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I read years ago that they place cookies on your machine and show different prices to different people, but today I actually saw the price increase over a short period.
I looked at an item on the macbook and just closed the laptop, then about an hour later looked again on the computer, the price was 1 pound higher selling from the exact same supplier, I opened the macbook with the page still open and compared them. They were exactly the same product, supplier everything and showed different prices.
I tried adding the cheaper one but the price increased automatically as I did.
I looked at some previous orders of protein bars I buy and the prices have risen slowly to the point they now want 25% more than non amazon stock searched on google.
Anyone else notice these tricks?
I looked at an item on the macbook and just closed the laptop, then about an hour later looked again on the computer, the price was 1 pound higher selling from the exact same supplier, I opened the macbook with the page still open and compared them. They were exactly the same product, supplier everything and showed different prices.
I tried adding the cheaper one but the price increased automatically as I did.
I looked at some previous orders of protein bars I buy and the prices have risen slowly to the point they now want 25% more than non amazon stock searched on google.
Anyone else notice these tricks?
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Replies: 31
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They Dutch auction items. Several vendors appear to be vying for your custom but as soon as one of them makes a sale the whole lot revert to a considerably higher price.
CDs for example. |
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but the raise in price happened even before I added to the basket.
the price increase of a regular purchase has now priced themselves out of the market on a product I will now purchase outside amazon, so they have cut their own throat. I also noticed amazon prime isnt any real value, since the subscription price supposedly paid to pay for next day delivery in the price results in higher prices for next day delivery compared to free delivery a few days later. Really going off these coonts quickly |
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You also have the usual sharks who advertise at an advantageous price,(to them), then buy the item elsewhere once the unwary punter has paid over the odds for it.
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I knew that you could buy almost anything on Amazon but never realied they were selling peppermints
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Well worth a read:
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-10-10/jeff-bezos-and-the-age-of-amazon-excerpt-from-the-everything-store-by-brad-stone |
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We really should have UK versions of google, amazon & ebay
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Having discovered that an untagged dog can get you a £5,000 fine, I looked up some dog tags last week on a site called 'D for Dog.'
They were £9 including engraving, post and packaging. Mrs CMAT decided to look on Amazon. Exactly the same tag, engraving and p&p for £9-48p. She ordered it from Amazon. Women, ffs. |
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To prove the point about the prices I bought a Cd. 4x £4.07,1x£4.08 were the prices before purchase. Immediately after they were .....exactly the same.
 I suppose I should experiment by buying some more cds. |
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I got a dog tag off ebay, £3 all in. Delivered next day
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try deleting cookies this will not let them know u already visited earlier.
don't think amazon are the only ones,lots of holiday firms use these tatics. |
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everythings gone green
20 Oct 14 18:40 I got a dog tag off ebay, £3 all in. Delivered next day Engraved as well? |
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Yes, one side only. Excellent quality
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Dustybin. I don't really see the problem. The price must rise at some specific point in time. Prior to that point it costs, say £20. After that point in time it costs £21.
You first saw it at the earlier, lower price and then you later checked AFTER the price rise. No? |
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everythings gone green
20 Oct 14 22:52 Yes, one side only. Excellent quality Mrs CMAT placed the order on Amazon, mind you, it was getting on for midnight. The next day we got an email from the company selling them, asking for engraving details. Sent those back, now waiting for it to arrive. |
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few forum names to fit
2 week job |
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 Got it this morning. |
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A lot of rarer items are amazon marketplace which are basically ebay "shops". I've seen stuff on amazon then ordered them on ebay from same shop for whatever reason (like cheaper), though the fulfilled by amazon is great if they have it on the item.
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naydam • October 20, 2014 10:56 PM BST
Dustybin. I don't really see the problem. The price must rise at some specific point in time. Prior to that point it costs, say £20. After that point in time it costs £21. You first saw it at the earlier, lower price and then you later checked AFTER the price rise. No? There is truth in what you suggest and indeed prices will fluctuate over time....but seemingly as was the case of the regular purchase of protein, never actually down, until infact the price had risen to 25% above prices of same item outside amazon. Im just very skeptical based one the fact that 1) amazon have proven form of offering items at different prices to different individuals (which smacks of opportunism as far as im concerned) 2) that the considerable use of data mining will be used by amazon to profit from any possible angle where possible. In my case I spend an awful lot, Im suspicious that prices keep creeping up and they have worked out that I simply go with it for convenience. Although as I suggested they have now cut their own throats by no longer being competitive. |
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dusty have you got any current examples, i've got a pc which i use amazon on and a 2nd pc which i don't, i'd like to see it if poss?
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Personally, I think you must have been buying full-strength paranoia.
I can fully understand why Amazon would charge slightly more (OR slightly less!) than their competitors. I really don't see your point. Are you saying that, if I was a regular purchaser of Brand X Protein, I would find it displayed at a higher price on MY computer than it would be on my friend's computer (who has never logged on to Amazon) I find that very hard to believe. |
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that's how i read it naydam which is why i want to check, i buy loads off there including some repeats
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Why not clear cookies or use a different browser at same time and see if prices are the same, or phone a friend and get them to check prices at exact same time?
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For a start I don't think clearing cookies will be sufficient anymore. Your account data is held with them that will get algorithms calculated on the data when signed in, and I rather suspect ISP data will be used when not signed in.
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/LAW/06/24/ramasastry.website.prices/ |
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As a matter of interest we know Amazon have admitted these practises in the past so they arnt paranoia, but what I think maybe occurring now is that the more you view a product on a given ISP/account the greater the like good of price customisation based on perceived want and purchase ability.
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What's the best price on Amazon for reflex protein flapjacks for somebody who's never looked at them as a matter of interests?
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24 Flapjacks...£23-83p including delivery.
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£26.38 here come straight up with Amazon prime (which was supposed to have been paid for by a yearly sub of nearly £90, which rather makes that pretty pointless)
But I also see that offer you shown and another which works out at 23 quid with delivery. I believe prime is a factor in this issue. Either way, the end result is the same whether it's artificial manipulation which they have admitted that they do in the past, or whether it is Amazon simply being non competitive on price (since one of those very other offer suppliers sell for 18.99 and free delivery away from amazon. |
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So the 'con' here is being charged £7.39 for next day delivery which should have been covered by the 90 quid annual subs, while the other options through their site incurs a retailer to pay too much commission to make them competitive vs out of Amazon selling.
Which ever way you work it they are working on the prefix of 1 click convenience, though I'll accept that in this example it's not necessarily the case they are putting the price up for the individual (though that isn't proof in itself they don't) |
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I think you are over-complicating the online shopping experience.
 I have no idea about any so-called special subscriptions that you have paid to Amazon or, indeed, what such subscriptions are meant to cover. If Amazon are failing to supply a service which you have paid for, then you need to inform them of such. The other supplier was charging £23-84p. One penny more then the cheapest. I know nothing of suppliers offering cheap prices and free postage elsewhere. Anyway, good luck with the shopping.  |
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I rather suspect what is going on is the Amazon Prime subscriptions, this is to subsidise next day delivery for ppl who use amazon a lot.
What started out as decent value gets less and less so and wasnt made clear to me that this would be the case. (i.e. at the beginning next day are free, but with high use of orders they clearly change the amount of benefit the subscription covers (so like in this case next day is simply £2.61 cheaper than without Prime, and perhaps the time after might be only £2.50 cheaper as they consider Ive had my 90 quids worth. I didnt realise this when I joined...I do now and wont be extending subscription for a second year. |
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incidentally
flapjacks taste better costing just 18.99 with free delivery from the supplement store when purchased outside of money grasping amazon  |