Capital One Made Me Different Loan Offers Depending On Which Browser I Used

#1

Post by bensummers » Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 4:17 PM UTC

Capital One Made Me Different Loan Offers Depending On Which Browser I Used
consumerist.com

Re: Capital One Made Me Different Loan Offers Depending On Which Browser I Used

#2

Post by underdown » Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 4:29 PM UTC

split testing different offers?

Re: Capital One Made Me Different Loan Offers Depending On Which Browser I Used

#3

Post by pavel_lishin » Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 4:38 PM UTC

underdown wrote: post #2

split testing different offers?

Right, she needs to go back and check the pages again with fresh installs a few times. It may be more or less random.

Re: Capital One Made Me Different Loan Offers Depending On Which Browser I Used

#4

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 4:40 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Capital One Made Me Different Loan Offers Depending On Which Browser I Used

#5

Post by gkoberger » Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 4:44 PM UTC

It's either:

  - A random number each time
  - Normal split testing using a cookie
  - Split testing using the user agent rather than a cookie

The last one would, I suppose, be more consistent than using a cookie- after all, most people wouldn't switch browsers, but they might clear their cookies.

That being said, a few companies have gotten in hot water for doing this.

Amazon in 2000: http://news.cnet.com/2100-1017-245631.html

Automattic: http://brianbreslin.com/automattic-caught-ab-testing-pricing... (although they admitted up front they were doing this)

[Edited for readability]

Re: Capital One Made Me Different Loan Offers Depending On Which Browser I Used

#6

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 4:46 PM UTC

underdown wrote: post #2

split testing different offers?

[deleted]

Re: Capital One Made Me Different Loan Offers Depending On Which Browser I Used

#7

Post by tlb » Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 4:49 PM UTC

You also get different loans if you walk into a bank wearing a suit vs. a hoodie.

Re: Capital One Made Me Different Loan Offers Depending On Which Browser I Used

#8

Post by andre3k1 » Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 4:54 PM UTC

tlb wrote: post #7

You also get different loans if you walk into a bank wearing a suit vs. a hoodie.

So which browser is the equivalent of a tuxedo? A suit? A hoodie?

I'm not so sure browser choice is an accurate signal of a person's worth (In this sense, worth could mean anything).

Re: Capital One Made Me Different Loan Offers Depending On Which Browser I Used

#9

Post by benvanderbeek » Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 4:57 PM UTC

andre3k1 wrote: post #8

tlb wrote: post #7

You also get different loans if you walk into a bank wearing a suit vs. a hoodie.

So which browser is the equivalent of a tuxedo? A suit? A hoodie? I'm not so sure browser choice is an accurate signal of a person's worth (In this sense, worth could mean anything).

Safari is a hoodie

Re: Capital One Made Me Different Loan Offers Depending On Which Browser I Used

#10

Post by andre3k1 » Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 4:58 PM UTC

Just out of curiosity, is there any proof out there that airline companies discriminate based on browser choice?

My thoughts are that since airline companies are the quintessential example of price discrimination they would most likely have such a system in place.