exploitative pricing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exploitative pricing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a pricing strategy that takes advantage of consumers, often by charging excessively high prices for goods or services. Example: "The company's exploitative pricing practices have drawn criticism from consumer advocacy groups."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Workplace discrimination, shady business protocols, exploitative pricing and more combined to spur the movement to ditch the ride-hailing app.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The IVF pioneer Lord Winston criticised private clinics for their highly exploitative prices and misleading information about the chances of success.

The Guardian - Opinion

("Fair trade" coffee is supposedly bought at a price that offers peasant producers a "living wage", rather than at the "exploitative" price paid for commercial coffee).

The Economist

The Turing scandal has shown just how vulnerable drug pricing is to exploitative, rent-seeking behavior.

The New Yorker

He, too, wants high gas prices: not for exploitative gains, of course, but to support the development of alternative fuels within the U.S. at higher costs than gasoline.

The New York Times

Supporters of the move say that with their own farm-to-market distribution networks, global supermarket chains will get rid of exploitative middlemen and pay higher prices directly to the farmers.

BBC

The fair trade movement had initially emerged around coffee, cocoa and tea, major export commodities whose producers around the world routinely suffered from major price fluctuations and exploitative trading practices.

Huffington Post

We are committed to reforming exploitative institutions that unjustly increase the price of being poor.

Huffington Post

He promised to improve living standards for working families through a series of policies such as an energy price freeze, a ban on "exploitative" zero-hour contracts and providing families with 25 hours of free childcare a week.

BBC

The reality in the coffee lands is appalling, due to the exploitative business model of the industry, low prices in relation to production costs and the devastating financial sequel of coffee rust and drought still being felt in many coffee communities.

Huffington Post

With the enforced privatizing of urban services: water, electricity, sewage treatment, only the well off were serviced at much higher prices, while the poor now had to pay the exploitative private suppliers.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exploitative pricing" to describe situations where the price unfairly benefits the seller at the expense of the buyer, especially when the buyer is vulnerable or lacks alternatives.

Common error

Avoid labeling any high price as "exploitative pricing" without considering the context, costs, and market dynamics. A high price may be justified by high production costs or scarcity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exploitative pricing" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "exploitative" modifies the noun "pricing". It describes a specific type of pricing strategy or practice. Ludwig confirms this usage, providing examples in news and media contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exploitative pricing" is a noun phrase used to describe unfair or unethical pricing strategies where sellers take advantage of buyers. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and primarily appears in News & Media sources. While the term carries a negative connotation, its register is generally neutral. When using "exploitative pricing", be sure to provide specific examples or data to support your claim and avoid overusing the term without proper justification. Consider alternatives like "predatory pricing practices" or "unfair pricing policies" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

predatory pricing practices

Focuses on the aggressive and potentially illegal nature of the pricing strategy.

unfair pricing policies

Highlights the inequitable aspect of the pricing, suggesting a lack of fairness.

abusive pricing strategies

Emphasizes the harmful and unethical nature of the pricing approach.

excessive pricing

Focuses on the unreasonably high prices being charged.

price gouging

Specifically refers to inflating prices during a crisis or when demand is high.

unconscionable pricing

Suggests the pricing is so excessive that it shocks the conscience.

exploitative price

Focuses on a single price point, rather than an overall strategy.

rip-off pricing

A more informal term indicating that the price is a swindle.

extortionate pricing

Implies prices are so high they resemble extortion.

deceptive pricing practices

Highlights the misleading aspect of the pricing, focusing on how it tricks customers.

FAQs

What does "exploitative pricing" mean?

"Exploitative pricing" refers to a pricing strategy where a seller takes unfair advantage of buyers, often charging excessively high prices due to factors like limited competition or consumer vulnerability.

How can I identify "exploitative pricing"?

Look for situations where prices are significantly higher than justified by costs, market conditions, or reasonable profit margins. Also, consider if the pricing targets vulnerable populations or essential goods/services.

What are some alternatives to saying "exploitative pricing"?

You can use alternatives like "predatory pricing practices", "unfair pricing policies", or "abusive pricing strategies" depending on the specific context.

What are the ethical implications of "exploitative pricing"?

"Exploitative pricing" is generally considered unethical because it takes advantage of consumers' needs or vulnerabilities for excessive profit, undermining trust and fairness in the marketplace.