wonwinglo

How about this,I was aware that cereal manufacturers were placing devices in the packets to trace the movements of buyers,but never dreamed that kit manufacturers/retailers were also at it ?
Today I puchased a small kit from a model shop,when I got it home a tiny circular disc fell out of the box,at first I thought it was some considerate manufacturer providing lead discs for weighting purposes,however closer inspection revealed what looked like a tiny carbon disc,curious I tried to crush it with a pair of pliers,there was a small puff of smoke and a vile smell,I had probably short circuited it ! closer inspection showed that it had microscopic tiny electronic parts inside and obviously some type of battery enclosed,it was a tracking device and must have been following my movements up until the time that I destroyed it !
I rang up the shop who told me that it was indeed a commercial tracker following my movements,they made no excuses at its presence and said they were becoming more common and part of a market research organisation.
Why would anyone want to follow my movements for buying a kit beats me but there you have it,how many more of these tiny tracking devices are out there ? modern micro technology has brought with it some clever boxes of tricks,but it amazes me the lengths retailers/shops will go to,has anyone else seen these in any product and wondered what they are ?

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

Bluewavestudios

Barry,

Yes sadly these things are cropping up everywhere - Big Brother is definitely watching you now. It would be nice if this sort of kit was available to us as lost model tracking devices...I know there are bulkier alternatives available.

Having said that this story appeals to my evil sense of humour by thinking of somewhere we can we stick these things to get back at these companies (apart from that obvious rude place..!!) and let them work overtime in guessing where we are going.

Howabout sticking one in an R/C Plane and doing a few aerobatics or in an R/C Car and a few fast drift laps - should make the computer go dizzy !!

Any other suggestions..??

Regards........Mark.

__________________
I'm Only Here Coz I'm Not All There !!!

Bunkerbarge

Yes,

1) Stick them in an envelope and post them to the manufacturer.

2) Stick them with a piece of chewing gum on the underside of a lorry.

3) Post it to a friend in the United States.

4) Shove it down the back of the seat of a taxi.

I actually think it is verging on a civil liberty issue and I think it gives cause for concern.

__________________

“Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack, Butting through the Channel in the mad March days"

alan2525

If people are actually taking the time to bug Airfix kits...who is actually sitting at a screen actually taking the time to monitor the movements of these various bugs? I'm against the idea of these bugs but if they really must monitor your movements they must be pretty desperate if they are gonna record the movements of a static Airfix kit on a shelf for 10 years!

__________________

rjwood_uk

im quite amazed by this. do you mind saying what exact kit this was barry?

do you think it is airfix who did this or did you buy this from a large chain store in which case it could be the retailer putting them in all their products.

can you get a picture up barry? i will have to look out for these!!!

new to trains

i think the idea of bugging retail products of any type is a scandal..... if i ever find one of these i will stick it to the back of a delivery vehicle or similar it can then make multiple stops and hopefully render the data useless !

bloody cheek of the kits manufacturer !

__________________
just gotta keep building !

Gaz

If I ever find one of these bugs I think I'd glue it to a cat's collar, or a dog if I can't find a willing "collared" cat!

AerynPk

I think this is completely wrong. Watchin the movements of someone is very weird and is some kind of stalking. They can see if they have sold buy the amount of stcok sold. I would be careful maybe someone can find out where you live which is very uncomfortable in my eyes.

__________________
I miss you dad and will always love you with all my heart.

wonwinglo

Hit it with a lump hammer and it shatters revealing micro circuitry and wires,the thing short circuits and burns,I think it is the shop that are putting these into the kits as I have purchased different makes and they are in either.
Needless to say the shops deny anything about them,it is not a security device I have checked with someone who handles those,it is spyware.
Shall I name and shame ?
If you look carefully you can see in the centre where the wires stand slightly proud of the encapsulation.

__________________
'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

rjwood_uk

name and shame ahead Barry. infact i think you should write to watchdog about it.seriously!