Worried you’re being overcharged when shopping online? Listen to this

This Life Kit episode explains how online retailers use personal data—such as browsing history, location, and past purchases—to charge different customers different prices for the same item, a practice author Lindsay Owens calls surveillance pricing. Owens, whose new book is titled *Gouged*, describes the loss of pricing transparency and the frustration of potentially paying more than someone else for your purchase. She offers practical strategies to disrupt the data retailers rely on, helping consumers reclaim a fair price. The episode aims to shift listeners from feeling helpless to taking control, encouraging a more skeptical and informed approach to online shopping.