On February 11th UFCW Local 1500 members ventured to Albany to let our legislators know say no to “Surveillance Pricing” and “Electronic Shelf Labeling” technology being introduced to your stores. This affects customers and members alike. Using personalized algorithmic pricing to change prices for individual shoppers. Senate Bill S8623 prohibits the use of algorithmically set prices and requires the disclosure of automated pricing systems. This bill has been sponsored by Rachel May (D, WF) 48th Senate District, and cosponsored by Michael Gianaris (D, WF) 12th Senate District.
UFCW Local 1500 member, Daniel Gleason had this to say, “It’s very important to keep electronic shelf tags, out of the stores. They could easily change the prices. By the time you pick something up on the shelf, and by the time you get up front the price could change. Honesty is the best policy, and also surveillance pricing. People shouldn’t be punished because they are loyal customers. These people shop in these stores, and shouldn’t be taken advantage of. We gotta be against surveillance pricing and the electronic shelf tags.”
UFCW Local 1500 former Assistant Field Director, Jay Scorzelli believes that electronic price tags will take jobs away. In addition he believes that surveillance pricing violates shoppers boundaries. “I think it’s an invasion of your privacy, and it’s not right that they’ll raise the price while you’re in the building, because they know you’re more likely to buy it.
UFCW Local 1500 member, Lilyan Ruiz does not support surveillance pricing. “It targets low income families, so there is a discriminatory factor there.” She also points out that surveillance pricing is based on algorithms. “It also creates profiles for the shoppers, where you will not be paying the same price as you paid last week or even yesterday.”