This happens sometimes in markets where production outstrips demand, but production is inflexible to slow down. Notable examples in the US are electricity prices that will sometimes spike negative during peak renewable generation, or crude oil right at the start of COVID lock downs.
I don't think that's possible on Amazon but it seems unplausibel to me even without such guardrails. Two algorithms trying to outbidding each other would only lead to prices closer to zero like $ 0.001 and so on. No way to get into negatives with instructions like lowest price x 0.998.
9 Comments
drolex@sopuli.xyz · 66 pts · 49d
$3.99 shipping??? I was going to buy it but fuck that.
Rhaedas@fedia.io · 44 pts · 49d
If you just put something else in the cart to bump it to 24 million, you would get free shipping.
Steve@communick.news · 16 pts · 49d
Now I'm wondering if it ever took a price negative.
einkorn@feddit.org · 19 pts · 49d
Claude certainly did give stuff away for free.
Steve@communick.news · 10 pts · 49d
But what about below free? Paying someone to take something.
Bgugi@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 49d
This happens sometimes in markets where production outstrips demand, but production is inflexible to slow down. Notable examples in the US are electricity prices that will sometimes spike negative during peak renewable generation, or crude oil right at the start of COVID lock downs.
Steve@communick.news · 3 pts · 49d
I understand it can happen when market conditions require it. Like disposing of trash.
I'm specifically asking if an unconstrained pricing AI has ever assigned a negative price to a product of value.
mustbe3to20signs@feddit.org · 4 pts · 49d
I don't think that's possible on Amazon but it seems unplausibel to me even without such guardrails. Two algorithms trying to outbidding each other would only lead to prices closer to zero like $ 0.001 and so on. No way to get into negatives with instructions like lowest price x 0.998.
HonoraryMancunian@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 49d
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sseSi0k3Ecg&pp=0gcJCWQCo7VqN5tD
Stand-up Maths did a video on it