There's a revolution brewing in pricing that promises to profoundly alter the way goods are marketed and sold. Behind this sweeping change is the wiring of the economy. This is enabling buyers to quickly and easily compare products and prices, putting them in a better bargaining position. This raises hopes of a more efficient marketplace. Today, the first signs of this new fluid pricing can be found mostly on the Internet.
Online auctions allow cybershoppers to bid on everything from collectibles to treadmills.
The pricing revolution, though, goes beyond the Net. Companies also are creating private networks, or ''extranets,'' that link them with their suppliers and customers. For a company with a large product line, it could take months for price adjustments to filter down to distributors, retailers, and salespeople. Streamlined networks reduce menu cost and time to near zero. This will clearly benefit consumers.