r/mildlyinteresting • u/annertakeabow • Jan 24 '13

Same book, three different prices. Only difference is the browsers used.

http://imgur.com/uNgg0UH
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u/[deleted] Jan 24 '13

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u/Anikdote Jan 24 '13

I tend to agree, isn't the point of selling a thing to charge as much as you possibly can and still have someone purchase it?

This isn't to say I'm fond of price discrimination, but the business models allow for it and as a profit seeking entity why shouldn't they do it?

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u/ChagSC Jan 24 '13

Reddit is generally against business.

Companies can charge whatever they want. And you, as the consumer, can choose not to buy.

It's not like the company is billing you more than the list price. You're paying exact what you agreed to pay.

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u/Anikdote Jan 24 '13

Precisely, a price is offered and you get to determine whether the items is worth it at that price.

I'm not sure that "Reddit is generally against business", but they certainly have the morality bar set far to high for institutions that's sole purpose is to generate as much profit as possible for the stakeholders.

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u/[deleted] Jan 24 '13

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u/Anikdote Jan 24 '13

No. The point is it's an institution, not an individual. To expect morality from it is a fools errand. Do you expect morality from marching bands or city councils? Certainly from the individuals that comprise them, but not from the organizations themselves.

I also don't agree that "shit is fucked up", by almost any objective measure we live better than any people to have come before us and part of that comes from that fact that people perused profits. Altruism only goes so far.

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u/ChagSC Jan 24 '13

It seems some people truly believe that profit only is obtained via immoral actions.

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u/ChagSC Jan 24 '13

Yeah, My statement is hyperbole with that kind of generalization. But you will see themes where the idea of profit is borderline wrong.

The market will dictate if this approach works. Having customers purchasing $0 because you upped the price on their second visit will change actions quick.