The Big Story
Why we’re all paying different prices online artwork

Why we’re all paying different prices online

The Big Story
E127923:08
Play episode

Show notes

With some already starting their holiday shopping, we bring you an episode from our vault on dynamic pricing. Enjoy! --------------------------------- You and a friend might be given two different prices by the same website for the same item. Heck, you might be given two different prices yourself depending on where you are when you're browsing the site. It's a phenomenon that began as dynamic pricing—a computer balancing supply and demand to ensure everything was sold at a price the market was prepared to pay—but it's now gone well beyond that. As algorithms become smarter and more advanced, and as we voluntarily offer our devices and the companies we do business with more of our information, the prices you see may take into account things like where you are, what device you're on, your shopping history and... well, everything the machine knows about you. Is this the kind of shopping experience we want? If not, what do we do about it? GUEST: Colin Horgan, writing in The Walrus We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

More from this show

More
  1. What should we know about Mitch McConnell's whereabouts?

    US Senator Mitch McConnell hasn't been seen by the public in some 12 weeks. His last in-person sighting was in Washington, D.C. on June 11, before posting a proof-of-life picture f…

    E200223:12
  2. Big Headlines: Canadian websites confused over Trump's new name for Lake Ontario and three federal byelections

    Plus: Oil prices surge after the U.S. and Iran trade strikes, voters head to the polls in three federal by-elections, Nepalese cultural festivals are cancelled across Canada follow…

    E200907:00
  3. What the Lake Ontario fight reveals about water and sovereignty

    In US President Trump's latest attempt at dominating Canada, an executive order was signed last week renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America'. Whether the new title will actually…

    E200819:47
  4. Weekend Listen: Can small businesses survive another tariff hit?

    Enjoy this special feed drop of our sister show "In This Economy?!" Canadian small businesses are a big part of the economy. And like the rest of us, they're dealing with more tar…

    E200621:13
  5. Big Headlines: Trump signs order to rename Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' while political leaders on both sides of the border push back

    Plus: B.C. lifts its province-wide state of emergency as local states of emergency remain, the first results are in for a program designed to bring professors from international un…

    E200708:11
  6. The giant Russian cargo plane trapped in Canada

    If you've driven by Toronto Pearson Airport at all in the past four years, you may have noticed the massive cargo jet with a big Russian flag on it just.... sitting there. It's bee…

    E200523:05
Now Playing
Why we’re all paying different prices online — The Big Story | Josplay Music