Well, to the Kansas City Star, at least …
“Online price changes are driven by software that enables retailers to react to competitors in real time and make personalized pitches to consumers based on their browsing and purchase histories. Complex algorithms calculate factors such as inventory levels, how many sellers are carrying a product, how long it’s been on the market and when a new model is expected …
“The good news is that consumers have a growing number of weapons in their digital arsenal …
“Decide, the cutting-edge site founded last year by [UW CSE professor Oren] Etzioni, helps cost-conscious consumers make sense of price changes using the same data-driven analytics that retailers use to predict consumer behavior. The site analyzes millions of reviews, blogs, articles, news releases and pricing trends, then recommends whether to buy or wait …
“‘Often consumers are the target of big data and of data mining, and what we’re doing is we’re leveling the playing field,’ Etzioni said. ‘We’re trying to make data be your friend rather than a weapon that’s used against you.'”