Heard of “fluid pricing”? You’re about to!
Theoretically, software can track and identify a potential buyer, look up his past purchases, perhaps even link to his credit rating, Facebook posts, age and income – then make a pretty decent guess about how much he’ll pay for a product. Buffalo News
Odd true-life example. My former hairdresser, a Brazilian lady, charged her Brazilian/Latino customers more – because they have more and thicker hair!
Anyway, fluid pricing (some might say discriminatory pricing) is an age-old tradition – closeout sales, end of season clearance, senior discount, “Ladies Night”, etc. But now they are talking about altering prices by the minute, by the location and by the customer. And it’s all about technology. One more reason you might want to turn off Location Services on your smart phone!
So, what do you think? Should the guy sitting next to you on the airplane pay the same for his ticket as you did? Or is it none of your business? Do you care? A lot of people do – the article quotes a study that says when people find out that they have been “price-targeted” they don’t like it! Give us your thoughts over at the MindField Online Facebook page!
That practice has gone on for years in African Americans or poorer neighborhoods, and still goes on today. We have always been charged more for the same product in the same store chain in our neighborhood. Go outside our area & shop & get the better price. It’s awful but true,especially when some of these Americans can least afford the higher prices. They use all types of reasons for this practice. Poor people are just as hard working as anyone else.Some may not have had the best education or job opportunities as others. There is no good reason to gouge our poorer sisters & brothers. Just remember you will reap what you sow. You may find yourself in the same position if you lose your job or home. Do unto others as would have them to do unto you. What goes around, comes around. Be very careful how you treat the ” least of these”.
the guy setting next to me on the airplane should pay the same price as i do.
the hairdresser is justified by charging a little more for people with thicker hair.
more + more work. it goes that way in pretty much any profession .
i think tracking via internet is way to open. it really needs to be reeled back in.
companies are overstepping their boundaries from the original intent when they first started . that also seems to be a trend in todays marketing practices