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Privacy Incursions to Support Price Discrimination
An anonymous reader writes "BusinessWeek has an interesting interview with academic Andrew Odlyzko about how increased corporate spying will inevitably lead to targeted pricing and how this system can be abused." The paper (pdf) makes interesting reading. Very good insights into the reasons why businesses want to get to know you.
You stop by CNN.com, and a pop-up flashes on screen: "Hello, Mr Thompson, you look like you could use a bigger penis!"
That Bill Gates will get charged $1000 for a pack of gum?
If so, I'm all for it.
Reality comes from above. God is calling. Don't most religions have "targeted pricing" schemes of their own?
Indeed they do. In Christianity, the price is free, but TCO can run quite high... ;)
The preceding comment has been reviewed and declared to be compliant with HIPPA Phase II regulations.
So does this mean that all those people claiming that the software they steal isn't a loss because they wouldn't buy it anyway will get to buy it for $0.01? I mean, that's accurately priced for them...
Sig & Below
Yuck Fou
Instead I will start getting weight gaining tips and candy advertisements
New year Resolution: Don't change sig this year
and figured you were a masochist who enjoyed paying large sums of money for unreliable objects.
A. Rightmann
This has indeed already been put into place in many markets. Check out this article for one example of such.
I ain't evil, I'm just good looking.
I don't see how you could do that whilst retaining the same credit card.
:)
While you make a valid point, I think the simple amount of junk mail I get daily offering me NEW NEW CREDITCARDS AT LOW LOW RATES! makes this a wholly moot point.
Heck, I have a different email address for everything I sign up for online, why not have a different credit card for each merchant?
AHHHHHHH! I'm burning with goodness again!
- Reakk, Sluggy Freelance
Just do what I do ... when they tell me 'Sir, you would have saved $15 on this purchase if you had used your discount card. Would you like me to give you one now that I'll use for this purchase.' I say 'sure.' They give you a temporary one that you then you are supposed to go over to the customer service desk to fill out the forms. I let her swipe it, then throw it in the trash below the register. Never use the same card twice ... and don't forget your tinfoil hat ... otherwise they'll scan your brain and know what you bought last time and put it all together.
-Ab.
Nothing fails quite like prayer.
Hmm..., 1)You value your privacy 2)You shop at Upscale Markets 3)You are easily angered 4)You will pay extra to protect your privacy Thats a lot of useful information you gave away there.
I tried for 5 years to come up with a clever sig...only to realize that I am not clever.
"banal"
You are so right.
Your sucker rating will haunt you like your credit rating. Now is the time to start being shrewd, before you build up a reputation a big fat sucker.
Ugly, out-of-shape and uncool?
:)) -- I swear, they work like a charm.
We'll be paying full price for our duds.
'We', huh? Speak for yourself. I am dead secksi.
Haven't you heard of "geek chic"? (Not Geek Chick; they are very rare and are an entirely different quantity).
As a serious tip, I will relate some advice my 5 years younger, much cooler, much more in-shape 10th-grade brother gave me, advice that changed my life:
"See, if you're going to be a skinny computer geek, you have to buy some of those black-rimmed Weezer glasses, and wear short-sleeved dress shirts with jeans. Oh, and wear cool shoes, either those hiking boot looking ones that rappers wear or lowtops like Vans or Curt Cobain shoes" -- I think he means Converse All-Stars -- "and MOST IMPORTANT, you've got to comb your hair forward and spike it like Brad Pitt did in Fight Club" -- actually some kind of 'bed head', not all spikes, with the hair swooping up in the front. He assured me that "girls are gonna be all over you, man. Girls LOVE Weezer glasses".
Now, normally, when someone gives me fashion advice -- especially about my hair -- I thank them sincerely, and do the exact opposite. I always have my hair cut short right when long hair starts coming back, and vice versa. But I swear to God --- the little bastard was right on. Girls love Weezer glasses. I have perfect, pristine vision, and I got a pair of fake glasses to wear when I go out to parties and things (I say that they are a weak prescription if anyone asks, or puts them on
I should really write an article for Slashdot, or something -- "My Cool Little Brother Answers Your Fashion Queries".
One other thing, for skinny guys like me: KEEP THE SIDES OF YOUR HAIR SHORT if you aren't planning on really, really growing your hair out. Otherwise, it makes your head look even wider, which makes your head look weirdly proportioned and oversized for your frame.
This should really be moderated to something like (+6, Listen To His Younger Brother Or You Will Continue To Look Like A Chess Club Member, Unless You Are At Uni In Which Case You Have Probably Already Got Geek Chic Going On, Along With Those Horrible 'Ironic' Retro T-Shirts From Goodwill That You Think Make You Look So Urbane.)
Or, you can go with this guy's formula. Heh.
Do not read this sig.
who are regular purchasers of NASCAR memorabilia. Race has nothing to do with it.
I think you picked a bad example, seeing as how NASCAR is all about races.