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The Telecom Digest for December 27, 2012
Volume 31 : Issue 301 : "text" Format
Messages in this Issue:
Re: Websites Vary Prices, Deals Based on Users' Information (T)
Re: E-book restrictions leave 'buyers' with few rights (T)

====== 31 years of TELECOM Digest -- Founded August 21, 1981 ======

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Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2012 11:20:33 -0500 From: T <kd1s.nospam@cox.nospam.net> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Re: Websites Vary Prices, Deals Based on Users' Information Message-ID: <MPG.2b44eddf9fb73dc7989d77@news.eternal-september.org> In article <p0624082eccfee983139c@[10.0.1.3]>, monty@roscom.com says... > > Websites Vary Prices, Deals Based on Users' Information > > By JENNIFER VALENTINO-DEVRIES, JEREMY SINGER-VINE and ASHKAN SOLTANI > December 24, 2012 > > It was the same Swingline stapler, on the same Staples.com website. > But for Kim Wamble, the price was $15.79, while the price on Trude > Frizzell's screen, just a few miles away, was $14.29. > > A key difference: where Staples seemed to think they were located. > > A Wall Street Journal investigation found that the Staples Inc. > website displays different prices to people after estimating their > locations. More than that, Staples appeared to consider the person's > distance from a rival brick-and-mortar store, either OfficeMax Inc. > or Office Depot Inc. If rival stores were within 20 miles or so, > Staples.com usually showed a discounted price. > > ... > > > http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323777204578189391813881534.html > > > ***** Moderator's Note ***** > > It may be that the best online deals are to be had while standing in > the parking lot of a discount store in an economically depressed area > of a city in the rustbelt. > > Or, perhaps, to have an app that makes online stores think you're > their. Let the games begin! > > Bill Horne > Moderator Nothing you can't defeat by using a proxy based in another area. Sure, it'll cost you a few bucks for shell accounts on a bunch of hosts, but at least you'll save a whole 50 cents. ***** Moderator's Note ***** Like all trial balloons, this one is small. The price differentials are tiny, and easily explained away: what Staples really wants to know is if anyone cares enough to switch to the competition. Bill Horne Moderator
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2012 11:19:03 -0500 From: T <kd1s.nospam@cox.nospam.net> To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org. Subject: Re: E-book restrictions leave 'buyers' with few rights Message-ID: <MPG.2b44ed8630fce941989d76@news.eternal-september.org> In article <p06240825ccfcfda31d0c@[10.0.1.10]>, monty@roscom.com says... > > E-book restrictions leave 'buyers' with few rights > > Unlike the owners of a physical tome, buyers of e-books are licensees > with lots of limitations. It's time to change the rules. [Moderator snip] It's funny - friends got both an Amazon Kindle and a B&N Nook. The Nook gets credit for having a touch screen on their low end models. But yes - you can't lend and loan though I think in the future that will change. And I'm a long time Kindle user - I use the app on my phone and my pc. I do like the synchronization between the two.
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