Why Doesn't It Know?

If my computer is smart enough to remember what I was browsing for, shouldn't it also be smart enough to know whether I already bought it? This drives me crazy! And I know it isn't really my computer, and probably has something to do with my cache or cookies -- two terms I understand in only the most superficial way (at least as they relate to computers). Also, just because I looked at something doesn't mean I'm actually planning to buy it. Today's case in point: plane tickets to Hawaii and/or Alaska. In that case, I'm just trying to figure out what to do with my airline credit I received a few months ago when my flight was overbooked. I have $700 toward a ticket; it has to all be used at the same time and can't be broken up. In other words, if I chose a flight that cost $300, I would be sacrificing the entire certificate. So I thought I'd look into places that are semi-expensive to travel to. I don't want to have to spend a lot (although I know I'll have to book a hotel and maybe a car, and I wouldn't mind adding a small amount to the $700).

The airline, as it is attempting to find takers for the flight credit, doesn't provide many details. Agents promote over the intercom "flight credit", which implies (at least to me) a credit for that much money with the airline. That's not really how it works. My first thought when I got the credit was that I could buy tickets for my son and granddaughters with it. No dice. It isn't transferable. Then I thought I could use some of it to go one place, and the rest to go somewhere else. Nope. When I read the fine print, I found that wasn't an option either. I'm not complaining. I sort of got something for nothing. It was a big inconvenience to go on a later flight and from a different airport, but it was worth it.

Anyway, back to my original topic, I hate it when I get emails -- or even posts on Facebook -- about items I looked at and either purchased or decided not to buy right now. The subject line on the emails is usually something like, "You left items in your cart!" or "Are you still interested?" The fact that it's in my cart or that I didn't buy it (from whatever company is sending me the email) should be a clue that I am, in fact, not currently interested. Does that ever work? I guess it must at least some of the time, and it doesn't cost the company anything to send out an email. Okay, I'm finished with my rant. New rule: clear my cache once a week.