Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by CoolHand on Tuesday June 05 2018, @03:22PM   Printer-friendly
from the sticking-it-to-the-consumer dept.

Submitted via IRC for SoyCow8317

Car makers like Jaguar Land Rover and Peugeot have been accused of using special software to raise spare parts prices.

Source: https://www.engadget.com/2018/06/04/car-makers-used-software-to-raise-spare-parts-prices/

Ever had the nagging suspicion that your car's manufacturer was charging outrageous prices for parts simply because it could? Software might be to blame. Reuters has obtained documents from a lawsuit indicating that Jaguar Land Rover, Peugeot, Renault and other automakers have been using Accenture software (Partneo) that recommended price increases for spare parts based on "perceived value." If a brand badge or other component looked expensive, Partneo would suggest raising the price up to a level that drivers would still be willing to pay. It would even distinguish parts based on whether or not there was "pricing supervision" over certain parts (say, from insurance companies or focused publications) to avoid sparking an outcry.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Thexalon on Tuesday June 05 2018, @04:22PM (2 children)

    by Thexalon (636) on Tuesday June 05 2018, @04:22PM (#688911)

    If you don't like it, capitalism offers one way out in this limited circumstance. Somebody else needs to go in business manufacturing replacement parts. They can't do that because of imaginary property laws?

    If we ignore imaginary property laws, then another way out in this circumstance is to steal the parts in question. While classic cars aren't life-or-death situations, the Heinz dilemma [wikipedia.org] is based on a real question of what to do in the face of business practices and laws that lead to unfair outcomes.

    --
    The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +1  
       Interesting=1, Total=1
    Extra 'Interesting' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   3  
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 05 2018, @06:04PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 05 2018, @06:04PM (#688962)

    Interesting. I wasn't aware of that dilemma. Is that an evolution of the dilemma of stealing a loaf of bread for a loved one that will otherwise starve?

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 06 2018, @02:54AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 06 2018, @02:54AM (#689129)

    Once upon a time, long ago, there was a person in need of a trivial brake pad separator spring. This person called the parts counter and received the bad news that the $0.10 spring is only available as part of a $25 assembly, but was willing to pay the money to get the missing spring for their new car and possibly use the kit years later and just reuse the spring then, so they drove across town during their lunch hour to the parts counter that was supposed to be open for another 15 minutes before the parts department left for lunch. Upon arrival, the parts salesperson asked the person in need to wait, talked on the phone to friends for 5 minutes, then walked out and went to lunch themselves.

    The person in need of a trivial brake pad separator spring noted that the new cars on the lot with alloy wheels left said separator spring exposed, where a little push with a finger would dislodge it, and just happened to find the needful spring laying on the ground after experimentally verifying this observation. Too bad, so sad that the purchaser of that new car had dragging brake pads on one wheel, such things happen when the dealer hires jerks to work the parts counter.