I signed on the first day the service went live and saw, under the heading Buying Power, how popular my interests are. Since the deals aren't available yet, it's hard to evaluate how good they are, though company officials are quick to stress that getting the best discounts won't be their only priority. Users can also explain why a deal doesn't appeal to them. Then, vendors can use that feedback to tailor their deals to be more appealing. For example, if hundreds of would-be customers complain the price is too high or they dislike an item's color or its service contract, a vendor might change the deal.
Users can also choose how often they want information about new deals, which is sent by e-mail.
But spam, as America Online and other online entities have discovered, is far more difficult to control than paper and phone solicitations. On average, Americans spend eight months of their lives opening junk mail. Populardemand wants to give you back some of that time. Populardemand's consumer rights angle is a bit of a Trojan horse, since its bottom line goal is providing vendors with lists of ready buyers. Still, you can't fault the company for trying to create a viable business.