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Lexus To Start Spamming Car Buyers In Their Cars
Posted by
timothy
on Thu Jan 08, 2009 04:14 PM
from the even-as-they-sleep dept.
from the even-as-they-sleep dept.
techmuse writes "Lexus has announced plans to send targeted messages to buyers of its cars based on the buyer's zip code and vehicle type. Unlike regular spam, these messages will be delivered directly to the buyer's vehicle, and will play to the vehicle's occupants as audio. Lexus has promised to make the messages relevant to the car buyers." Imagine the fun that some targeted malware could do — not that such a thing could happen to a Lexus.
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Lexus Computers Infected Via Bluetooth 339 comments
Country_hacker writes "SCNews is reporting certain models of Lexus have been found with corrupted operating systems in their on-board computers. Evidently the virus got transferred through the Bluetooth interface. It's still unclear whether or not the computers run Symbian."
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Amazing (Score:5, Funny)
I'm stunned that Lexus just made me appreciate my crappy Neon.
Re:Amazing (Score:5, Funny)
If the lexus buyers are compensating for something... what sort of spam do you think would be relevant?
Parent
Re:Amazing (Score:5, Funny)
Hair transplants?
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Re:Amazing (Score:5, Insightful)
You know...I"ve just never understood this 'critisizm' people try to heap onto people that buy nice luxury or high end sports cars. I mean, sure I guess in some remote cases it is true, but, I have to believe the majority of people do it because they WANT a nice luxury car, they WANT to drive a perrformance car (my category)...and they can afford said 'toys'. Sure a Yugo will get you from point A to point B....but, IMHO, it just won't make the trip as nice, or do it as fast as a good car.
I guess I've just always chalked it up to people that are jealous of people who have extra money to burn, and like the finer things in life. Not everyone feels the need to make everything in live 'utility'...or 'just get by'.
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Re:Amazing (Score:5, Insightful)
Yeah, that's why. I drive a silly little car, but when I see a fancy car, I appreciate them. Making up a bunch of silliness about why they have one is just envy I think.
People spend their money on the things they like. When people from my job come to my apartment and see that everything is networked and computerized, they say "my god, how much more do you make than me???" But we all make the same (same contract), and that's just where my values are. They go on 2-month sojourns through the windswept mountains of Kafoonistan; I stream movies from the office to the TV. Mine is still way cheaper, and I enjoy it every day of the year.
But that's values. There's just no reason to criticize other people's "fun."
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Re:Amazing (Score:5, Interesting)
You know...I"ve just never understood this 'critisizm' people try to heap onto people that buy nice luxury or high end sports cars.
Speaking of someone with a great deal of automotive experience, all I can say is that people who buy a Lexus are big dumbfucks anyway. A Lexus is a COMPLETE PIECE OF SHIT. We had a Lexus come in to the shop with a bad ball joint, turns out you have to replace the whole upper A-arm. And Toyotas handle like dogshit compared to Hondas (Acuras) or Nissans (Infinitis) anyway. But the simple truth is that any Lexus, Acura, or Infiniti is just a Toyota, Honda, or Nissan (respectively) with different styling and more asphalt. They are a little quieter and have a little smoother ride, but that is strictly because they have more mass in between you and the road, which costs you fuel.
The problem is compounded by the difficulty of actually finding a car worth buying today. Mercedes vehicles have gone right in the toilet in the last few years; they join BMW, which has been there for some time. It's gotten to the point where a VW can actually be more reliable than either one - provided it was made at the plant in Wolfsberg, and not Mexico.
If you want a quality luxury car, buy a W126-bodied Mercedes and put a modern stereo system in it. The only other thing it's missing will be cupholders. You can get some nice one that will match the interior if you look around the 'net a bit.
Parent
Re:Amazing (Score:4, Interesting)
But the simple truth is that any Lexus, Acura, or Infiniti is just a Toyota, Honda, or Nissan (respectively) with different styling
Actually, they are just the same car with a different badge. If you travel to Tokyo, you won't find a single Lexus, Acura, or Infiniti - they are all badged as Toyota/Honda/Nissans. These "upmarket" brands were created solely for the US market.
In Canada it's even worse - the highest trim level of the Honda Civic (badged the EX in the USA) is badged as an Acura.
Parent
Re:Amazing (Score:4, Funny)
I find your optimism refreshing!
Parent
Re:Amazing (Score:5, Interesting)
my Supra was rear-ended and total'd by a police officer talking on his cellphone
Did he write himself up a ticket for careless driving, or did he have to call for backup to do that?
Parent
Re:Amazing (Score:5, Funny)
Reminds me of a riddle:
Q: What's the difference between a Porsche and a porcupine?
A: With a porcupine, the prick is on the outside.
Thanks, I'll be here all the week. Tip your servers, they work hard.
Parent
Lexus (Score:4, Insightful)
To repeat a comment from another Lexus-related thread [slashdot.org]:
Whatever their other failings, I do not think you will see this type of thing from companies like BMW or Mercedes.
Parent
Re:Amazing (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm guessing it is something like "OnStar"? I'd hope even if you for some reason GOT one of these units...you could opt out of said messages.
After hearing this...and hearing about how they can 'bug' your car with OnStar...and I'm sure can easily track you with these systems...why anyone would actually pay extra money for this type of crappy system?!?!
No thank you...leave this 'option' off for me please.
ON the other hand..think of the fun people will have when they can hack into this system..and send some really fun messages!!
Parent
Lexus has promised to make the messages relevant (Score:5, Insightful)
Genius. Because who is more likely to be ready to buy a new car than someone that just bought a brand new one.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Genius. Because who is more likely to be ready to buy a new car than someone that just bought a brand new one.
If the television ads are any indication, it might be an add to remind you to buy one for the misses, too. You know, His and Hers.
Re:Lexus has promised to make the messages relevan (Score:5, Funny)
They know this, and yet they violate the sanctity of that cocoon anyways. How self-destructively stupid can you get? Can you give the Darwin award to a car maker?
Will there be an advertisement where the driver rolls down their window to give someone some Grey Poupon and is overcome by the noise of nearby jackhammers, then rolls up the window and is blissfully appreciating the quiet when suddenly they're startled out of their relaxation by a blaring message from Toyota recommending that they investigate a nearby 5 star restaurant, the marketing department having recently decided to increase the volume because a large segment of their target demographic is hard of hearing?
Parent
Re:Lexus has promised to make the messages relevan (Score:5, Insightful)
The guy who just totalled his new car because he was distracted by adverts?
Parent
Stupid (Score:5, Funny)
They claim it won't be used to bombard customers with ads...yah right. If the capability exists, it will eventually be used for advertising.
So now, I get to spend a huge premium so I can have a car with the Lexus name, thereby making all the other suburbanites jealous, and on top of it I get "targeted" advertisements. I'll think about getting a car that spews ads at me if and only if you give me the car for free.
On the other hand, if you subscribe to the prevailing theory as to why people buy a Lexus in the first place, all of the "targeted" ads will be for Viagra.
Re:Stupid (Score:5, Interesting)
Indeed.
The system will be optional (not sure if that means opt-in or opt-out, though). But who would actually want this kind of thing? At best, the messages will be fairly relevant to the particular buyer (like TFA says, a "wine review" being delivered to a wine connoisseur)--but people already have plenty of ways to get that kind of information (web sites, magazines, etc.), and many of them work in cars (radio, podcasts, etc.).
At worst, it will be a barrage of spam, and everyone will opt-out. Most probably, the messages will be ads thinly veiled as relevant information (e.g. positive reviews of products from partnering companies), which people will ultimately become annoyed by.
I can't see this doing anything other than bothering customers.
Parent
Re:Stupid (Score:5, Insightful)
I can't believe this made it through a thought/mouth filter.
Parent
Re:Stupid (Score:5, Interesting)
How long before the first law suit claiming the ad is responsible for whatever driving calamity happened? I can't believe this made it through a thought/mouth filter.
In my last job I wrote software to control variable message signs on freeways. A lot of effort was put into selecting the messages which are displayed on the principle that any message is a distraction from driving and must be justified if it is presented at all.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Oh really now? Make sure to pass that policy onto the police, who always love to have their flashing red-and-blues on and as distracting as possible when they've pulled someone over or are responding to an accident.
I hear homeowners who get to be awakened by the flashing lights in the middle of the night, would be interested in such a change of policy too...
Re:Stupid (Score:4, Insightful)
They're trying to prevent people from hitting them. It kills a lot of people each year.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Great! According to the article the messages can last up to three minutes. So now you are telling me that I'm going to get stuck behind this jackass of a self-important Lexus driver at a traffic light for three minutes while they listen to a very important message from a Nigerian Prince requesting assistance?
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
One critical difference: all those features are things (some) drivers want. If they cause an accident, you'll be probably be laughed out of court for filing suit against the makers of these "voluntary" distractions.
Toss the equivalent of spam at them, in a product they paid tens of thousands of dollars for, and people will be much less willing to hold back the lawsuits. The court will be far more sympathetic too.
Re: (Score:3)
Optional like On-Star? When I visited the local Saab dealership when I was buying my last car (I didn't end up with a Saab), every car on the lot had the On-Star "option". Sure, it wasn't a standard feature, and sure they wouldn't deduct the price of it just because you didn't want it and they had installed it anyway. But they couldn't have you saying that a recurring-revenue feature was forced on you, could they? And people wonder why GM is having troubles... I bought a Honda (Acura). They put what I wante
Re:Stupid (Score:5, Informative)
The worst mistake I made when I bought my Lexus is that I gave the dealer my cell phone number. Now, I routinely get robo calls from Lexus, reminding about service, my birthday, customer appreciation events, etc... It drives me apoplectic! I have complained multiple times to no avail. It is mind boggling to me that such a quality oriented organization can so completely botch such a simple thing. They buy this new technology that allows them to reach out and annoy their customers and now they can't stop using it.
Parent
Re:Stupid (Score:5, Insightful)
Take your car back and ask for a refund. Even if you don't get it at least you will have made it very clear to the dealership that you are extremely unhappy and want to take back your business.
Also try to get in touch with someone fairly high up in Toyota's management / marketing at their corporate HQ and explain to them that you will never buy Toyota again and why. In the mean time keep complaining on the Internet and contact the local business / consumer watch-dogs (Better Business Bureau or whatever) and tell them that it was not made clear to you that your information would be used this way and that you are outraged.
It's a lot of work but this crap has to stop.
I'm self-employed and actually work as an advertiser (and I expect to wake up next to a dead horse tomorrow for admitting that here on /.) but I've never been tempted to think up ways to annoy users like this. In fact, I'm of the mind that making customers happy is the best road to success. I know. It's a pretty radical way to think. Give customers what they want, customers pay you and, *gasp*, come back!
I guess I'm old fashioned. I watch all of my colleagues come out with all of these flash ads and flash pop-ups etc. and I scratch my head wondering how these things catch on. I've had good success sticking to clean, simple, non-obtrusive ads and have never received a single complaint. Consequently my web-site user-base and my bottom line grow month after month (who'd'a thunk it!?). I will never understand why people think there is money in pissing people off.
Parent
This is a great idea! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:This is a great idea! (Score:5, Funny)
Why? Because I own stock in GM.
Personally, I use Charmin, but I guess some people like to splurge on the fancy paper.
Parent
If these ads really are relevant to the buyer (Score:5, Informative)
Why, Lexus, Why? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Why, Lexus, Why? (Score:5, Funny)
Have these people lost their minds? I spend $60,000 for an automobile and now it will spam me while driving it? Are you serious, Lexus? What could possibly motivate these people to want to spam their customers AFTER a purchase?
"Dude. He just bought the car."
"Really?"
"Serious."
"What else will he buy? Lets try to sell him a bridge."
"No, no. I've got something better. Let's get him to agree to getting ads in the premium-priced car he just purchased."
"Brilliant! This is gonna be so good..."
"OK. Serious face, now. Prepare to witness epic salesmanship."
Parent
Re:Why, Lexus, Why? (Score:5, Informative)
I spend $60,000 for an automobile and now it will spam me while driving it?
First of all, it's technically not spam, since you have to sign up to receive it (it's basically an audio newsletter). Second, it arrives in your inbox before you start driving, not while you're driving.
I would never sign up for it, but it's not quite what TFS suggests it is (surprise, surprise).
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Have these people lost their minds? I spend $60,000 for an automobile and now it will spam me while driving it? Are you serious, Lexus? What could possibly motivate these people to want to spam their customers AFTER a purchase?
I think they've realized that if you spend $60K on a sedan that you:
(A) Have a lot of disposable income; and
(B) Are susceptible to status marketing.
Plus, you've got to know that if they manage to finally pull off the dream goal of truly targeted marketing that some Lexus owners will be smugly proud of receiving "services" that are customized to their needs. That unrealistic fantasy has got to be part of what motivates the marketing goons to think this is an awesome idea.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
You're 6'6". The car's not tiny, you're just huge.
Promise to be discerning and restrained. (Score:5, Insightful)
Toyota officials promise to be discerning and restrained.
"We're not going to barrage customers with marketing messages," vows Jon Bucci, vice president of Toyota's U.S. advanced technology unit.
Yeah... and cable television will always be uncensored and commercial free... and sattilite radio will always be uncensored and commercial free...
Re:Promise to be discerning and restrained. (Score:4, Funny)
Some channels do.
Unfortunately my favorite channel (comedy 150) is one of them. And they're not normal commercials either; they're all for erectile dysfunction, male enhancement, gotomeeting.com, and colon cleansing.
As if everyone who likes to laugh has a small, soft penis, a bloated colon, and needs to meet with people in Hong Kong NOW!
Parent
Can buy an ad on this network? (Score:3, Funny)
My ad would read (aloud):
USED LEXUS FOR SALE - CHEAP, MUST GO. Best suited to hearing impaired. Call 555-1212.
Stupidest... idea... ever. However, I'm afraid that the world will go more and more this way. I'm surprised that things like this come first in "premium brand" products though - I would expect it more in a bargain-basement car to help subsidize costs maybe, but Lexus?
MadCow.
And the first hack will be... (Score:3, Funny)
"Hello Lexus Owner! This Car will self destruct in 10...9...8..." ... For extra evil, make the first two minutes of the audio dead air.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
And the 2nd hack would be a binaural recording of a police car, dopplering up in frequency as if it is overtaking the Lexus. Played at random intervals. At earsplitting volume.
Nobody read the article... (Score:5, Informative)
On the plus side, even for those that do decide to listen to the messages, this will only last until the first time somebody has an accident while listening to the message.
Security? (Score:5, Insightful)
I wonder if Lexus owners (Score:5, Funny)
detect the implied insult?
"If you're gullible enough to spend $60k on a Toyota, here's a deal for you!"
The first time I heard one of those ads.. (Score:5, Interesting)
OTOH, it fits with the target market quite well. The whole point of the Lexus experience, based on their advertising and on the way they're driven, is to insulate you from the road. You don't have to pay attention at all! You can't hear the road, you don't need to be skilled enough to park, just carry on with your make-up and your phone calls. Are they even available with turn signals?
Imagine all the possibilities (Score:5, Funny)
Driver: (turns on ignition, car starts)
Lexus: Good morning Driver 1, thank you for choosing lexus. Today's commute is brought to you by McDonalds, why don't you stop in on your way to work and get a McGriddle and McCoffee?
Driver: (backs out of driveway, heads down the road) No thanks car, It'll just be to work and back today.
Lexus: (tone of car changes to be deeper and more aggressive) I'm afraid I can't let you do that Driver 1. (car auto steers to nearest McDonalds, forces driver to purchase McGriddle and McCoffee)
Clippy the Lexus says... (Score:5, Funny)
Clippy the Lexus says...
"It looks like you are driving to your ex-girlfriends house; should I contact the highway patrol to schedule a breathalyzer test?"
-- Terry
Re:This won't go well (Score:5, Funny)
Or maybe Planned Parenthood at that point...
Parent
Re:This won't go well (Score:5, Funny)
I see - you're near - a - Starbucks. Don't you - want - to get - a - latte?
Is that with the William Shatner voice module turned on?
Parent
Re:I'm not familiar with Lexus models . . . (Score:5, Funny)
There is no "too big", there is only "insufficient force".
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