I know that retail is hurting. Small boutique shops closing around my neighborhoods, incredible sales online with discounts, free shipping, anything to get us into (or mostly back into) the stores and buying again. I do shop locally when I can or it makes sense - the local shoe store didn’t have anything wide enough for me the last three times I’ve checked. They’re still around, but a few other stores aren’t.

But when it comes to other things, it’s easier and more economical for me to click it and ship it. And continue doing so as I get online offers and reminders. Some of the offers are very targeted: they’re collecting data on me, and using it. My habits, my desires, my window shopping.

Amazon makes recommendations to me (Usually pretty dumb ones - if I bought a microfiber gym towel for a super duper discount, why am I going to care about a 5% discount on a smaller, similar one? I have a towel now, thanks!) and adjust what they offer based on what I’ve bought or looked at. They do this for all of their users, and I’ve found it useful enough that I don’t mind this creepy minimal spying anymore. The small privacy I’ve given up there has paid for itself in both discounts and time saved not driving out to a big store to get a case of wipes and then getting sucked into the “as long as I’m here” trap.

Other retailers do it, too, but less subtly than Amazon. I’ve been trying out backpacks and diaper bags and wallets and purses as I shift towards carrying a lighter load on the train riding with the kid every day. I may only work a few miles from the ocean, but I am slowly coming to the realization that I don’t need to carry a tsunami-ready jump pack at all times. I could use a smaller purse, too. The purse that replaced the evil bag (it killed my camera and ate my wallet last fall) is just too big for light, daily, commuter train use.

So imagine my surprise when this showed up in my inbox:

Dear [aunt mommy],

We noticed that you left items like the Travelon RFID Blocking Passport Case in your shopping cart at eBags. Come back and order this great product and we will take 15% off your eBags purchase*. Now that you’ve had a chance to think about it, why not buy it today!

See the items left in my cart now

If you’re still not sure, please take some time to browse eBags customer reviews for the Travelon RFID Blocking Passport Case or one of our other 30,000 products onsite.

Kind of funny that I’m shopping for privacy equipment and the shopping cart wants to know why I hesitated pulling the trigger on the purchase. I’m sure the NSA will be happy to know I went with a less secure plain leather wallet instead.

*To the Tune of God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen