Peter Lawrence ’s The fashioning of a Fly , publish in 1992 , is supposed to be a great book for developmental biologists . But no matter how great and how uncommon it is ( it ’s out of print ) , a Modern variation probably does n’t cost the $ 23,698,655.93 it was listed for on Amazon . The used ledger sells for only $ 35 ! How did this occur ?
Apparently , it was algorithmic pricing strategy of two companies , Bordeebook and Profnath , that had fresh copies of the Good Book listed on Amazon . Michael Eisen , the man who cross this ridiculous pricing , says :
On the mean solar day we find the million dollar prices , the copy offered by bordeebook was 1.270589 times the price of the copy extend by profnath . And now [ after another price jump ] the bordeebook copy was 1.270589 times profnath again . So clearly at least one of the sellers was ready their monetary value algorithmically in response to changes in the other ’s price . I proceed to watch out cautiously and the full formula emerged .
Once a day profnath fix their price to be 0.9983 times bordeebook ’s price . The prices would remain close for several minute , until bordeebook “ noticed ” profnath ’s change and elevated their price to 1.270589 times profnath ’s high monetary value . The design go on dead for the next week .
So it just hold open expire up and up ! Eisen theorize that Profnath wanted to have the lowest price on the market , but not too downcast , thus the .9983 scheme and Bordeebook wants to be 1.270589x higher than the depressed cost because they do n’t actually have the book in their computer storage . Either way , it ’s rum to see algorithmic rule hilariously juice a price higher and high without the companies even knowing . [ Michael Eisen ]
AmazonBooksExpensive
Daily Newsletter
Get the safe technical school , scientific discipline , and cultivation news show in your inbox daily .
word from the future , delivered to your present tense .
You May Also Like
