Will the Internet Kill Zone Pricing?

Zone pricing, the practice of selectively raising or lowering prices on products based on a variety of factors, is common in retail. Consumers, for the most part, understand there are differences based on factors such as real estate costs. People in the New York metropolitan area, for example, expect to pay more for a Big Mac in Manhattan than they would in the suburbs. But they are not likely to be as understanding if retailers are charging higher prices for goods or services based on criteria that is less clear.