Statistics Papers
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
2012
Publication Source
The Annals of Applied Statistics
Volume
6
Issue
1
Start Page
55
Last Page
82
DOI
10.1214/11-AOAS503
Abstract
We show how a retailer can estimate the optimal price of a new product using observed transaction prices from online second-price auction experiments. For this purpose we propose a Bayesian Pólya tree approach which, given the limited nature of the data, requires a specially tailored implementation. Avoiding the need for a priori parametric assumptions, the Pólya tree approach allows for flexible inference of the valuation distribution, leading to more robust estimation of optimal price than competing parametric approaches. In collaboration with an online jewelry retailer, we illustrate how our methodology can be combined with managerial prior knowledge to estimate the profit maximizing price of a new jewelry product.
Keywords
Bayesian nonparametrics, Pólya tree distribution, second-price auctions, internet auctions, optimal pricing
Recommended Citation
George, E. I., & Hui, S. K. (2012). Optimal Pricing Using Online Auction Experiments: A Pólya Tree Approach. The Annals of Applied Statistics, 6 (1), 55-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/11-AOAS503
Date Posted: 27 November 2017
This document has been peer reviewed.