Remington Newsletter: Cybermonkey Newsletter Alert!

[Quoheleth]

I was at the range today when a fellow member showed me the latest & greatest survey published by Remington via their emailed newsletter. He had a paper copy that I handled, I know the fellow, and I trust him so I believe his story is legit.

The survey starts innocently enough - general firearms questions like how often do you shoot, what do you shoot, etc. About half-way through this survey, though, it starts getting suspiciously detailed: what kind of firearms do you own. And, category by category (i.e., rifle, pistol, shotgun) it lists names of manufacturers/firearms and wants to know how many of each you have and - if I recall correctly - how much ammo you have for each gun.

This ol' boy rightly was quite hacked off. He called Remington and the CS desk jockey had no clue what the survey contained. As he went item by item, the CS guy got quieter and quieter. Finally, he asked for a copy of the survey to be emailed to him and his boss for review. This ol' boy also contacted the NRA and the 2nd Ammendment Foundation.

I have gotten Remington's emails in the past, but lately I've been deleting them and have to say, I missed this. I want to get a copy of the survey via email so I can start calling Big Green, et. al., also about this. They've managed to do what the Libs have wanted to do, but via slight-of-hand: a defacto - albeit informal - cataloguing of firearms. If those emailed surveys get subpoenaed, with edresses of survey takers, guess what the Feds get? A gift-wrapped present from Remington and their parent company.

Q

 

[hso]

Sounds like a common marketing survey to help them focus on what people want instead of guessing.

Ask you pal to forward the email to you then ask if the survey info is free of any personal identifying information. If it's just an online form and remington doesn't connect to any ID info then there should be no harm.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

My pop got a survey from Kubota a few years ago. He owns two of their tractors. The survey asked what tractors he had, what attachments for each, how many hours each was run during the course of a year, if he plans to buy any additional tractors or implements. Pop was put out a bit as well. He didn't have time to be filling out all that stuff.

As for the Remington survey, yeah, it sounds like typical marketing stuff. FYI, if you have ever sent in a warranty card or gun for repair at the factory, then there is a record of it that could potentially be subpoenaed by the government.

 

[huntsman]

manufacturers/firearms and wants to know how many of each you have and - if I recall correctly - how much ammo you have for each gun.

I would have told them all my guns are Remington as is all my ammo(thousands of rounds) just to build up their self-esteem.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

It took some searching, but I found where somebody else had posted about the survey and a link to it....
http://www.surveymonkey.com/S/RemingtonE?c=2807661

First question is about big game hunting
Second is about types of game
Small game hunting
Types of small game
Bird hunting
Types of birds
Participation in Shooting sports
Which shooting sports
More competition questions
Do you own a personal shotgun for person use and how many by brand
How many boxes of ammo do you typically purchase in a year for it.
Centerfire rifle?
Type and use
How many of what brands
How much ammo do you typically purchase
Same stuff for rimfire
Same stuff for handgun
What age did you first start hunting/shooting?
Gender?
Marital status
How many in your household hunt/shoot?
Your Race
Your Education level
Area in which you live (urban, rural, etc.)
Estimated household income
Involved in scouting?
Which groups of scouting?
Member of various national organizations?
Date of Birth
Name (First, Middle, Last)
Address (optional)Do you want to hear from Remington in the future

While I see nothing particularly wrong with the survey as being a marketing survey, I can see where folks would not like the DOB, Name, and address (optional) requests.

 

[Quoheleth]

Thanks, Double Naught. My Googlefu has been been weak lately.

To me, some of those questions were a little too pointed and the name/address/etc was over the top.

Thanks...
Q

 

[Vicious-Peanut]

Race? Education level? Income?


Uhh no.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Looks like a standard marketing style survey.

 

[NukemJim]

Perhaps my paranoia and my poor computer skills mislead me but to me the crux of the question is personal ID info.

then ask if the survey info is free of any personal identifying information.

1) How do I know that there are no "cookies" or other tagging code on the survey?

2) If I ask someone at the company this assumes that the person you speak with A) knows the truth and B) is willing to tell anybody who calls and ask.

3) I do not know enough to be sure but wouldn't "data mining" be abe to link "annonymus" surveys with real world names and address's? Again I do not know merely asking.


However, tis most likely just a marketing tool.

Best wishes
NukemJim

 

[Double Naught Spy]

1) How do I know that there are no "cookies" or other tagging code on the survey?

Just go in and delete your cookies and junk internet files if you are afraid of cookies. Or, turn cookies off before doing the survey.

2) If I ask someone at the company this assumes that the person you speak with A) knows the truth and B) is willing to tell anybody who calls and ask.

That sort of goes for any person at any company.

3) I do not know enough to be sure but wouldn't "data mining" be abe to link "annonymus" surveys with real world names and address's? Again I do not know merely asking.

Well gee, that could happen at any store where you have purchased guns on a credit card, any time you have sent in a warranty card, or any time you have sent a gun in for warranty work. How do you know those databases won't be mined?

However, tis most likely just a marketing tool

Automotive surveys of the 1990s used to ask for a lot more information than this survey.

 

[Bovice]

I don't think they meant any harm by it. As far as asking how much ammo you have and what caliber, that makes perfect sense for them to ask that in a survey. They can figure out what's most popular, and shift production to those primary calibers. It's smart business. If you're buying case after case of .223 and the other 60% of those surveyed are collecting it too, what does that mean? .223 is what they need to raise production on. If, say, 15% were stocking .338 Lapua, is it wise to mass produce it? No. They should limit their production of the other calibers (not do-away with it because it's still income, but lower it) so they can get in on the big business.