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Posted on 03/25/2026 4:24:10 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
Walmart has recently been awarded patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for AI tools that help set pricing decisions. Those patents are getting attention on social media this week as consumers worry about the future of dynamic pricing and so-called surveillance pricing, the practice of charging people different prices for the same goods and services based on their unique attributes.
One of the new patents, US-12524776-B2, includes ways for “dynamically and automatically updating item prices” on e-commerce platforms. The patent filing explains that it combines price elasticity data and predicted demand for a given item, and then an algorithm generates a “first markdown price.”
When the price elasticity data and predicted demand data aren’t available, it creates a “bounded price” that allows for a range to be chosen to set a new price on the platform.
Another patent recently granted to Walmart, US-12572954-B2, involves the use of machine learning to predict the demand of various items and recommend prices. The schematic in the filing even shows that third-party data may be used to help determine the price, a controversial practice when it’s employed by other businesses like airlines to set fares.
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(Excerpt) Read more at gizmodo.com ...
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The Walmarts in our area went to digital shelf pricing recently and we noticed, anecdotally at least, that prices were even higher than usual. In theory, this tech should enable price management at a lower cost due to reduced labor and pricing errors, but I think it is naive to believe that it won’t be used to further maximize the extraction of value from every customer it has.
Shop with a VPN engaged.
Europe has had this for a decade.
Digital price tags on store shelves.
I have literally seen a price change (upwards of course) as I was reaching for a bag of cookies.
Someone knew I was the Cookie Monster.
It is hard enough to match the price tag with the items at my local Walmarts because they do such a bad job maintaining their shelves, and they have removed all the price checker kiosks so the trip to the cash register is often a surprise.
sounds like bait and switch
Basically SURGE pricing online.
These will never survive.
When I see and item in a store that is not marked with a price then I almost always just move along. I have to need something really bad to even consider it if the price is not marked.
You walk up and are white, the price jumps up
You’re a guy, the price increases
I have a slightly different strategy. If I really want it, I’ll take it to the cash register and if it rings up for too much I just say I don’t want that item because it is too expensive. If they failed to put a price on an item, then putting it back in stock is the least thing they can do for me.
I buy a lot from Walmart, all on line. Seldom if ever I go inside store.
Does some clerk have to go around every six months and replace the batteries in every label?
Yes. Your digital information will be read and you will be charged accordingly.
Shop at Macy’s? Your price for cookies at Walmart goes up.
Seems odd. You figure most go to walmart, not out of some misplaced brand loyalty, but because they want a lower price.
If the price is no longer lower, they go elsewhere, yes?
Yes. Your digital information will be read and you will be charged accordingly.
Shop at Macy’s? Your price for cookies at Walmart goes up.
Worked for an insurance company that had a relationship with a company called Axciom and they provided demographic information on insurance customers and leads. They also work for Walmart. I bought a pair of glasses from Walmart & they broke & the store wasn’t working with me on getting them replaced or fixed. Wrote a letter to Walmart corporate and not only did they get me a new pair of glasses, they refunded me my $400. They knew how much stuff my family was buying from them and this was back in the late 1990s. Imagine what they know about you now.
That works too.
So the price can change when you reach for an item on the shelf ?!?!?!
What’s to prevent them from raising the price again a few minutes later at the register?
And soon to come: Prices varying based upon your ‘Social Credit Score’?
Pay cash.
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