The Washington Post Is Using Reader Data to Set Subscription Prices

[−] redgridtactical 63d ago

This is just dynamic pricing with extra steps. Airlines have done this for decades but at least they're transparent about it. The difference here is that readers don't know the person next to them is paying a different price for the same article. Once you start using behavioral data to set prices, the incentive flips from "make content worth paying for" to "figure out who's desperate enough to pay more." Not a great look for a newspaper that positions itself as a public service.

[−] cco 63d ago

How are airlines transparent about it?

[−] MikeTheGreat 63d ago

I thought that prices changed for everyone, but they changed over time. Book a flight 6 months before? You get a good price. Book a flight day-of? Hope you've got money in the bank!

(I'm not the OP but I'm guessing this is what they're talking about?)

[−] npinsker 63d ago

That's still person-invariant though. This gives the impression that they could potentially be tailoring prices based on what they feel each individual person will pay.

Plenty of digital services have the ability to do this, but don't. Honestly, I think the primary reason is that it's extremely offensive; it feels like saying "we're charging you more, for no reason, other than that we think you'll pay it".

[−] fgonzag 63d ago

Have you ever noticed that the tickets for a nearly empty flight is a lot cheaper than a nearly full one? Thats dynamic pricing.

The price changes according dynamically according to demand.

[−] 1123581321 63d ago

Do these models try to factor the target’s knowledge of what things cost, or maybe even their knowledge of dynamic pricing or discounting practices? That seems like it would not necessarily inversely correlate with wealth.

To use an extreme example, you’d have wanted your model to have offered Warren Buffet the base price, or even a deal.

[−] like_any_other 63d ago

> “This price was set by an algorithm using your personal data.”

How's that "I have nothing to hide" working out?

[−] rimbo789 63d ago

Well this should be banned. Or at least watpo should be required to be transparent about this whenever you subscribe

[−] bethekidyouwant 63d ago

Light on details. Could be as simple as user who reads a couple articles a month gets a lower rate than someone who reads daily.

[−] monkaiju 63d ago

Correlates with WaPos massive decline in quality, just another rag

[−] omoikane 63d ago

> Surveillance pricing is a form of dynamic pricing where a consumer's personal data and behavior is used to determine their willingness to pay

The Washington Post Is Using Reader Data to Set Subscription Prices (washingtonian.com)

22 comments