This "dark forest" feeling is what has recently driven me back to brick-and-mortar stores. Of course they can and do manipulate me via ads, store layout etc. but at least the store looks the same for me as for the person before or after me. They can't algorithmically optimize the store around my behavior in particular.

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baxtr an hour ago | parent | next [-]

Recently I was looking for a fun summer book and spent around 30 minutes (?) browsing amazon and asking google AI with no luck.

Came by a bookstore yesterday, went in, asked the nice lady, she recommend 3, one was a pretty good match, bought it on the spot.

It’s so easy to get lost online when you’re looking for something these days…

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5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[deleted]

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micromacrofoot 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

ah but what they can manipulate around you is the price, which is a behavior some places are trying to get ahead of

https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/2026/20260723a.shtml

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muvlon 4 hours ago | parent [-]

Has that actually happened in retail stores? All I can find on the topic is about online purchases (or ordering/paying online and picking it up at the store).

To do this in brick-and-mortar, you'd have to use remotely programmable price tags and detect who is looking at what, which seems doable, but then you still run into all kinds of tough questions with no good answers. If I happen to see the price tag change from $3.49 (perhaps set for the person in front of me) to $4.49 and I put that item in my cart, which price am I getting charged at the register? And did a legal sale even occur if I wasn't aware what I would be paying? I don't think it's going to work.

	▲	paconbork 4 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		"Please scan this item with our app to see the price"
	▲	evereverever 4 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		"Please scan this item with our app to see YOUR price" -ftfy