11–20 of 154 posts
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/06/26/155756095/...
In fact they are finding the lowest prices, then trying to maximize the amount you pay for it.
Disgusting.
Orbitz also played with how they rank search results. After finding Mac users were likely to spend 30% more on a nightly room rate, they started putting higher priced rooms at the top when Mac users searched. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/06/26/155756095/...
So their basic premise is a lie.... "We find you the lowest price"... In fact they are finding the lowest prices, then trying to maximize the amount you pay for it. Disgusting.
"We find you the lowest price (that we think you'll actually purchase)".
FTFY?
Retailers who ask customers if they would like to donate to charity after a sale are using it as a test to see if they can raise prices.
That seems like a very weak and noisy signal compared to, you know, directly changing prices, which they do all the time.
Then retailers will attempt to bring legal challenges against them for breaking terms of service, that will be interesting...
At some point in the next 5 years, I predict there will online services that will "proxy-shop" for you. They will specialize in building profiles (cookies, logins, etc) that get offered low prices, then use these to purchase products on your behalf. Perhaps a browser plugin, so that at the moment you go to check out on a product, you send the product's link to the service and they get it for you at a lower price. The…
Retailers who ask customers if they would like to donate to charity after a sale are using it as a test to see if they can raise prices.
I think the "charity bundling" concept is just for P.R. The company presents the big check at the end of the campaign, and the public then credits the company, even if the company itself contributed nothing beyond a little (deductible) personnel time.
The Ronald McDonald House perfected that mechanism. Some retailers used to do the same with pooling customer MDA donations, then showing up to the telethon with a big check... with the company name on it.
At some point in the next 5 years, I predict there will online services that will "proxy-shop" for you. They will specialize in building profiles (cookies, logins, etc) that get offered low prices, then use these to purchase products on your behalf. Perhaps a browser plugin, so that at the moment you go to check out on a product, you send the product's link to the service and they get it for you at a lower price. The…
What's old is new again, I guess.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
They also use it as a tax write off...
How? It's not their money in the first place so collecting deducting it just goes back to zero.