To think personalised pricing is unethical?

[Issummeroveralready]

I already thought that using a club card to get reduced prices on food items was a little close to the mark, but tonight on TV I saw advertised that a certain supermarket is now offering personalised prices on food items when a loyalty card is used (nectar card). AIBU to think this is neoliberalism gone mad. Surely food costs what it costs. Fancy Mary getting lurpack for 5 quid and John getting it for 2 because of some known algorithm. Bonkers.

Terrible idea, using your own data to extract more money from you.

Exactly and Clubcards are free.

Get one or don't but don't moan about them

Calm down! How can this bother you?!

It bothers people, because it feels wrong, when two people, buying the same thing in a queue, get charged different prices.
Can you not see that feels wrong ?

Honestly no.

Get a card or don't. I don't have a Nectar card and I don't get annoyed at people who do in Sainsburys

Calm down! How can this bother you?!

They don't even disclose hkw they use your data. That bugs me for a start.

I love Nectar prices and Clubcard prices. Nectar prices is usually better for me as every week there are about 10 items that I frequently buy that are now heavily discounted.

They absolutely do tell you how they use your data OP, it's all in the privacy policy, you just have to read it. If they don't tell you then they are in breach of GDPR.

If you don't want to take advantage of the saving don't get the card, that's your decision. As someone who deals with Data Privacy and Information Security every day for my job, I have no problem with Sainsburys knowing what food and drink I buy from them. They don't have any sensitive information like my credit/debit card details, I've opted out of marketing and selling my data to 3rd parties, so if they want to know how many tins of beans or Emmi Caffe Lattes I buy I'm OK with that.

Well they are going to use it. Usually for tailored offers.

Make your peace with that or don't get the card.

If you don't want to take advantage of the saving don't get the card, that's your decision

Hobsons choice!

The problem I have with clubcards is kids can't use them so they have to pay full price for sweets/crisps if they're not with an adult.

I don't have a problem with the cards themselves if they are accessible to everyone, but I think kids should be exempt and get the cheaper price without a card. Not a huge issue in the grand scheme of things, but unfair - if they had an upper age limit and pensioners had to pay the higher prices they'd be hell on.

I avoid Tesco for this very reason (after my card refused to login by phone). Will have no problem avoiding Sainsburys too if they are starting this lark.

Differential pricing is blatant profiteering.

The "higher value" a customer you are the better the deals they send you also. So it's another poor tax really.

It isn't though - you choose to opt in and get discounts for a 'price' or don't.

Just my opinion so we may have to agree to disagree OP

Nectar prices have meant I have got formula for less than £8 a tub. Saved me loads over several months.

And very Ctos, operating systems

Tesco used to send you clubcard vouchers with money off certain products with each statement, so there was just one price displayed in the shop but a clubcard holder could get it cheaper with a voucher. They have now gone paperless and so they show two prices for the items subject to offers. I would guess that they know exactly what the minor costs are of pissing off a few people who object to dual pricing, compared to attracting sales from clubcard holders and the saving from going paperless.

If you want to see excessively different prices for the same thing, just ask around in a plane or a train carriage. Differential pricing is even advertised heavily on TV for hotels. The ultimate masters for differential pricing have always been insurance companies. They even used to charge different prices due to the set of genitals you possessed - until they banned it by law.

I thought nothing of Tesco Clubcard process, until my Australian relatives came to stay. They were so frustrated to be paying half as much again for some items because they didn't have a Clubcard.

So basically it's kids and foreign visitors who are being fleeced?

There’s a trade off. And it’s not just because of an algorithm.

John is trading in data that helps him get a discount.

Data is valuable. So it’s a trade.

I’m trying to think what nefarious things Tesco can do with the knowledge that I buy 8 pints of milk a week and have a weakness for fruit and but chocolate?
im fully aware that this week they can deduce that I have extra people staying at my house.
i don’t mind them having that knowledge, it it means I get targeted ads then I also don’t care. I never buy anything coz I saw it in an ad anyway! Always research and compare etc
mumsnet probably knows a lot more about us than tesco!

there are different prices fro things all the time - flights, insurance, mortgage deals, genius prices on booking.com, cheaper food in cafes in attractions if you are a member, free parking if you ar a national trust member etc etc.

What would have prompted me to sign up for a loyalty card for a store I maybe go in once every year or two at the most? Fair enough it's my choice whether to shop there, it just feels off to me to be given a two tier pricing structure in store. Vouchers etc for loyalty has a different feel to it. It's all a marketing choice ultimately by the stores but it's inevitable it'll piss some people off.

Anyone can get a clubcard for free and I couldn't give less of a fig that tesco know I bought feta and harissa paste today.

Couldn’t get excited about this you get money off for your marketing info
if you don’t want to give the info pay full price

I've had a clubcard forever so other than the odd scramble for my keys or app at the till the dual pricing thing works in my favour.

But last week I noticed Superdrug have brought in the same system. Because - for me anyway - the nice hair products I was looking at were a luxury rather than essential like food shopping this had the result of me buying nothing as I couldn't bring myself to pay the higher price for what I wanted. I know it's irrational as had the cheaper pink price not been listed below I probably wouldn't have minded the real price. Lost a sale there Superdrug. I'm now in 2 minds about signing up for their card though as they have a better selection than our local Boots so they will probably win in the end.

I also think it should be made much clearer for kids/older shoppers/people who don't know the system too as the card price is much more prominent and the fact it's not for everyone in really small print so wouldn't be hard to miss and only realise at till or after how much you've really paid.

The Tesco clubcard data is shared very widely. I know a lot of people doing marketing PhDs using it as their main data source.

This is worrying. I hope they think we have regular, massive parties rather than being stressed working parents who pop to the Tesco express for wine far too often. Might throw in a few more dips, nibbles and napkins to throw them off the scent...