Let me talk to my browser.
November 5, 2010 9:13 AM Subscribe
Looking for a car loan? Get a better rate searching with Chrome.
Car loan rates at Capital ONE seem to be based on browser choice. Confirmed by: Marginal Revolution, The J-Walk Blog, Techdirt. (Via M-R).
Car loan rates at Capital ONE seem to be based on browser choice. Confirmed by: Marginal Revolution, The J-Walk Blog, Techdirt. (Via M-R).
I saw at least two people on Slashdot run statistical analysis showing that all useragents get the same probability of advertised rates. This post isn't much more than confirmation bias.
posted by pwnguin at 9:22 AM on November 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by pwnguin at 9:22 AM on November 5, 2010 [4 favorites]
And if you open the site in IE6, Capital one forecloses on your house.
posted by boo_radley at 9:23 AM on November 5, 2010 [15 favorites]
posted by boo_radley at 9:23 AM on November 5, 2010 [15 favorites]
It's not an interest rate, it's just a quote.
There's an assessment process before you actually get a rate determined, and it's not related to your browser.
So I guess the real headline would be: "Price quotes lower on Chrome."
posted by Stagger Lee at 9:24 AM on November 5, 2010
There's an assessment process before you actually get a rate determined, and it's not related to your browser.
So I guess the real headline would be: "Price quotes lower on Chrome."
posted by Stagger Lee at 9:24 AM on November 5, 2010
After reading the comments at Marginal Revolution, I don't think 'confirmed' is the right word.
posted by box at 9:24 AM on November 5, 2010
posted by box at 9:24 AM on November 5, 2010
And providing rates based on browser choice would be a clear violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:27 AM on November 5, 2010
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:27 AM on November 5, 2010
Yeah this is just a boneheaded A/B test for clickthrough based on quoted price.
posted by tjenks at 10:08 AM on November 5, 2010
posted by tjenks at 10:08 AM on November 5, 2010
Yeah this is just a boneheaded A/B test for clickthrough based on quoted price.
::looks at FP poster again::
::snickers::
posted by FatherDagon at 10:10 AM on November 5, 2010
::looks at FP poster again::
::snickers::
posted by FatherDagon at 10:10 AM on November 5, 2010
pwnguin: I saw at least two people on Slashdot run statistical analysis showing that all useragents get the same probability of advertised rates. This post isn't much more than confirmation bias.
I looked through the Slashdot post comments, and didn't see any statistical analysis (though I didn't dig beyond the comments shown to anonymous browsers), but I did find two comments that confirmed browser bias: a run-down of browsers (run on Ubuntu 10.04 amd64, with an IP resolving from Finland) with cookies deleted and the same scores per browser each time, and a comment that turning off JavaScript results in the higher 3.50% every time.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:20 AM on November 5, 2010
I looked through the Slashdot post comments, and didn't see any statistical analysis (though I didn't dig beyond the comments shown to anonymous browsers), but I did find two comments that confirmed browser bias: a run-down of browsers (run on Ubuntu 10.04 amd64, with an IP resolving from Finland) with cookies deleted and the same scores per browser each time, and a comment that turning off JavaScript results in the higher 3.50% every time.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:20 AM on November 5, 2010
I was about to say SPAM until I clicked 'more inside'. Don't most people use price comparison sites before taking a loan anyway now?
I've searched with IE, in London, and it's just given me some random options of places I could get credit if I wished. Hardly steering me toward a rate bracket.
posted by mippy at 11:30 AM on November 5, 2010
I've searched with IE, in London, and it's just given me some random options of places I could get credit if I wished. Hardly steering me toward a rate bracket.
posted by mippy at 11:30 AM on November 5, 2010
User-agent is not relevant. Ever since Slashdot's new ajax interface, I only visit every once in a while.
posted by pwnguin at 11:44 AM on November 5, 2010
posted by pwnguin at 11:44 AM on November 5, 2010
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posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:20 AM on November 5, 2010 [4 favorites]