Big Data "Price Gouging": Who Will Pay for Consumer Rights?
AD |
Big Data "Price Gouging": Who Will Pay for Consumer Rights?Recently, a netizen named Xia Chen discovered that the price of a plane ticket he purchased on Tongcheng Travel was 1300 yuan higher than the same ticket purchased by his friend! This is not an isolated case, and more and more users are reporting that different users see different prices for the same product on the same platform at the same time. Behind this phenomenon lies the disturbing behavior of big data "price gouging
Big Data "Price Gouging": Who Will Pay for Consumer Rights?
Recently, a netizen named Xia Chen discovered that the price of a plane ticket he purchased on Tongcheng Travel was 1300 yuan higher than the same ticket purchased by his friend! This is not an isolated case, and more and more users are reporting that different users see different prices for the same product on the same platform at the same time. Behind this phenomenon lies the disturbing behavior of big data "price gouging."
"Price gouging" refers to the practice of platforms using big data to analyze user behavior preferences, such as query frequency, device type, and historical purchase records, to set different prices for different users, thereby achieving "precise" "price gouging." While this behavior may seem clever, it actually harbors significant risks.
The Embarrassment of "Price Gouging": Tongcheng Travel's "Personalized" Pricing
Xia Chen's experience is not unique. It is understood that many users have reported that the price of a product would increase when they repeatedly checked the price on the same platform. For example, on Tongcheng Travel, if a user frequently checks the price of the same flight, the system will adjust the price based on the user's query frequency, device type, and other factors. Ultimately, users may be forced to buy the ticket at a higher price.
This "personalized" pricing may seem like a differentiated service based on user needs, but it is actually the platform taking advantage of big data to "precisely" "gouge" users. For users, this behavior is undoubtedly distasteful because they cannot understand why the platform is giving them "special" treatment, nor can they understand why their price is much higher than others.
The Spread of "Price Gouging": Meituan Dianping and Food Delivery Platforms Are Not Immune
Big data "price gouging" is not limited to the airline ticketing field. Previously, netizens have revealed that when using Meituan Dianping to book restaurants, different users see different prices at the same time. Moreover, the highest price is often for the first-time query user, and the price will increase again if the page is refreshed. Similar situations have occurred on food delivery platforms. Many netizens have discovered that even when using the same account, the same device, and the same network environment to check the prices of dishes at the same store, different prices can still appear.
These platforms leverage user browsing habits, ordering habits, and other data to "precisely" "price gouge" users, thereby achieving "disguised price increases." This behavior undoubtedly harms consumer interests and damages the platform's reputation.
The Conflict Between Corporate Interests and Consumer Rights: Who Will Balance the Scale?
Although this personalized pricing can help increase platform revenue, it severely harms consumer interests. After all, no one wants to be "gouged" for being a "loyal customer," and no one wants to see increasingly higher prices for frequent queries. More importantly, this practice violates the principles of fair competition and honest business practices.
As service providers, platforms should treat all consumers fairly, impartially, and transparently, rather than using big data "magic" to secretly set different prices. In a way, this personalized pricing can indeed help businesses profit. But the problem is, if this "price gouging" behavior becomes too frequent and too egregious, it will inevitably lead to consumer dissatisfaction and resistance. After all, no one likes to be treated as a "lamb to be slaughtered."
Honest Business Practices Are the Key: Businesses Cannot Only Focus on Immediate Profits
Honest business practices are crucial for businesses. Without consumer trust and support, no business can survive or thrive. While striving for profits, major platforms should also understand that honest business practices are the key to long-term success, and they cannot only focus on immediate profits.
If major platforms all engage in "price gouging," they will ultimately be the ones who suffer. After all, in the internet age, consumer reputation and reviews are critical. Once consumers' bottom line is touched, negative publicity is sure to follow.
Consumer Rights Need Protection: Be Wary of "Price Gouging" Behavior
Personalized pricing in the big data era can benefit businesses, but if it becomes too frequent or too egregious, it will inevitably lead to consumer dissatisfaction and resistance. Honest business practices are the key to long-term success. We hope that major platforms will take consumer questions and dissatisfaction seriously and stop engaging in frequent "price gouging" behavior. We also hope that consumers will remain vigilant and not give "price gouging" behavior an opportunity.
In the face of big data "price gouging," we need to work together to protect consumer rights and promote fair market competition. Consumers need to be vigilant and learn some techniques to prevent "price gouging," such as using different accounts, devices, and network environments to query, and avoiding frequent queries for the same product. At the same time, regulatory authorities should strengthen supervision, establish relevant laws and regulations, regulate platform pricing behavior, and protect consumers' legitimate rights and interests.
Ultimately, we believe that honest business practices are the foundation of business development. Only by winning consumer trust can we stand firm in the market competition.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is sourced from the internet. The copyright of the text, images, and other materials belongs to the original author. The platform reprints the materials for the purpose of conveying more information. The content of the article is for reference and learning only, and should not be used for commercial purposes. If it infringes on your legitimate rights and interests, please contact us promptly and we will handle it as soon as possible! We respect copyright and are committed to protecting it. Thank you for sharing.(Email:[email protected])
Mobile advertising space rental |
Tag: Big Data Price Gouging Who Will Pay for Consumer
In Deep Sorrow: Professor Li Guofeng, Professor of the School of Electrical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, has Passed Away
NextSamsung SDI Sells Polarizer Film Business to China's Wuxi Hengxin Optoelectronic Materials to Enhance Competitiveness
Guess you like
-
Pinduoduo's "Trillion-Yuan Support" Plan: A Three-Year, 100 Billion Yuan Investment to Build a Multi-Win Business EcosystemDetail
2025-04-03 14:41:29 11
-
Huyu Xianxiang and AVIC Optoelectronics Institute Forge Strategic Partnership to Shape China's eVTOL Avionics LandscapeDetail
2025-04-02 18:39:02 1
-
Haier Smart Home's 8th Global R&D Innovation Awards: Illuminating Better Lives with Technology, Achieving User SatisfactionDetail
2025-04-02 15:57:33 21
-
Huawei's 2025 China Digital Power Partner Conference: Carbon-Neutral Path for China, Shared Value CreationDetail
2025-03-31 18:57:09 11
-
OPPO Think Tank: A New Paradigm for Chinese Enterprises' Globalization From Wusha Village to the Global High-End MarketDetail
2025-03-31 18:48:21 1
-
ICLR 2025: Chinese Universities and Companies Showcase AI Prowess with Numerous Accepted Papers; Stanford-HKUST Collaboration Achieves Perfect ScoreDetail
2025-03-31 14:54:45 11
-
Huawei HarmonyOS Smart Home Partner Summit: Deep Dive into Spatial Intelligence Transformation and Ecosystem Development StrategyDetail
2025-03-31 13:01:45 1
-
AI Large Models Drive Innovation in Humanoid Robots and Autonomous Driving: 2025 as a Key MilestoneDetail
2025-03-31 13:00:04 1
-
Eight Cities Pilot Credit Supervision Data Openness, Empowering Micro and Small Enterprises with Mobile Payment PlatformsDetail
2025-03-26 09:32:47 1
-
Xiaomi's "Just a Little Profit": The Deep Logic and Sustainability Behind its Low-Margin StrategyDetail
2025-03-25 15:07:32 21
- Detail
-
The Ninth Huawei ICT Competition China Challenge Finals Conclude Successfully: Kunpeng and Ascend Tracks Crown Their ChampionsDetail
2025-03-24 16:26:03 11
-
Ronshen Sugar Cube Refrigerator: The Official Product of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Ushering in a New Era of Healthy Food PreservationDetail
2025-03-24 15:40:35 21
-
Zhihu Launches New Version of Zhihu Straight Answer: Deep Integration of AI and Community to Enhance Professionalism and CredibilityDetail
2025-03-24 14:04:38 1
-
China Construction Ninth Harmony (Zhongjian Jiuhe) and Huawei HarmonyOS Smart Home Deepen Strategic Partnership at AWE2025, Building a Green and Intelligent Future HomeDetail
2025-03-23 15:21:15 41
-
ZuoYeBang Books Leads the New Trend in Intelligent Education Publishing at Changsha Book FairDetail
2025-03-21 15:15:33 1
-
Tianyancha: Shielding Consumer Safety and Reshaping Business Trust with DataDetail
2025-03-21 08:47:58 1
-
Hisense at AWE2025: AI Empowerment, Leading the Transformation of Future Smart LivingDetail
2025-03-20 18:24:11 1
-
Haier TV Makes a Stunning Debut at AWE 2024: Zhiyuan AI Large Model and PureScene Care Screen Usher in a New Era of Smart HomesDetail
2025-03-20 15:17:20 1
-
China Power's Xin Yuan Zhi Chu (New Source Smart Storage): Open Energy Intelligence Computing Center Leads Intelligent Transformation of the Energy IndustryDetail
2025-03-20 15:15:39 1