As Seattle leaders move to crack down on surveillance pricing – the practice of using personal information to set individualized prices for retail goods – grocery stores are warning the proposal could also jeopardize discounts and loyalty programs that many shoppers rely on.
The Fair Pricing and Transparency ordinance is expected to be introduced to the Seattle City Council on Friday. It would prohibit companies from using AI and personal information to set prices, with the goal of stopping the practice of charging some consumers higher prices than others based on their data.
Amanda Dalton, president of the Northwest Grocery Retail Association, says the current proposal is too broad.
“The way the ordinance is currently drafted there’s a lot of ambiguity and concern from the retailer’s perspective,” Dalton told KOMO News. “I think that every retailer’s member loyalty program, discount, savings, coupons, are at risk if it’s not written correctly.”
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Way do you even need loyalty cards. All foods should normally be sold at those prices and only increase or decrease with the product environment. Organic produce is always higher in costs. Why is this the case? You’re saving the costs of the chemicals they use on the non organic produce. The quality of Kroger’s produce is poor to medium, and nothing over the top. Walmart you’ll pay $5 for a 12pk of 7up zero and at Kroger’s you’ll pay $8-$11. Kroger’s ideas of sales are usually Walmarts everyday prices.
They could always just have a price. Ask yourself, why do they give you a discount on items if you have the card etc? Are you giving them information they can profit from?
You want to help retailers, stop being soft on crime and punish the thieves, that would also help keep prices down.
As soon as she said “Mayor’s team” I became suspicious of THEM, not the grocery stores.
Screw the mayor , her mommy and daddy probably buy her groceries!!coupons , sales lower the prices a bit ! I luv them discounted prices !!
Working in the grocery industry, it’s more invasive than you think.
There is an option where digital price tags have a flocking camera feature that is supposed to prevent shoplifting. Businesses can also use that flocking facial recognition and bundle it with your loyalty program information, purchase data and algorithms to sell to third parties as an additional revenue stream.