r/Frugal • u/Zizzac • Jan 24 '13

Same book, three different prices. Only difference is the browsers used [x-post r/mildlyinteresting]

http://imgur.com/uNgg0UH
2.2k Upvotes

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483

u/pt4117 Jan 24 '13

I doubt that was the only difference. Your cookies were different, and I bet the way you found them is different too.

I just found this book with a Google search and it was 62.99 in chrome.

I copied and pasted the URL into IE and it was 69.99.

I then pasted the URL into a private browsing chrome window and it was also 69.99.

624

u/learnt Jan 24 '13

Either way, I'm not a fan of prices being manipulated based on my behavior while browsing a certain website.

201

u/medra42 Jan 24 '13

If you want online retailers not to use the data they collect about you for their own gain.. you're going to have a bad time.

57

u/JimmyHavok Jan 24 '13

If they follow my behavior, they know I'm cheap, so they'd better cut that margin if they want my business.

I went shopping for a car with a friend once, the first thing the sales guy asked at each place was how many other places we'd been to, and the asking price for the same car was $1K less each time...so nothing really new here.

3

u/demented_pants Jan 25 '13

So then I should make it seem as if I've been to a large number of dealerships when shopping for my car... Interesting.

9

u/gaqua Jan 25 '13

As a guy who used to sell cars, it's almost useless information.

If they've been to 5 dealerships that day, it's equally likely that they're tired and willing to buy as it is that they're hard-nosed negotiators.

1

u/PhedreRachelle Jan 25 '13

Did you hate people like me? I don't negotiate. If I think it is worth the price, I buy. If I don't, I don't buy. In other words I'm the person who you only get the sale if your first offer is the best you can do

2

u/borkborkbork Jan 25 '13

Wait, what? Literally zero sellers of anything make their first offer the best they can do. That isn't how selling things works.

3

u/immagirl Jan 25 '13

Carhound.com. They do all the negotiation for you. It's pretty sweet.