Amazon Changing Prices

[Ron]

Anyone else notice when you look at products for sale on Amazon, you'll typically find something at a decent price, but then when you go back to buy it later that day or the next morning the price is now more than it was originally?

Originally I thought it was just me, but I've been noticing it more and more lately. I'm tempted to boycott them completely since I waste time looking for a best price, find it there, then when I go to purchase it's no longer even close to the best deal. 

[Ron]

I threw this up on here since I know we have some frequent Amazon buyers/sellers on this forum...

However, at this point I've found resolution and it's http://camelcamelcamel.com . Plug in an Amazon ASIN# and you can see pricing history for that product to gain clarity amid a cloudy state of confusion when trying to recall what the price was the day before and if it's really changing or not.

[jkeeler]

Anyone else notice when you look at products for sale on Amazon, you'll typically find something at a decent price, but then when you go back to buy it later that day or the next morning the price is now more than it was originally?

Originally I thought it was just me, but I've been noticing it more and more lately. I'm tempted to boycott them completely since I waste time looking for a best price, find it there, then when I go to purchase it's no longer even close to the best deal. 

Was the item for sale by Amazon (or some other party)?

I do notice price changes if I leave stuff in cart...sometimes it is lower.

[JeffroM]

Most sellers (including One Way Pet) use repricing programs that run VERY frequently.  You set a floor price , a ceiling price, and rules for matching or beating other sellers.  It is a constant 'game'.  Prices can change drastically within a matter of minutes, but that is the 'game' Amazon fosters.

[Ron]

I've been noticing it for items sold by Amazon, typically those which they offer free shipping on. The free shipping part of the deal is usually what beats the other prices I find, but then I spend time trying to re-find the non-Amazon retailers after Amazon increases the price or drops the free shipping.

I realize that non-Amazon shops selling on Amazon set their own prices.

.... new post just in ....

Thanks for the insight Jeff. I figured they (Amazon) ran things that way, but was curious if they offered automatic price adjusting features to the other sellers they host. A few times I've witnessed it in real time, or at least thought I did. Now I'm curious how accurate the Camelx3 site is when it comes to taking pricing snapshots.