FTC Investigates Secret Pricing Tactics by Major Brands
Regulators want to know if top companies track you to set higher prices.
Imagine paying more for a flight than the person next to you. This price hike can happen because of what a company learns about you online.
The Federal Trade Commission wants answers. Regulators sent legal orders to nine large firms to inspect how they set their prices. Big brands like Walmart and Uber received orders this week.
Officials focus on a practice called surveillance pricing. Complex software watches your browsing habits and physical location. Then, the computer changes the price tag to charge the highest dollar amount you might accept.
Smart shoppers stay alert by comparing prices on different devices. Checking deals in private browsing windows helps you protect your hard-earned cash.
Source: Fox Business
More from Personal Finance
