Amazon.ca and raising prices?

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Aug 16th, 2018 4:00 pm

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Feb 7th, 2017 5:28 pm

jarko [OP]: Deal Addict; Jun 8, 2008; 3448 posts; 704 upvotes; GTA

Feb 7th, 2017 5:28 pm

Amazon.ca and raising prices?

I wonder if it's just my bad luck or is amazon just shifty. Lately when I look for an item on amazon (not with all) and refresh the page a couple minutes later the price goes up by 100%+. At first I thought maybe someone bought the item before but that's not the case. I was looking at wireless keyboard for example and the amazon price completely vanished after refresh, the item is in stock and when I click on new amazon completely vanishes from the list (not even OOS message). So my question is if it's just my bad luck lately with items or does amazon track views/visitors and just raises the price? I've had this happen a week ago when I was looking at a couple other items and had the items added to my cart, everyday the price would increase (by amazon), then when I removed it from my cart the price dropped back to normal after a couple days.

Either way, I recommend an addon for chrome called keepa as it's helping me track the fake increased prices by amazon so I've been alert recently.

Edit:
For example, when I first visited it it was $38.99. However, after a refresh the price shows around $60+ (without the option to buy from amazon). I just cleared my cache/cookies and it's back to $38.99
https://www.amazon.ca/Logitech-K400-Wir ... Bk400&th=1

44 replies

Feb 7th, 2017 6:15 pm

lcmt: Deal Fanatic; Jul 24, 2009; 6370 posts; 8812 upvotes

Feb 7th, 2017 6:15 pm

If you use keepa, the product will end up in the same situation because keepa will broadcast any tracking deal under its deal section and many people are using it. Once Amazon detects lots of people are viewing the item, the price will go up. It may go back down if it ends up nobody is buying it, but the price will still go up first before dropping it back.

Also Amazon is able to detect anyone is viewing the item. If you keep refreshing the item, then it may trigger the price system to do something about it.

+6

Feb 7th, 2017 6:25 pm

adams7: Deal Addict; May 8, 2007; 1273 posts; 471 upvotes; BC

Feb 7th, 2017 6:25 pm

I have read that Amazon monitors your Amazon browsing (and maybe other site browsing from cookies?) and sometimes cranks up the price of something it thinks you are interested in, so they make extra profit. That might also get people to impulse buy if they think the price could go up.

I'm a little worried if I research a product a lot and check out reviews on Amazon, my price will go up.

I don't buy from them often as I usually find better deals at local physical stores, maybe use them once a year, but their .ca site has been getting better prices recently making them more interesting.

Feb 7th, 2017 6:31 pm

lcmt: Deal Fanatic; Jul 24, 2009; 6370 posts; 8812 upvotes

Feb 7th, 2017 6:31 pm

If you want to check the detail of the item, check from the .com or other online retailers or manufacturer online. In this case, it will prevent the trigger from Amazon price system. Usually, viewing one or two times is fine, but if you keep staying on the same item page for a while or coming back to view the item price on the item page, then it will definitely raise a trigger to the pricing system.

adams7 wrote: ↑ I have read that Amazon monitors your Amazon browsing (and maybe other site browsing from cookies?) and sometimes cranks up the price of something it thinks you are interested in, so they make extra profit. That might also get people to impulse buy if they think the price could go up.

I'm a little worried if I research a product a lot and check out reviews on Amazon, my price will go up.

I don't buy from them often as I usually find better deals at local physical stores, maybe use them once a year, but their .ca site has been getting better prices recently making them more interesting.

Feb 7th, 2017 6:55 pm

Cheap: Deal Addict; Dec 9, 2005; 1000 posts; 250 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 7th, 2017 6:55 pm

I have posted deals and within minutes, but before anyone buys it, the price goes down and then up when someone buys it. I keep stuff in my cart and prices go down and up. I don't get it but I like getting cheap stuff

Feb 7th, 2017 8:04 pm

jarko [OP]: Deal Addict; Jun 8, 2008; 3448 posts; 704 upvotes; GTA

Feb 7th, 2017 8:04 pm

lcmt wrote: ↑ If you use keepa, the product will end up in the same situation because keepa will broadcast any tracking deal under its deal section and many people are using it. Once Amazon detects lots of people are viewing the item, the price will go up. It may go back down if it ends up nobody is buying it, but the price will still go up first before dropping it back.

Also Amazon is able to detect anyone is viewing the item. If you keep refreshing the item, then it may trigger the price system to do something about it.

That's probably what happens, but it seems they've increased the frequency when this happens. I used to use amazon a lot a never had these issues, recently I've had it happen almost every time I visit amazon to check a product.

Feb 7th, 2017 8:26 pm

johnnygeorgekins: Temp. Banned; Jan 5, 2017; 262 posts; 213 upvotes

Feb 7th, 2017 8:26 pm

bait and switch except amazon is not doing the advertising. RFD and other unpaid agents are the advertisers so amazon is not doing anything illegal. new law required.

+1

Feb 7th, 2017 8:36 pm

craftsman: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2006; 21626 posts; 15262 upvotes; Vancouver, BC

Feb 7th, 2017 8:36 pm

I've had some warehouse deals in my shopping cart overnight and found that the same item would increase in price by a few dollars if I didn't buy it the day before. I never leave anything in my shopping cart that I'm considering buying anymore after that!

+1

Feb 8th, 2017 12:29 am

qaz393: Deal Guru; Dec 2, 2008; 12454 posts; 2168 upvotes; GTA

Feb 8th, 2017 12:29 am

i linked a product on facebook and the price went from 6 dollars to 26 dollars........ it was a socket tool..........

Feb 8th, 2017 1:50 am

lcmt: Deal Fanatic; Jul 24, 2009; 6370 posts; 8812 upvotes

Feb 8th, 2017 1:50 am

Amazon keeps changing the price strategy, but still constantly introduces items having step-down price. Recently, I have noticed about 2 times the "PRIME EARLY ACCESS DEAL" has higher price. In other word, after the 30 mins of "PRIME EARLY ACCESS DEAL", the price drops even lower. I hope this is not the trend, otherwise, Prime members got "PRIME EARLY ACCESS DEAL", but they need to pay higher price. This may not be Amazon's fault because these two items are sold by third-party, but shipped by Amazon. I'm not sure if the third-party sellers are the actual SCAMMERS. They lower the price again after the PRIME EARLY ACCESS time expired.

+2

Feb 8th, 2017 9:02 am

Cheap: Deal Addict; Dec 9, 2005; 1000 posts; 250 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 8th, 2017 9:02 am

blackdragon12 wrote: ↑ I've never personally noticed this... But I do use quite a few tools to save me money on Amazon - and make sure I'm not overpaying! Check out this video for more

Good video. A couple more ways to save that I use; facebook pages that post deals like BB and ACD. And, when I see a deal for some item, I look at what else is listed under that manufacturer/distributor name. I posted a deal for a Vinotemp chiller, if you look at other products by Vinotemp, there are a couple of other deeply discounted items.

I mostly look at stuff sold by Amazon and discounted by at least 70%, and I've seen the price go up immediately after I buy something, but I have also seen the price stay the same for days after I buy, and then go up. Once it goes up, sometimes it comes back down and sometimes it doesn't. I don't see any patterns.

Feb 8th, 2017 9:27 am

blackdragon12: Deal Addict; Mar 28, 2007; 3190 posts; 789 upvotes

Feb 8th, 2017 9:27 am

Cheap wrote: ↑ Good video. A couple more ways to save that I use; facebook pages that post deals like BB and ACD. And, when I see a deal for some item, I look at what else is listed under that manufacturer/distributor name. I posted a deal for a Vinotemp chiller, if you look at other products by Vinotemp, there are a couple of other deeply discounted items.

I mostly look at stuff sold by Amazon and discounted by at least 70%, and I've seen the price go up immediately after I buy something, but I have also seen the price stay the same for days after I buy, and then go up. Once it goes up, sometimes it comes back down and sometimes it doesn't. I don't see any patterns.

Yup - its all pretty random. If I really need something, I'll wait a few days max for a lightning deal or a price drop. Otherwise I'll just bite the bullet and get it.

Feb 8th, 2017 2:14 pm

death_hawk: Deal Expert; Aug 22, 2006; 31103 posts; 16954 upvotes

Feb 8th, 2017 2:14 pm

I think it's a neat system.
I've literally stolen a few things because of it.

Bought an $8 fine Chinoise beause of it.
They're normally like $50.

$100 ice machine too which is now $500.

Do you not have anything else to do rather than argue with strangers on the internet

Nope. That's why I'm on the internet arguing with strangers. If I had anything better to do I'd probably be doing it.

Feb 16th, 2017 3:58 am

death_hawk: Deal Expert; Aug 22, 2006; 31103 posts; 16954 upvotes

Feb 16th, 2017 3:58 am

Stole some more things.
Bought a 25qt Aluminium Brazier for $25 and a 20qt Stainless Brazier for $50.
Price jumped to $120 and $240 after purchase.

Do you not have anything else to do rather than argue with strangers on the internet

Nope. That's why I'm on the internet arguing with strangers. If I had anything better to do I'd probably be doing it.

Feb 16th, 2017 4:14 am

twitchyzero: Deal Addict; Sep 26, 2007; 4156 posts; 522 upvotes

Feb 16th, 2017 4:14 am

nope
if anything, in my experience, items fall by a few dollars sitting in the cart for a couple of days.

are we talking about the same seller? or only with Amazon.com.ca LLC? fulfilled by Amazon as well?

I'm sure there's some crazy algorithm in place though

I find amazon.ca not just lacking selection but pricing and its system is really all over the place.

Ive also had an item with an open order "awaiting more stock" but if you go look up the same item again, Amazon no longer sells it directly..all 3rd parties. But I never got an E-mail for cancelation or anything.

Weird.

Russell wrote: ↑We come here looking for deals. We use the savings on the things we buy to justify buying more things, thus filling our homes with tons of unnecessary consumer products. Such is the key to happiness.

+1

Feb 16th, 2017 7:00 am

Cheap: Deal Addict; Dec 9, 2005; 1000 posts; 250 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 16th, 2017 7:00 am

death_hawk wrote: ↑ Stole some more things.
Bought a 25qt Aluminium Brazier for $25 and a 20qt Stainless Brazier for $50.
Price jumped to $120 and $240 after purchase.

So that was you, I had my eye on the 25 (24?) quart, been watching it for a while. So many great deals, I can't believe some of the stuff I'got for a fraction of the real price. I try hard to resist things that I know I won't use often but when the price drops I can't resist. I got a 14" aluminum fry pan for $7.94, among other things.

Feb 16th, 2017 7:01 am

Ojam: Deal Guru; Oct 14, 2003; 14325 posts; 1238 upvotes

Feb 16th, 2017 7:01 am

johnnygeorgekins wrote: ↑ bait and switch except amazon is not doing the advertising. RFD and other unpaid agents are the advertisers so amazon is not doing anything illegal. new law required.

I know claiming something is bait and switch has been a favourite past time of RFD, but this is not bait and switch as there is no switch.

Here is the Amazon price history of the keyboard

https://ca. camel camel camel .com/Logitech-K400-Wireless-Touch-Keyboard/product/B014EUQOGK - jesus christ RFD I'm trying to provide useful information and you censor my link, wtf.

I've seen where an item will say it's the last one, sell and then greatly increased third party seller price because the only one available, only for a couple of days later the Amazon provided item is back in stock. As the graph for the keyboard shows just the Amazon price we can see that the price does fluctuate.

Science
is the new
rock 'n'
roll.

Feb 16th, 2017 7:12 am

andersb: Deal Addict; Jan 21, 2014; 1592 posts; 1295 upvotes

Feb 16th, 2017 7:12 am

I think that Amazon is using a few different pricing algorithm depending on the sales volume and profit margins of their products

I noticed that it's a lot harder to find deals on Amazon in the last 2-3 months. Their pricing algorithm is too sensitive to page views or as soon as someone buys an item the price will increase.

Feb 16th, 2017 2:46 pm

death_hawk: Deal Expert; Aug 22, 2006; 31103 posts; 16954 upvotes

Feb 16th, 2017 2:46 pm

Cheap wrote: ↑ So that was you, I had my eye on the 25 (24?) quart, been watching it for a while. So many great deals, I can't believe some of the stuff I'got for a fraction of the real price. I try hard to resist things that I know I won't use often but when the price drops I can't resist. I got a 14" aluminum fry pan for $7.94, among other things.

I've stolen a good bit of kitchen equipment from Amazon including frying pans for roughly that too.
It took a few months but it finally came down again.
It helps if you don't have a size in mind. 25qt is pretty big for residential use.

andersb wrote: ↑ Their pricing algorithm is too sensitive to page views or as soon as someone buys an item the price will increase.

That just means I have to use the Costco approach to buying things.
If you want it, buy it right now with 1 click or someone else will.
It helps if you have Prime too.

Do you not have anything else to do rather than argue with strangers on the internet

Nope. That's why I'm on the internet arguing with strangers. If I had anything better to do I'd probably be doing it.

Feb 16th, 2017 7:11 pm

johnnygeorgekins: Temp. Banned; Jan 5, 2017; 262 posts; 213 upvotes

Feb 16th, 2017 7:11 pm

Ojam wrote: ↑ I know claiming something is bait and switch has been a favourite past time of RFD, but this is not bait and switch as there is no switch.

Here is the Amazon price history of the keyboard

https://ca. camel camel camel .com/Logitech-K400-Wireless-Touch-Keyboard/product/B014EUQOGK - jesus christ RFD I'm trying to provide useful information and you censor my link, wtf.

I've seen where an item will say it's the last one, sell and then greatly increased third party seller price because the only one available, only for a couple of days later the Amazon provided item is back in stock. As the graph for the keyboard shows just the Amazon price we can see that the price does fluctuate.

You are not grasping the concept of the modern bait and switch.
Sales pricing on Amazon often travels by word of mouth.
Drop the price and start the traffic flowing....then gradually raise the price to get more money out of those looking for the deal, they will still buy at a better than full price but they still pay more than the sale price they hoped for.

I have noticed this same pattern at the supermarket. Have you?

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