Price discrimination is a sales approach in which a vendor charges varying rates for an identical product or service, depending on what the seller believes the consumer would agree to pay.
In complete price discrimination, the merchant charges each consumer the highest price they will pay.
More typical kinds of price discrimination involve the vendor categorizing clients based on specific traits and charging each group a different fee.
How to Outsmart Online Price Discrimination
Those who know that price discrimination exists often look for solutions. But how does one go about finding the best available price?
Let’s look at ten different ways you can outsmart price discrimination online.
- Clear Your Browsing History
Companies frequently use cookies to monitor your surfing history and appropriately alter rates.
Cookies are small files on your device that record your surfing activities across an online retailer. Think of them like digital footprints you leave as you explore various items.
Online retailers analyze these cookies to create a profile of your interests, including the things you look at, how long you spend on specific pages, and the time of day you buy most frequently.
This information is then used to tailor your shopping experience, such as recommending comparable things or presenting targeted adverts that may persuade you to click “purchase.”
With this knowledge, retailers can assess which items you’re likely to be willing to spend more money on.
Cleaning your browser cookies regularly or using incognito mode may prevent retail stores from adjusting prices based on your previous online activities.
- Log Out of All Accounts
Certain shops also provide tailored pricing to logged-in customers based on their purchasing history and demographics.
Logging out of the account or browsing as a guest allows you to avoid customized pricing and find different costs – some of which may even be more attractive.
- Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A VPN allows you to hide your IP address and location, making it more difficult for shops to target you with location-specific pricing.
By connecting to different servers, you are able to make it seem as if you were located in a different geographical area.
Linking to these servers in various areas may allow you to see reduced pricing that is inaccessible in your location.
Using a top VPN premium also secures your internet connection, encrypts data transfer, and protects against dubious activities.
This helps to protect your personal data while shopping online, especially on websites which require you to enter personal information.
- Compare Costs Between Devices and Locations
Having tried the above tip, take advantage of the fact that costs may differ based on the gadget you use and where you live.
Use various devices or adjust your geographical settings to various locations; this will help you evaluate expenses and find the best possible deal.
- Shop at the Right Time
Did you know that prices aren’t always the same, even within the same location?
Prices might change during the day or week depending on the need and the amount of stock. Higher demand often means higher prices.
Monitor price patterns and consider purchasing during off-peak hours, when costs are likely to be lower.
- Use Price Comparison Tools
Using price comparison websites and extensions for your browser can also help you locate the greatest offers across numerous retailers.
These websites can help you save time and money by automatically contrasting prices. Some even alert you to any reductions or specials.
- Contact the Customer Service Department
If you find a pricing variation for the same product on multiple devices or different locations, try contacting customer service to inquire.
To keep your business, they may be prepared to match your pricing, or provide you with a discount. Many retailers offer these “price match” guarantees.
- Use Discounts and Promotional Codes
This one should go without saying – always look for savings and promotional codes before purchasing online.
There are many websites providing discount codes for various retailers to help you save money during checkout.
Some promo codes may be expired and you may have to try a few different ones, but you’re likely to find at least one good offer.
- Consider Alternative Payment Methods
Some stores even offer discounts or promotions for certain payment methods, such as digital wallets or credit cards.
Alternatively, some cards or payment providers offer cashback options on certain purchases. To optimize your discounts, explore and take advantage of all available payment choices.
- Stay Informed and Vigilant
Because online pricing discrimination is ever-changing, staying current on new techniques and methods is critical.
When making online purchases, be watchful and prepared to adjust your strategy to guarantee you obtain the best price possible.
Key Takeaways
While outsmarting online price discrimination can be time-consuming, combining the following tips can simplify the process and help you find the best price:
- Clear your browsing history and cookies to counter personalized pricing.
- Use price comparison tools and browser extensions.
- Use VPNs for location anonymity and discounts.
- Compare prices across devices and locations.
- Stay informed about evolving pricing tactics.
- Time purchases for off-peak hours.
Now that you have all the necessary tools to find the best possible price online, get searching – and enjoy your shopping experience.
