Thread

1. flowerlad · 1790184294 · focus · HN ↗

   Why is this limited to groceries? I don't want to pay a different price than others for any category of item, not just groceries.

   Should gyms be able to charge me more based on my weight? Should airlines charge me more because they know I need to travel urgently? Should pharmacies charge me more for medication because they know I have a chronic condition? Should an online retailer charge me more because my browsing history suggests I'm willing to pay a premium? Should insurance companies charge me more because they know I'm unlikely to shop around?

   1. micromacrofoot · 1790185311 · focus · HN ↗

      you already do pay a price difference for many categories of items, insurance is a big one... where you live, how old you are, gender, etc

      it used to be the norm with health insurance until the ACA dropped discrimination for chronic conditions

      airlines charge more if you're too large to fit your seat

      online retailers very often charge people more, there are hundreds of factors now... but one funny case was mac users getting redirected to more expensive hotels by travel sites

      car insurers will raise premiums for people who haven't switched recently, I had to switch every 6 months for a couple years until one of them just stopped hiking prices around renewal

      dynamic pricing is very very prevalent, but doing it on food (like health insurance before it) is particularly egregious

      1. flowerlad · 1790185765 · focus · HN ↗

         There is charging more because your costs are higher (most of your examples), then there is charging more because of opportunism. Insurance is customized because the costs are higher. That's fine.

         Taking advantage of your personal circumstances that is unrelated to cost to charge you more--especially when it is hidden from you--is what is bad and should be illegal.

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