[cap-talk] Capability accounting

[Sandro Magi]

Norman Hardy wrote:
> On Jun 26, 2006, at 5:54 AM, Sandro Magi wrote:
> 
> It seems a bit strained to suggest that I had set a limit of 10c and  
> then
> was concerned that it had gone from 3c to 9c.

I value the comics less than the editorial. That doesn't seem like such
a stretch to me.

> If such was of potential concern then I would have set a 5c limit.
> The agent does not tell the site what the limit is.
> The site might ask for more to try to determine the limit and then ask
> a price just under that limit.

The point is, the site can infer the highest limit achieved thus far,
and increase all prices to match "behind your back". You are now being
charged a different price from that which you originally agreed without
any explicit acknowledgment on your part.

Let's suppose that I've been enjoying the NY Times comics at 3c for some
time, but nothing else interested me. Then, I see a 10c article I'm
interested in reading; for a one-time thing, I won't increase the limit,
but if I start noticing that I enjoy these articles, I will increase the
limit to 10c. NY Times now knows I have a 10c limit and can start
charging me 10c for my comics too, without me being the wiser until I
get my bill.

You could argue that such practices drive away customers, and I would
agree ("buyer beware"); I just want to be aware of exactly what I'm
vulnerable to in such scenarios.

Sandro