[HN Gopher] Algorithmic Pricing is Price Gouging $31,000 fine to...
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       Algorithmic Pricing is Price Gouging $31,000 fine to Hotel
        
       Author : nacho-daddy
       Score  : 17 points
       Date   : 2021-02-26 20:16 UTC (2 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.oregonlive.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.oregonlive.com)
        
       | throwaway888abc wrote:
       | That could have big implication on hospitality sector / airlines.
       | All the pricing and profits are literally driven by this.
        
         | goatcode wrote:
         | Could it apply to online retailers like Amazon, too?
        
       | sjg007 wrote:
       | Hotels and motels are actually not supposed to charge different
       | rates for different people, only based on room type. Why? Racism.
       | In the past they would refuse to rent a room to people of color,
       | and then later say OK but at a huge price increase.
       | 
       | For this reason jurisdictions have min and max room rate hotel
       | laws for a reason. Check the max price on back of the room door
       | when you check in. Show that to the manager, if they refuse to
       | honor it, well the lawsuit will be welcome.
       | 
       | The airline thing is interesting because they sometimes show
       | different prices depending on the browser you use on what device.
       | 
       | That sounds like a major lawsuit waiting to happen.
        
         | alasdair_ wrote:
         | I've checked those posters before and I usually see a max rate
         | of $1,200 or so for a $200 room.
        
       | nacho-daddy wrote:
       | Hotellier claims price gouging was not intentional, but
       | algorithmically driven by occupancy during the wildfire
       | emergency.
        
       | mikestew wrote:
       | _"The computer sets the algorithm and as hotel business
       | increases, the rates increase. I have nothing to do with that,"
       | he said at the time._
       | 
       | Blaming it on "the computer" is so 70s. That and, as another
       | commenter points out, one best hope that none of those customers
       | are a minority as the "the computers ate my baby!" excuse might
       | not sit so well with a judge.
        
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       (page generated 2021-02-26 23:02 UTC)