Is it really OK now that I know there's a difference in price? What can I do about it? Nothing, really.
> all actors have as much information as possible.
That has about as much relevance as a Turing machine to an actual computer. I don't have the necessary power to process all that information and determine my ideal choice.
If you know Company A is investing profits heavily into obfuscating markets, price discrimination, and building up "all that information" in its pricing strategy past the point of it being legible to you, while Company B is investing profits into homeless shelters and schools in your community, it allows you to make a more informed purchase as a consumer.
Voting happens at the checkout counter more so than the ballot box.
You don't even need to process all of the information. Computer programs can help, AI agents even. Even just the threat of an unusually dedicated pricing wonk combing through a mountain of complicated toxic pricing strategy to blog about it can make a company think twice.
Company B is probably worse and covering it up with philanthropy.
Purchasing power has greatly decreased as the cost of living and basic necessities has skyrocketed. Even with sufficient income, medical bills or dependents quickly erase all that surplus. There's often only only fiscally prudent candidate, politically or commercially.
What computer programs or AI agents can help? Are you referring to programs such as GnuCash, or are there consumer-friendly AIs nowadays?
I don't think you realize how thoroughly infested our culture has become with toxic pricing schemes. You could have all the cash in the world and without a credit score and a credit card half the market would be off-limits.
One example that's been weighing heavily on me is how I've been forced to return to Android. I used to try LineageOS on older phones but would lose the ability to make contactless payments, purchase train tickets, launch train/metro and even grocery store apps all thanks to SafetyNet attestation. Ironically my banking app couldn't care less.
> all actors have as much information as possible.
That has about as much relevance as a Turing machine to an actual computer. I don't have the necessary power to process all that information and determine my ideal choice.