These companies
are actively trying to
f#%k you.
Instead of giving everyone the same price, they're using AI and algorithms to f#%k you over and charge you more.
These companies – across flights, hotels, rent, food, everyday items, and more – are using “Surveillance Pricing” to bleed you dry.
What the f#%k is
“Surveillance Pricing”?
Surveillance Pricing – also known as Personalized Pricing or Algorithmic Pricing – is when companies use your data to charge you the absolute highest price possible.
Here’s what it means for you:
These companies will make you pay a higher price than what they charge someone else for. If they can charge you more without you knowing, they will.
These companies will raise prices based on your purchase history and browsing history. They track your behavior so they can use it against you.
These companies are trying to raise prices everywhere. Some of them are using it to raise your rent.
These companies are trying to squeeze every penny out. Some are even bragging about how much money they’ll make off of you.
What you should
watch out for.
WATCH YOUR ONLINE ACTIVITY:
These f#%kers are tracking your online behavior:For flights, hotels, and high-demand items, prices will actively creep up each time you return to view the same item.
These f#%ers will use your device type against you: Shopping on a premium device, like an iPhone or a Mac (vs. an older PC)? These f#%kers will try to charge you more because of it.
WATCH YOUR APPS:
These f#%kers are tracking your location:Retail apps use GPS in the background to automatically raise prices of an item based on where you are.
WATCH YOUR ‘LOYALTY’ PROGRAMS:
These f#%kers are lying to you: Companies are raising prices then offering you "discounts." Then they use your data against you to charge you more.
These f#%kers are using your purchase behavior: Companies are raising everyday prices, then withholding discounts, using your previous purchase behavior against you.
WATCH FOR IN-STORE SIGNALS:
These f#%kers are tracking you in-store and are using Facial Recognition: Retailers are using in-store cameras and facial recognition to track your every move, and some are looking to implement digital price tags to raise prices dynamically.
What the f#%k
can I do about it?
Report these f#%king companies to the FTC.
The Federal Trade Commission uses consumer reports to launch investigations and build antitrust cases against deceptive pricing algorithms. Submit a report to the FTC here (select “Something Else – We’ll get it to the right place” and describe your incident).
Report these f#%king companies to your State Attorney General.
All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories have a designated Consumer Protection Agency tasked with investigating unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent business practices. File a complaint with your Attorney General here.
Avoid giving these f#%king companies your money and data, if you can.
The only way they’ll quit these f#%king practices is if they lose business over it.
Criticisms:
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Yeah, right.
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Sure, Jan.
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Sounds like a trap.
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Both can get f#%ked.
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Well f#%k them too.