I’ve wondered for a long time if “time-wasting price discrimination” technology could be better. It requires a credible signal of low time value, but perhaps that time can be spent in a socially useful way.
Something like “stuff envelopes for charity and get a discount”. Not that I think that would work, but hopefully it conveys the idea above: cheapskate wastes time from their perspective to get a discount, but something positive comes out of it.
Alternatively, it could be something that has private value, but isn’t undertaken for cognitive bias reasons. Watch an educational video to get the discount.
I think you’re missing an important reason for coupons: price gouging laws. Grocery stores can’t raise prices during supply shocks without getting heat from the fuzz. But they can stop issuing coupons.
I’ve wondered for a long time if “time-wasting price discrimination” technology could be better. It requires a credible signal of low time value, but perhaps that time can be spent in a socially useful way.
Something like “stuff envelopes for charity and get a discount”. Not that I think that would work, but hopefully it conveys the idea above: cheapskate wastes time from their perspective to get a discount, but something positive comes out of it.
Alternatively, it could be something that has private value, but isn’t undertaken for cognitive bias reasons. Watch an educational video to get the discount.
I think you’re missing an important reason for coupons: price gouging laws. Grocery stores can’t raise prices during supply shocks without getting heat from the fuzz. But they can stop issuing coupons.
I am not convinced that major retailers want to increase their prices in those situations. https://pricetheory.substack.com/p/why-price-gouging-laws-arent-so-bad