-mail from McAfee a month after I stopped my subscription. Gave me 33% off. No, I didn't go back.

To me social engineering would be using that to my advantage. Go through the process..stop at the last moment (tease them) then follow through when they really want it.

Wait, what was I talking about?

[Shinigami052]

A little OT but I recently read Kevin Mitnick's book The Art of Intrusion and I'd really like to see more hard core social engineering tricks. Like how to "scam" other things like a free pizza or how to "scam" information from people etc. etc. Nothing that'd get you or Rev3 in legal trouble but...idk there's just something different that I'd like to see along the lines of social engineering.

[shwooddotcom]

A little OT but I recently read Kevin Mitnick's book The Art of Intrusion and I'd really like to see more hard core social engineering tricks. Like how to "scam" other things like a free pizza or how to "scam" information from people etc. etc. Nothing that'd get you or Rev3 in legal trouble but...idk there's just something different that I'd like to see along the lines of social engineering.

We've been doing some brainstorming about directions the show can take in the future (especially if enough people demand we up the number of episodes... hint hint). Right now, the bar trick stuff is really easy to write, perform, and shoot, so we're running with that, but I'd love to do exactly the kind of stuff you're talking about. We'll see how the show evolves over time.

Any thoughts from you guys?

[travislopes]

We've been doing some brainstorming about directions the show can take in the future (especially if enough people demand we up the number of episodes... hint hint). Right now, the bar trick stuff is really easy to write, perform, and shoot, so we're running with that, but I'd love to do exactly the kind of stuff you're talking about. We'll see how the show evolves over time.

Any thoughts from you guys?
I demand more episodes dammit! I want a new episode every hour!! :D

[ajadoniz]

(especially if enough people demand we up the number of episodes... hint hint)

e-mail bombardment sent.

[Bani-Banan]

Getting pizza for free is illegal, right?

One guy got busted because he filmed himself scamming taco bell.

Avoiding that would probably mean that right after you scammed them that you got back and paid for the pizza.

This whole scam school gives me ideas for my own podcasts.
(Not stealing your ideas! Mine involves credit cards and asus eee pc's ;))