does anyone understand Amazon's sale strategies?

[newbury]

This has happened to me several times this year -
I research a product, decide on the quality I need, then try and find the best price. Then I'll usually wait a few days, sort of a cooling off period, and buy it where I find the best price. Often this is Amazon.

So I search for a 345widget, maybe even put it "in my cart", and buy it a few days later if I have not found a better price.

But lately I'll find the same identical thing for a much better price a few days later.

Latest hard example - I wanted E-Track O Ring Tie-Down Anchors. Amazon, because of free shipping, had the best price. So I put the lowest priced in my cart. Two days later the same search on Amazon shows another vendor now selling them for $2 less.
Then I decided I liked them so much I'd get some E-Track Wood Beam End Socket Shelf Brackets. Most of the places were asking about the same price, but no Prime or quick delivery. So I wait a few days - one of the vendors that had the best unit price but was charging for delivery (~$15) now listed it as prime w/ same day delivery.

It's almost like dealing with vendors in Itaewon - have to walk away to get a better price.

I've only seen this before dealing with SupplyHouse.com - Plumbing, Heating & HVAC Supplies - Formerly Pex Supply when prices have dipped a few days after I put it in the cart.

Has anyone else seen this marketing tactic with online vendors?

 

[s219]

Shoot, I usually see Amazon prices go up when I have shopped for something but didn't buy right away.

 

[Oaktree]

I've heard of this happening, but never experienced it myself.

 

[jaydee325]

Here is another spin on the Amazon shopping experience.

I needed some 12 VDC components for a project I was putting together. The total on the components was $18. No Prime or free shipping on the components I needed. Shipping was $9!

I Googled the listed vendor that Amazon was fulfilling the order for and found they had their own online store. Components were still $18, but shipping was $4.

Pays to shop around. Amazon is not the only game in town!

 

[Industrial Toys]

There is a site called Alux or something. They always have fifteen something, lists. Very well done. Anyway, Amazon was mentioned as one of 15, billion dollar or something companies that are secretly going broke.

 

[Oaktree]

There is a site called Alux or something. They always have fifteen something, lists.

Looks like an interesting site. I bookmarked it to explore later.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've never found a lower price after putting something in my Cart and not buying it, but my wife and I have noticed that if we are talking about something in our house, and then one of us does a search for it on Amazon, odds are very good that it's on sale all of a sudden. We have Alexa and I'm beginning to wonder how much she listens in on our conversations, and if any of that goes to Amazon so they can adjust prices for what we are looking for, to get us to buy right away? I know that if we are discussing a product on this site, that I will see ads for it on other websites.

 

[TractorNH]

Amazon prices are always fluctuating. If you want to know where the price is on a given item at a given time then go to Amazon and get on the item page then copy the URL (in the address bar of your browser). Then open another browser window and go to CamelCamelCamel.com which is a price tracker website. You paste the URL in the search box on that site and it will show you the price history of the item. I almost NEVER buy anything on Amazon without first checking the price history.

Here is an example of what you get:

 

[Sigarms]

I didn't walk into my first Wall Mart until 1999.

Still have never ordered anything from Amazon yet.

 

[TractorGuy]

Never seen a pattern.

I have caught a few items that were listed wrong. Either price too high or low.

Bought some anti wear coating last year for $35 shipped. While price shopping I knew I didn't want it bad enough to pay the prices I was seeing. The packing slip had the vendors cost somewhere around $185. I went to try and buy a second batch and they had it listed for two something.