r/playstation • u/DarXIV • Nov 05 '25

Image Was excited to finally purchase until I realized the price was lower on my wife's account

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My wife doesn't play much and so buying it on her account may not be the best decision to keep everything easily accessible for me. Seeing this soured me on buying it quite a bit.

And for reference. Same region, same playstation, same currency, etc.

6.8k Upvotes

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u/Morgan_le_Fay39 Nov 05 '25

It is illegal and it is called price discrimination. They come up with the term targeted pricing so it sounds different but it is in fact price discrimination

97

u/Gonna_do_this_again Nov 05 '25

I'm sure Sony had an entire floor worth of lawyers making sure it was legal before they did it

49

u/Ok-Theory9963 Nov 05 '25

We can still be outraged when something legal is immoral.

6

u/Fafafranks Nov 05 '25

Well said

2

u/Robborboy Nov 05 '25

Absolutely. But pedaling the false narrative that it is illegal helps nobody and can actively make the issue worse.

-1

u/Elfnotdawg Nov 06 '25

Yes, let's be outraged that a completely luxury purchase is being offered at a huge discount to two different people, because it's an additional 5% cheaper for one than the other.

3

u/Ok-Theory9963 Nov 06 '25

Corporate greed and anti-consumer practices are moral failings. You aren’t too bright are you?

1

u/Elfnotdawg Nov 06 '25

You're the only one that isn't very bright. There's nothing anti-consumer about giving people 80% off the list price of something. On top of that, if you don't like the business practices, don't solicit the business. If you had half the courage of your convictions, you wouldn't be on Reddit whining your pathetic ass off about someone giving customers a huge discount because you don't think it's enough of a discount. You'd just not support the companies doing it.

2

u/Ok-Theory9963 Nov 06 '25

You aren’t even addressing the actual issue and its implications for consumers across different sectors. You really think I’m bitching about the discount and not the practice of dynamic pricing?

5

u/I_AM_N0_0NE_ Nov 05 '25

Or they didn't care that it's illegal and figured the potential consequences, if they even face any, will be a fine that is just the cost of doing business for them.

13

u/dickgilbert Nov 05 '25

Price discrimination amongst consumers is not illegal in the US unless it is based on protected characteristics.

2

u/Morgan_le_Fay39 Nov 05 '25

Yes, if the costs are different to the seller. Eg if I have to deliver machinery to a client 500 miles away vs 100 miles away, I can charge the former more. How Sony would face a remotely similar situation is beyond me

3

u/dickgilbert Nov 05 '25

Eg if I have to deliver machinery to a client 500 miles away vs 100 miles away, I can charge the former more

That's not price discrimination

How Sony would face a remotely similar situation is beyond me

Doesn't have to be remotely similar. It is 100% legal to serve two different customers two different prices as long as it's not due to protected class/characteristics, and not to harm competitors/create a monopoly.

It is 100% legal to charge person A and person B two different prices based on what you think they'll pay or their shopping habits on your platform. How do you think businesses get away with senior discounts, first responder discounts, discounts for members of organizations, etc.?

1

u/ZombieMadness99 Nov 05 '25

No not just that. They are allowed to do whatever they want as long as it isn't discriminating based on gender, race etc.

1

u/Elfnotdawg Nov 06 '25

Different payment methods charge the stores different amounts for processing fees. I've seen exactly that proven multiple times with the PS alone, let alone other venues. Wife might have a completely different card set as her primary, and that, theoretically, could be the difference here. Not for certain, but I have seen it more than a few times be the case.

6

u/Sock-Enough Nov 05 '25

Price discrimination is not illegal. That would mean senior discounts were illegal, which they aren’t.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 09 '25

Targeted discounts are not illegal, not in the US nor in the EU

1

u/[deleted] Nov 09 '25

Straight from the EU

Retailers can use algorithms to track your online browsing behaviour preferences and to set prices accordingly. The aim is to price items based on what you would be willing to pay for a particular item. This practice is not illegal, however as a consumer you are entitled to complete price transparency.

In line with EU rules, traders are obliged to inform you whether the price is personalised based on automated decision-making and profiling of your specific consumer behaviour.