Prediction for the Future. Dynamic Pricing.

12/27/2005

Actually the prediction is just about here.

Imagine having Digital LCD pricing shelf labels throughout your store. Imagine that these prices can be changed wirelessly through your computer.

Now imagine that your software automatically changes these prices.

Now imagine that you have 10 winter coats on your shelf (or 10 electric drills). Each item is selling for, let’s say, $29.95. A customer purchases an item so you only have 9 left in stock. The price automatically goes up to $32.95. Sell one more three days later, the price goes up to $35.95. You order 100 more and now have 108 on the shelf, the price goes down to $24.95.

Ridiculous, you say. Dell already does it on their Web Site.

The Airlines seem to change their prices once per minute.

The future is here.

Go here to learn more:

http://www.ncr.com/en/products/pdf/hardware/sa_realprice.pdf

The people whom you elect to represent you in St. Paul in 2006 will have to deal with how to collect sales taxes on dynamically priced goods and services. It is an obvious area for sales tax abuse. They will also have to deal with lost jobs for shelf stocking and pricing. The people that you elect will have to confront these issues. Make sure that you elect people who can cope with these matters in a manner that is fair to workers, consumers, and the business.