WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – New York state is considering legislation that would prohibit electronic price tags and surveillance pricing, as a major grocery workers union argues the technology allows retailers to raise prices on everyday necessities at a moment\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n
Electronic shelf tags function like traditional paper price tags but can be updated instantly \u2014 allowing a store to raise the cost of one item or put another on sale without manually changing labels.<\/p>\n
Where the legislation stands<\/p>\n
A bill banning surveillance pricing \u2014 the practice of using a customer\u2019s private online browsing data to set individualized prices \u2014 has passed both the state Senate and Assembly and is awaiting the governor\u2019s signature.<\/p>\n
A separate bill prohibiting electronic pricing has passed the Senate but has not cleared the Assembly.<\/p>\n
A union\u2019s position<\/p>\n
Officials with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union said they oppose both practices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to point out to people that groceries and food are a necessity, and companies shouldn\u2019t be able to play with a necessity like this,\u201d said Ademola Oyefeso, director of the Legislative and Political Action Department at the UFCW.<\/p>\n
Oyefeso said the technology opens the door to frequent, real-time price increases.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re using it as a way to be able to increase prices every single day, and if New York \u2014 the legislature \u2014 doesn\u2019t stop it, milk will go from $2.99 to $5.99 depending on the time of day. On a hot day like it is right now, ice cream can be raised a dollar just because it\u2019s 90 degrees instead of staying the normal price it is,\u201d Oyefeso said.<\/p>\n
UFCW officials also said digitized pricing threatens grocery store jobs.<\/p>\n
A dissenting view<\/p>\n
State Assemblyman Scott Gray said he wants to protect consumers but does not support all that the bills would do. Gray said consumers should remain alert when shopping and decide for themselves whether a price is acceptable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all part of marketing \u2014 if they know that traffic is high, or if they know that people are going to be buying, say, a sort of beverage at that time in the afternoon and they want to offer discounts on that, that\u2019s all part of what stores do,\u201d said Gray (R. – 116th District).<\/p>\n
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