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You're right, but that's a very customer centric viewpoint - from the point of view of the advertiser this is not so great. This specific painter pays the ad p

You're right, but that's a very customer centric viewpoint - from the point of view of the advertiser this is not so great. This specific painter pays the ad platform to be the one that comes to you, when you're busy with all the other things on your todo list, so that you choose them and not one of the other 10 painters in your area. It still doesn't make them bad, or manipulative. You actually want this service and not having to do the search yourself is a bonus, all things being equal (price and service level is in line with the local market etc).

amelius 7y ago
> It still doesn't make them bad, or manipulative. I don't see why not. Ads have negative externalities, for example: now everybody sees the ad (not only people in need of a painter), and also now the painter with the largest advertising budget will get more customers (not the best one), and finally the advertising costs will eventually be paid by the client (the client pays for being manipulated).