How Stores Use Your Data to Change Prices!
Video Overview & Insights
In this eye-opening video, Dr. Jon Padfield, an engineer turned State Representative turned Business Professor, dives deep into the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s interim report on surveillance pricing. Discover how companies and data brokers collect personal data—your purchase history, physical movements, browsing habits, and even medical information—often without your consent, to set individualized prices for products and services.
My husband told me that Walmart increases pricing when you do a pickup order vs when you shop in the store. I haven't tested this or seen it myself, but I believe him.
This could unfairly impact disabled people who probably use pickup ordering more often.
It's a potential protected class violation.
From online shopping to brick-and-mortar stores, learn how retailers like Kroger and Walmart use advanced algorithms, AI, and facial recognition to tailor prices based on your age, income, ethnicity, and more. We’ll explore real-life examples, the privacy myths, and the potential harms, including higher prices and national security risks.
Check the links below for the full FTC report and my previous video, “What Lowe’s Knows About You,” for steps to obtain your own dossier. Join the discussion at Business Reform as we tackle the intersection of business, technology, and society. Subscribe for upcoming tips on defeating facial recognition! #SurveillancePricing #Privacy #FTC #DataPrivacy #businessreform
Casually dropping the fact that an adult toy may be tracking you is a level of wild/ complete honesty that I'm here for, but that I hope is a joke. 😅
Check out my website at BusinessReform.org
I am available as a speaker for your next meeting, retreat or corporate event. Contact me at BusinessReform@Proton.me
This has been happening for years since they started asking for your zip code when purchasing many items.
Link to my video on how to obtain your Lowe's dossier...
https://youtu.be/xK9XEt54kx8
I've always been aware of the most basic scam, which is this item is discounted and then when you get there's none left at that price. But I wasn't aware of the complex ways that these companies are using data that they buy and sell. Selling a tin of beans to someone based on how much they earn or how much they have in the bank - which these companies should not know - is absolutely horrendous and the whole collection of data nonsense should be banned. It's been proven, over and over again to be unsafe to be stored as so many millions of pieces of data are being hacked. The most simple solution would be to stop the collecting, sharing or selling of data. Go back to collecting the minimal amount of data only.
Links to my sources for this video...
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/sp6b-issue-spotlight.pdf
Dr Jon, thank you for all you do for helping us in trying to keep our info, data, etc somewhat safe.
Speaking of tracking our purchases.
I just came across one of my labels (folders) in my google account, just noticed there is now one labeled " purchases". Google is keeping a count on ALL my online purchases.
Going to try to remove that label.
SMH, they have no shame.
I am now seriously wondering if I can live without google. (Of course I can, but how frustrated would I be, just thinking out loud, lol).
https://www.ftc.gov/policy/advocacy-research/tech-at-ftc/2025/01/surveillance-pricing-update-work-ahead
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/p246202_surveillancepricing6bstudy_researchsummaries_redacted.pdf
This is discrimination, plain and simple
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/08/how-retailers-can-track-your-movements-inside-their-stores.html
https://www.vox.com/2021/7/15/22577876/macys-fight-for-the-future-facial-recognition-artificial-intelligence-stores
Discrimination on a Whole new Level......
https://www.pcmag.com/news/sick-of-data-collection-try-these-apps-instead
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/26/the-biggest-risks-of-using-fitness-trackers-to-monitor-health.html
Very interesting seminar. I have twice had Target charge me a higher ptice than that indicated on the shelf. They claimed that it was because the computer changes the prices before they have a chance to change the sticker....
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2017/02/06/vizio-pay-22m-smart-tv-data-gathering/97553144/
https://www.reuters.com/article/technology/bose-headphones-spy-on-listeners-lawsuit-idUSKBN17L2DV/
I hope there is justice for everyone because almost every person here has had some of their data unfairly processed stolen or sold. No one deserves to be treated as guinnea pigs for corporations or governments. The system has been against us. We have to change the world because the thing corporations fear the most is people who are aware.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/14/520123490/vibrator-maker-to-pay-millions-over-claims-it-secretly-tracked-use
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-takes-action-against-general-motors-sharing-drivers-precise-location-driving-behavior-data
This is right out of Minority Report.
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-sues-general-motors-unlawfully-collecting-drivers-private-data-and
https://news.microsoft.com/source/2019/01/07/kroger-and-microsoft-partner-to-redefine-customer-experience-introduce-digital-solutions-for-retail-industry/
Thank you for these videos, i had suspected but people look at me like I'm a crazy Flat Earther." I have had it happen many times, especially when it comes to uber, door dash, instacart. My husband and i can be sitting next to each other both logged into the same door dash account and get different prices for delivery fees, husband direct to me price was $1.49 vs mine that listed direct to me $2.99. Same account with a shared cart but different phones showing difference prices🤬
https://www.rawstory.com/kroger-pricing-strategy/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennmcmillen/2024/09/09/walmart-kroger-and-whole-foods-use-digital-pricing-what-customers-should-know/
Don’t buy online!
https://techstory.in/major-grocery-chain-uses-dynamic-pricing-to-adjust-prices-based-on-income/#google_vignette
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/oct/09/casumo-ad-banned-for-targeting-people-trying-to-stop-gambling
Why is it that big brother and little brother can commit crimes against us stealing from us without us knowing but if we want our information back we have to pay for it how ludicrous. And your opinion do you think these data removal services are worth it some people are saying it is just another hoax?
https://techpolicy.sanford.duke.edu/data-brokers-and-the-sale-of-data-on-us-military-personnel/
The use of any copyrighted material in this video is done so for educational and informational purposes only including parody, commentary and criticism. See Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015). It is believed that this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.
Now Walmart is not putting prices on things! I’ve seen it on multiple items. Man the world is crooked!
- Written by Dr. Steve Turley but applicable to Business Reform as well.
I've turned on a VPN on products before, and some would be way cheaper, even when leaving the VPN in the same country!
I then learned to do that and change browsers as well
More User Perspectives
I realized this different pricing back in 2017
Even though I was broke and near homeless most of my life, I was traveling and started making a lot of money on Bitcoin that year.
The airlines kept showing me what I thought was expensive pricing to go to different countries. Example was $2000+ to go to Thailand. I refused to buy cuz even though I had the money, I had a feeling it was a scam.
Eventually, I spoke to a friend that was just as broke as me throughout life that moved to NYC that traveled 6 to 8 times a year how she did it.
She looked up the SAME trip and it was only $560 round-trip and another $150 for hotel! She told me I wasn't searching correctly and I told her it's likely cuz they assume I'm rich based on my Facebook posts from Bitcoin or my girlfriend who my phone was always by hers when she was spending up a storm (always her own money, not mine)! These people are evil
I knew airlines were doing this. But I didn't know retailers were doing it.
@tomdonahoe3539The Dystopia is already here.
@caca075Tweak your profile. When in the neighborhood, just go into your favorite stores and just "look" at a few items and put them back on the shelf. Leave empty-handed a few times. Jon, glad to see your crew is surveilling the surveillants.
@johnjordan3126so if the data collectors see me watching your show, maybe I will get a discount.
@dennisw2597the local wallymat is revamping ...big notice first off was the installation of the new security infrastructure....gotta wonder...ever since sam left...its been big 1984....
@59vaughnBrowser fingerprinting? Naturally I'd expect any Apple related fingerprint to have a price hike of at least 50%, doesn't everyone?
@NumNumbatDossier collection by big data and all other private entities must be banned completely. That is for very limited government purpose only.
@AMERICANPATRIOT1945Im sure this won't be used against me in a racially based way 😑
@CTee123I guess I need to move to California so I can legally identify as a poor person.
@LuckyCharms777Whats the endgame when we're all broke and society has fallen apart? Or maybe that is the end game. Who's thanos?
@johnwald1714maybe we can use their own pricing against them...... have the friend who gets the better deal on items, buy them for you..... then buy something for them you get better deals on..... its not perfect, but i see it as one tool we have to fight back.
@ZOMBIEHEADSHOTKILLERIt's bad that legitimate companies are blatantly and ruthlessly ripping us off. They do this with out fear of of laws or government.
@johnwald1714@douginexile
@scottcoley1906@theQuartering
@scottcoley1906I'm surprised at the lack of effectiveness of using the microwave. I've tested that back in college with positive results, and more recently with my spectrum analyzer at least showing some effectiveness. I'm wondering if it's just an improvement in rf tech making microwaves less effective.
@Voyajer.Walmart! Have known about this. Sev times I would get someone in front to agree to Act like they were purchasing an item we buy. 3 times we caught the store trying to charge us At Least $1 more! I'm Very good at getting attention. Would demand a mgr, tell others WTH was going on, etc. More than I thought would start comparing the Charged price to the Advertised price. Now, We write prices on All items, watch when rung up, and dbl chk receipts leaving the checkout. Once, one location tried calling over a p. officer. explained, showed the receipt, he refused to take action and winked giving us thumbs up as he left. Also, my employment is for the military. Im treated, paid, Very well. Think I owe them heads-up on targeting military. So Thanx, knew it was J public, but military? Thats bottom feeder low-life targeting our service people!
@Morbiddarkness666New income source for poor people. Just wait outside these price changing stores and offer to buy peoples stuff at a lower price. Give them cash for saving you money and everybody wins. Except for the price changing store.
@Hawkeyehunter69Liz Warren??? Are you kidding??? She is one of the worst scam artists in politics. Won't force the audit of Massachusetts spending to be made public. All while spending billions on illegal MIGRANTS. You're way off on this one guy.😮😅😊
@chrispery9002While they run a Mkultra gaslit full spectrum dominance program for each individual
@JUSTa-idfcaI'm not happy with the things I'm learning. Thank you for your videos
@7spiritprayerwarrior-sf9heAfter JoAnn Fabrics closed (courtesy of corporate raiders) I've had to order sewing supplies on line because they aren't available locally. Today I received seam tape for which I paid $13.99; but it had a sticker on it that said $9.99. This happened several times recently. Not sure if they are trying to get ahead of tariffs, or just overcharging. Either way, it makes me less inclined to go out and buy anything.
@maryannhorchersmith5285Outrageous!
@richardtardo5170so it will be easy to sue them......buy something as you......then send in your kid.....and your kid pays a cheaper price....now you have proof......sue them......lawyers should love this
@gregflock380"I'm not doing anything wrong." It all depends on who's in power.
@marinhuskysay less, ima go get a free steak from kroger self checkout
@LumbridgeRatThis is crazy, I feel like I need to take a picture of the price of the item when I took it off the shelf so if the price is different when I get to the register I can show them as if that would even matter?
@thatduderv85Check my thinking here. They don't need facial recognition to know it's you and change the price. They just need to know your cell phone is in the store, and track it's proximity to products as you traverse the isles, right?
Question - I have seen digital price labels in Whole Foods recently. How can they raise a price when I approach an item if three other people are standing near it? When does the price get switched - at the shelf, or at checkout?
Any customer who takes a product to the register without knowing the fixed price deserves the outrage.
@user-sq9dv7ru7vThank you for this information.
@juliebarnett9812Pocahontas is a privacy advocate? Well, maybe to hide her own ethnicity fraud all her life.
@cturdoThe more I learn, the less willing I am to purchase anything from these corporations.
@RaisingTheVibeUnethical
@36GodMobI thought medical issues were off limits HIPPA doesn't apply
@cstover8454Thanks to obama, pelosi, schumer and theiir ilk that anyone but our doctors can even have ACCESS to ANYONE's medical information!
@michaelsvestka8040