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Tinder’s pricing algorithm can charge users up to 5x more for same service

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Re: Tinder’s pricing algorithm can charge users up to 5x more for same service

#81
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people are fine with movie theatres charging children less than they charge adults. Is that 'unfairly discriminating against a certain demographic'?

>Is that 'unfairly discriminating against a certain demographic'? I suspect it gets a free pass because the demographic being discriminated against is better off (eg. adults who tend to have more disposable income). If it were the other way around (eg. software companies charging elderly people more because they don't know any better), there's going to be more backlash.

It's not that they're better-off, but rather that the movie theater discovered that a movie the child wants to see often forces the parents with them. By discounting the child, they increased the sale of at least 1 ticket for the parent, and therefore, they make more money. If the child wasn't discounted, the parent might choose an alternative source of entertainment (because face it, adults tend not to want to watch children movies) and the theater lose out on that adult ticket!

this is why you don't see a discount for couples usually - coz they were going to pay even without the discount.

Re: Tinder’s pricing algorithm can charge users up to 5x more for same service

#82

Disclaimer: I think Tinder is a rent-extracting garbage app, BUT, philosophically speaking, why is dynamic pricing unfair? If the algorithm detects that based on your biography, location and usage patterns, you would keep using this service even if it charged you 5x as much, isn't that just the market becoming more efficient?

"fairness" is an interesting concept in commerce of any kind, which seems to be more prevalent in the US than elsewhere.[1] If one thinks of commerce as "willing buyer,willing seller" then a transaction occurs at the point where both sides are content with the money/product swap. What other people paid for the same product is only tangentially relevant - if I'm happy with the transaction today why should I be less ha…

> if I'm happy with the transaction today why should I be less happy tomorrow based on someone else's transaction?

jealousy. Even animal studies have shown that monkeys who sees another monkey receive more reward for the same "work" gets angry (i recall it was some experiment where one monkey got "paid" in grapes, while another was paid in something else less desirable - i forgot what - and initially both were happy, as they did not see each other's payment, but once the monkey saw the grape reward, they refused their reward and got angry).

Re: Tinder’s pricing algorithm can charge users up to 5x more for same service

#83

Of course, also Tinder's profit is directly dependant on you not finding a partner, so you continue to use their service.

They have to strike an interesting balance- enough people have to find romantic success on the app (and tell their friends) to get new users, but not be so successful that too many users stop using the app.

Re: Tinder’s pricing algorithm can charge users up to 5x more for same service

#84
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it really a free market? Doesn’t the network effect create a monopoly?

Match group (which owns many of the major dating apps) definitely performs anti-competitive and borderline illegal behavior. But tinder is far from a monopoly. The fact that they own 22 dating app companies is testament to how easy it is to break into that market.

It’s a testament as to how easy to break in. It is not a testament as to how easy it is to turn a profit. These companies get bought by match because they’re not super profitable and able to compete until end of time against match.

Re: Tinder’s pricing algorithm can charge users up to 5x more for same service

#85
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GP is most certainly referencing the sugar daddy explosion

I don't think that's apples-to-apples though. Sugar dating is typically transactional and typically doesn't lead to genuine connection and relationships, whereas most datings apps are about something more than an occasional hookup, including Tinder (see the millions of "not here for a hookup" statements in womens' profiles that have been there for years).

Correct. Sugar dating is definitely not the same thing as matchmaking or even trying to get a partner on apps.

Sugar dating is very much a transactional one. It’s a more affordable version of sex work.

Re: Tinder’s pricing algorithm can charge users up to 5x more for same service

#86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tinder doesn't sell dating. I'm not sure exactly what their product is, but its more to do with self-worth, impulse control and sexual gratification - even if some of their matches do produce relationships. The predatory monetization scheme makes more sense in that context.

Tinder sells access to women. It’s the online version of “ladies night”, where women get into the bar for free while men do not.

What do you mean? Women have to pay for premium Tinder features.

Re: Tinder’s pricing algorithm can charge users up to 5x more for same service

#88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah the narrative has really changed. It’s not that different from the lab leak theory

I wonder what other opinions we aren’t allowed to have today that could end up being true?

> we aren’t allowed to have today that could end up being true?

i'd say rather than not allowed, it's more an uncomfortable truth that people are too socially stigmatized to agree or say.

I think as society sheds such stigma, over time, society becomes more progressive and "free".

Re: Tinder’s pricing algorithm can charge users up to 5x more for same service

#89

Tinder is basically 5/100 guys getting all the matches per 90/100 women.

Funny that a few years ago this was an “incel” opinion and would get you banned from Reddit. Now it’s practically common sense

Depending on your circles - it still is. Common enough on many dating subreddits, blind, and plenty of other places that would consider this data backed analysis to be “incel theory”.

It mostly has to do with the gender ratio. If there are women on there (common enough on many forums) or any guys who’ve never experienced any amount of sustained sexual frustration (uncommon but happens) - the incel talks start coming out. Mostly due to willful ignorance on their part.

Re: Tinder’s pricing algorithm can charge users up to 5x more for same service

#90
This will likely become more normal over time. No one really cares because it’s mostly men who are losing their money. And rich men aren’t often on these apps - so it’s only the working class that is losing. So, working class men are getting screwed over by a corporation? No, you don’t say.
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