I'm not convinced spam marketing works.

Ok, I'm a 19 year old male. Here's what I love:

Girls
Fashion/grooming etc.
Poker
Music
Cars
Computers
Renting movies


I just went in to my Bulk E-mail folder on Yahoo to see what I was getting spammed for:

Could You Use Extra Money Next Month?
---With as much money as I spend online I'm surprised they're asking if I need more.

Don't give up with cancer
---I don't have cancer, and only my grandfather on my mother's side has had cancer, and he's in his 80s.

Complimentary NBA Jersey-All Teams and Sizes
---I hate sports.

Pending Participation, You are Eligible for a 360 Gaming System
---I don't even know what a 360 is, I haven't owned a console since the original Playstation.

Enjoy a Lifetime Subscription to Sirius Satellite Radio, for Free
---I hate the radio.

Let us help you rebuild your credit
---I don't even have credit.

Do you have extended warranty coverage on your Vehicle?
---My car is 11 years old and I bought it used, something tells me I'm not getting any kind of warranty, no matter what.

Don't sweat the small stuff - let tax software do it for you.
---I don't 'do taxes' I take that to an accountant.

Skin Product Helps with Wrinkles - Prove to Yourself with Free Trial
---I'm a 19 year old teenager, are they serious?

Don't give up with SARS Diseases
---Isn't that like the flu, but in the Far East? I live in Connecticut, which is East COAST.

New, Brand Name BBQ Grill ($600 Value) - Participation Required
---I don't 'cook.'

Personalize your tote bag.
---I don't even know what a tote bag is, but I don't think I own one.

Decorate your home with wicker furniture.
---No.

See Mark Victor Hansen Live in your City
---I have no idea who those guys are, but I probably don't want to.

Get Your Ideal Mortgage from a Quality Lender
---I'm not exactly sure what a mortgage is, but my mom owns our house.

Looking for a special treat? Fruit baskets are special anytime.
---The last thing I would ever spend my money on is a basket filled with fruit. I certainly don't search for good deals on fruit online.

not normal men
---I clicked this one after just reading it now. ...It's a gay porn website. They were 50% right with that one, wrong orientation, right idea.

Feel 20 Years Younger
--- would love to know what it feels like to be a zygote, but again, will this miracle cream really do that?

That's it for now, but honestly, what's going on with SPAM? NONE of this spam targets me even remotely(except the gay porn one because I love pornography) you'd think these people would catch on and start sending me stuff based on what I actually buy. ...Or who I am. How do these companies stay in business?

They don't really target anyone, to them you're just an e-mail. They don't have any easy way to know your age/gender/etc. To send you an e-mail cost fractions of a penny, so they send it to any/all e-mail addresses. Sure they don't work on you, or probably most people. But somewhere out there is a person shopping for a bbq grill, a mom with bad credit, and a gay dude looking for some porn.

they make a killing off of spam, just because it doesn't apply to you doesn't mean it wont apply to the next ten guys. Also as Bios24 stated its cheap to send an email and the more you send the cheaper it becomes per email and the more you stand to make. The sad part is it works otherwise they wouldn't do it. It's all statistically, if only one guy answers their add for gay pr0n that alone will afford several thousand more emails.

its so sad.

it works because they have the ability to send emails to every single person, cheaply.
and really, it doesnt matter if you wont buy it, someone else in the world probably will

They're targetted towards people gullible enough to take them seriously. And to that end they do work. For the 80% of us that don't care, they're a huge nuisance and a waste of time. Hopefully our collective prayers and some aggressive lobbying will result in the death of SPAM.

Meanwhile some creative methods are being developed for combatting it, as demonstrated in this article I read in the NewScientist about a possible p2p spam filter: http://www.newscientist.com/channel/info-tech/mg18624996.700

well if you are convinced or not doesnt matter it works

how do i know, well there is more spam now than there was a year ago and if it wasnt working people wouldnt do it ( no money in it)

the probelm is that they can send out 100 of millions of emails a day and if even 1% of them give anything its a bucket load of money for vituraly no effort on there behalf