| Re: 'Surveillance pricing'. Posted by grahame at 16:54, 9th August 2026 |     |
It's probably good to know that surveillance pricing exists. (I didn't.) Prices for items are not displayed and a system checks what it knows about someone and presents a personalised price for that person - which may take account of e.g. their pain point. It could be argued that dynamic pricing / surge pricing is on the way to this, but for the addition of the personal data aspect. It's easy to think how this could go south & become a 'mare for everyone if it crept in to transport ticketing.
Mark
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveillance_pricing
Mark
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveillance_pricing
Sadly, pricing based on what people appear to be able to pay does exist and has for many years. I suspect I have seen it on airline fares where an enquiry gives a price, then (having checked with family) a couple of minutes later the fare offer is higher. Do we also see elements of it where prices are available only to new customers?
Even before "internet days", living in a bigger house we got very familiar with quotations for the same service being - we felt - adjusted upwards having seen where we lived.
Edit note: Minor typo corrected, for clarity. CfN.
| 'Surveillance pricing'. Posted by Mark A at 16:24, 9th August 2026 | |
It's probably good to know that surveillance pricing exists. (I didn't.) Prices for items are not displayed and a system checks what it knows about someone and presents a personalised price for that person - which may take account of e.g. their pain point. It could be argued that dynamic pricing / surge pricing is on the way to this, but for the addition of the personal data aspect. It's easy to think how this could go south & become a 'mare for everyone if it crept in to transport ticketing.
Mark
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveillance_pricing
