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Anyone Else Notice This?

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  • W W Balboos GHB

    I shop and buy something on Amazon (in particular) and if I look to buy it again it's always more expensive. OK -prices go up - but I've seen this literally "overnight" and the item I check is from a link from the invoice so it's the same source. Is this another version of using my browsing/purchasing information on their sight to make some extra money? Anyway, am I just rather unlucky in what I purchase or is this all-too-common?

    Ravings en masse^

    "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

    "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

    L Offline
    L Offline
    Lost User
    wrote on last edited by
    #6

    I bought some SSDs from eBuyer a couple of weeks ago, and they are now 17% cheaper. But I know if I had waited the price would almost certainly have gone up.

    W 1 Reply Last reply
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    • L Lost User

      I bought some SSDs from eBuyer a couple of weeks ago, and they are now 17% cheaper. But I know if I had waited the price would almost certainly have gone up.

      W Offline
      W Offline
      W Balboos GHB
      wrote on last edited by
      #7

      Tech is one of those things that (almost) always keeps getting cheaper over-all and for a specific item as it becomes less current (except extreme legacy needs - buying antiques). The one reverse in the spike, for a short while, was from the tariffs on China which had their obvious effect. There, too, it eventually all gets absorbed. No one want to be caught holding last week's stuff.

      Ravings en masse^

      "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

      "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

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      • W W Balboos GHB

        I shop and buy something on Amazon (in particular) and if I look to buy it again it's always more expensive. OK -prices go up - but I've seen this literally "overnight" and the item I check is from a link from the invoice so it's the same source. Is this another version of using my browsing/purchasing information on their sight to make some extra money? Anyway, am I just rather unlucky in what I purchase or is this all-too-common?

        Ravings en masse^

        "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

        "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

        Mike HankeyM Offline
        Mike HankeyM Offline
        Mike Hankey
        wrote on last edited by
        #8

        I bought a woodworking vise from Amazon and asked my son if he wanted one for xmas present and he said yes. The next day I went back to buy and the price had exactly doubled, from like $75 to $150. WTF...24 hrs?

        The less you need, the more you have. JaxCoder.com

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        • W W Balboos GHB

          I shop and buy something on Amazon (in particular) and if I look to buy it again it's always more expensive. OK -prices go up - but I've seen this literally "overnight" and the item I check is from a link from the invoice so it's the same source. Is this another version of using my browsing/purchasing information on their sight to make some extra money? Anyway, am I just rather unlucky in what I purchase or is this all-too-common?

          Ravings en masse^

          "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

          "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

          D Offline
          D Offline
          den2k88
          wrote on last edited by
          #9

          Not really, I saw fluctuations in both directions. The second time I bought Starbucks coffee it was more expensive than the first while the third time it was way cheaper.

          GCS d--(d+) s-/++ a C++++ U+++ P- L+@ E-- W++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- r+++ y+++*      Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X

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          • W W Balboos GHB

            I shop and buy something on Amazon (in particular) and if I look to buy it again it's always more expensive. OK -prices go up - but I've seen this literally "overnight" and the item I check is from a link from the invoice so it's the same source. Is this another version of using my browsing/purchasing information on their sight to make some extra money? Anyway, am I just rather unlucky in what I purchase or is this all-too-common?

            Ravings en masse^

            "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

            "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

            M Offline
            M Offline
            musefan
            wrote on last edited by
            #10

            I would expect in this instance it is more a case that "the item was bought" rather then anything to do with it being bought by you specifically. That is... the more an item sells = the more it's in demand = the more the vendor should charge. Rather than... oh look, this mug is back again, let's charge him more this time. Now if you had only browsed it yesterday (without buying) and it had gone up today, that would be more worrying - but still not something that couldn't be put down to coincidence. Personally, I have never seen it myself, but I very very rarely buy something and then go back for more the day after, so I wouldn't notice. I have heard it mentioned somewhere before though, maybe even on CP (I can't recall exactly).

            W 1 Reply Last reply
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            • M musefan

              I would expect in this instance it is more a case that "the item was bought" rather then anything to do with it being bought by you specifically. That is... the more an item sells = the more it's in demand = the more the vendor should charge. Rather than... oh look, this mug is back again, let's charge him more this time. Now if you had only browsed it yesterday (without buying) and it had gone up today, that would be more worrying - but still not something that couldn't be put down to coincidence. Personally, I have never seen it myself, but I very very rarely buy something and then go back for more the day after, so I wouldn't notice. I have heard it mentioned somewhere before though, maybe even on CP (I can't recall exactly).

              W Offline
              W Offline
              W Balboos GHB
              wrote on last edited by
              #11

              musefan wrote:

              That is... the more an item sells = the more it's in demand = the more the vendor should charge.

              The more the vendor could charge, not necessarily should charge. But in this case, it was kitchen dish-washing gloves (also good when doing electrical work, caulking the shower, etc.). I really don't think that between yesterday and today they had a big run on rubber gloves. It's far beyond that. I just look at things I bought just this year and it's typically the same. Maybe, following your idea, if the vendor even sells one via Amazon they send in a price increase. Interestingly, I'm not a big Amazon shopper. My history (orders/year) is at a high for 2020 at ten, but going back years, mainly eight or nine, the low was seven. Essentially no COVID bonus from me. Logically, they need to still attract my interest.

              Ravings en masse^

              "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

              "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

              S 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • W W Balboos GHB

                I shop and buy something on Amazon (in particular) and if I look to buy it again it's always more expensive. OK -prices go up - but I've seen this literally "overnight" and the item I check is from a link from the invoice so it's the same source. Is this another version of using my browsing/purchasing information on their sight to make some extra money? Anyway, am I just rather unlucky in what I purchase or is this all-too-common?

                Ravings en masse^

                "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

                "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

                R Offline
                R Offline
                Rick York
                wrote on last edited by
                #12

                I have seen this, prior to the pandemic, with some odd items. I get a particular calendar every year, usually as a gift, and one year I didn't so I went to Amazon in February to look for it and a normally twenty-dollar item was selling for over 900. I couldn't believe it so I went without the calendar that year. FWIW, that was in 2018.

                "They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen?"

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                • W W Balboos GHB

                  musefan wrote:

                  That is... the more an item sells = the more it's in demand = the more the vendor should charge.

                  The more the vendor could charge, not necessarily should charge. But in this case, it was kitchen dish-washing gloves (also good when doing electrical work, caulking the shower, etc.). I really don't think that between yesterday and today they had a big run on rubber gloves. It's far beyond that. I just look at things I bought just this year and it's typically the same. Maybe, following your idea, if the vendor even sells one via Amazon they send in a price increase. Interestingly, I'm not a big Amazon shopper. My history (orders/year) is at a high for 2020 at ten, but going back years, mainly eight or nine, the low was seven. Essentially no COVID bonus from me. Logically, they need to still attract my interest.

                  Ravings en masse^

                  "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

                  "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

                  S Offline
                  S Offline
                  Slacker007
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #13

                  It could be an automated pricing algorithm that Vendors configure via settings? who knows, versus, a vendor manually up-charging for the same recently purchased product. which, if this is true, then I would be very upset that Amazon would allow vendors to price gouge "repeat" customers....or customers period.

                  W 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • S Slacker007

                    It could be an automated pricing algorithm that Vendors configure via settings? who knows, versus, a vendor manually up-charging for the same recently purchased product. which, if this is true, then I would be very upset that Amazon would allow vendors to price gouge "repeat" customers....or customers period.

                    W Offline
                    W Offline
                    W Balboos GHB
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #14

                    Slacker007 wrote:

                    which, if this is true, then I would be very upset that Amazon would allow vendors to price gouge "repeat" customers....or customers period.

                    Actually, with the type of shyte and fake items and fraudulent description now covering Amazon, I'm sure they'd not blink an eye - except, perhaps, for a wink if they get to keep a percentage of the selling prices on items. I, fortunately, didn't ever buy into Amazon Prime and thus invest in spending money with them. I only managed 9 or 10 orders/year - always with free shipping (not enough spent then I don't order). Even, however, if I spent on the shipping I'd never make back my hundred bucks.

                    Ravings en masse^

                    "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

                    "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • W W Balboos GHB

                      I shop and buy something on Amazon (in particular) and if I look to buy it again it's always more expensive. OK -prices go up - but I've seen this literally "overnight" and the item I check is from a link from the invoice so it's the same source. Is this another version of using my browsing/purchasing information on their sight to make some extra money? Anyway, am I just rather unlucky in what I purchase or is this all-too-common?

                      Ravings en masse^

                      "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

                      "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

                      P Offline
                      P Offline
                      Paddington Bear
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #15

                      I have seen first hand someone with a paid Prime subscription see a price of 4.99 for buying a TV series to stream, and then another person with a trial subscription seeing the exact same series with the same definition in the same country for 6.99. Not that Amazon's price manipulation is underhand or opaque.....

                      It goes without saying

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                      • W W Balboos GHB

                        I shop and buy something on Amazon (in particular) and if I look to buy it again it's always more expensive. OK -prices go up - but I've seen this literally "overnight" and the item I check is from a link from the invoice so it's the same source. Is this another version of using my browsing/purchasing information on their sight to make some extra money? Anyway, am I just rather unlucky in what I purchase or is this all-too-common?

                        Ravings en masse^

                        "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

                        "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

                        R Offline
                        R Offline
                        Rage
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #16

                        Forward you the link to the item per email and open it on a computer with another public IP (from a private browsing session from your phone, for instance), without logging in, of course. If the prices are different than from your own session, then you have your answer.

                        Do not escape reality : improve reality !

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                        0
                        • W W Balboos GHB

                          I shop and buy something on Amazon (in particular) and if I look to buy it again it's always more expensive. OK -prices go up - but I've seen this literally "overnight" and the item I check is from a link from the invoice so it's the same source. Is this another version of using my browsing/purchasing information on their sight to make some extra money? Anyway, am I just rather unlucky in what I purchase or is this all-too-common?

                          Ravings en masse^

                          "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

                          "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

                          S Offline
                          S Offline
                          SeanChupas
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #17

                          W∴ Balboos, GHB wrote:

                          I shop and buy something on Amazon (in particular) and if I look to buy it again it's always more expensive.

                          Stop breaking things so you don't have to buy it again.

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                          0
                          • W W Balboos GHB

                            I shop and buy something on Amazon (in particular) and if I look to buy it again it's always more expensive. OK -prices go up - but I've seen this literally "overnight" and the item I check is from a link from the invoice so it's the same source. Is this another version of using my browsing/purchasing information on their sight to make some extra money? Anyway, am I just rather unlucky in what I purchase or is this all-too-common?

                            Ravings en masse^

                            "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

                            "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

                            M Offline
                            M Offline
                            Mycroft Holmes
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #18

                            Seriously you are just realising that now! It has been happening for years, especially with travel tickets, do some research and note down the prices then when you return to purchase the price has risen by x%. Cmon we are coders here tracking that information would be trivial, the only complex issue would be how much you raise the price to maximize the return.

                            Never underestimate the power of human stupidity - RAH I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP

                            W 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • M Mycroft Holmes

                              Seriously you are just realising that now! It has been happening for years, especially with travel tickets, do some research and note down the prices then when you return to purchase the price has risen by x%. Cmon we are coders here tracking that information would be trivial, the only complex issue would be how much you raise the price to maximize the return.

                              Never underestimate the power of human stupidity - RAH I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP

                              W Offline
                              W Offline
                              W Balboos GHB
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #19

                              Haven't had that problem with travel tickets - which in my case would have been airline tickets. Actually, several sites present the tickets and within my travel constraints I can usually find the same flights. The difference happens as I move the dates around. Now, as it turns out, I usually go back-and-forth more than once since I'm generally coordinating them with available hotel reservations (also seem unaffected). Caveat: I am generally booking well in advance to have the choices (as in vacation) and if your experience happens to depend upon the near-term, a flight selling out may have the last tickets boosted in price if they think they can get it based upon demand. For now, Amazon stand alone in this. Walmart.com, a decent competitor in some aspects, doesn't seem to do the price boost, but the prices on some of the items they sell online can sometimes be a bargain and other times be many times (literally!) what it cost elsewhere. It's common enough where it's not an oversight. NewEgg once was a favorite of mine but now, with the Chinese majority stake (== ownership) it's looking more and more like Amazon in the pricing and even worse, selling absolute junk. Specials are not so special any more but there are "apparently" more of them. As they said in the good 'ol days and it still rings all too true: Caveat Emptor !

                              Ravings en masse^

                              "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

                              "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

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                              • W W Balboos GHB

                                I shop and buy something on Amazon (in particular) and if I look to buy it again it's always more expensive. OK -prices go up - but I've seen this literally "overnight" and the item I check is from a link from the invoice so it's the same source. Is this another version of using my browsing/purchasing information on their sight to make some extra money? Anyway, am I just rather unlucky in what I purchase or is this all-too-common?

                                Ravings en masse^

                                "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

                                "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

                                D Offline
                                D Offline
                                DerekT P
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #20

                                This is why you should use multiple browsers. One to do your research, one to buy. Much easier than trying to remember to clear all the appropriate cookies. (I hate clearing ALL my cookies, a small percentage of them are actually useful!) Of course repeat purchases can still be a problem; fortunately there are lots of browsers out there! Get the item in the basket first, then log in. Or, accept that the vendor probably isn't making much on the initial sale, and needs to average things out - otherwise prices will go up anyway. :java:

                                W 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • D DerekT P

                                  This is why you should use multiple browsers. One to do your research, one to buy. Much easier than trying to remember to clear all the appropriate cookies. (I hate clearing ALL my cookies, a small percentage of them are actually useful!) Of course repeat purchases can still be a problem; fortunately there are lots of browsers out there! Get the item in the basket first, then log in. Or, accept that the vendor probably isn't making much on the initial sale, and needs to average things out - otherwise prices will go up anyway. :java:

                                  W Offline
                                  W Offline
                                  W Balboos GHB
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #21

                                  All my browsers flush cookies when they close - and I often do an intermediate flush if it's been browsed with for a while. For that matter, flash cookies are purged as well. Also pixel graphics are blocked and ads, as well (CP is one of the few exceptions to the ad-blocker). In addition, I tried on more than one base IP: my home system vs. my desktop at work in another city. Right after I bought the item that finally pushed me to post (rubber kitchen gloves) that same link showed the Small and XL at the same original price and the Large (only the three sizes available), which I had purchased, increased about 14% . I tried all the "tricks" so to speak, except I've not looked at the price via the VPN on have on yet another machine. I think the price was raised as soon as it was sold by the third-party vendor because of the increased demand. Only a theory. The logic - that they don't make enough on the initial sale . . . . or prices go up anyway. Why would this not apply to retail stores, as well? Normally, it would seem, they take items that are good sellers (and thus attractive to the most customers) and put them on sale to draw customers into the store (in the hopes they buy other items as well).

                                  Ravings en masse^

                                  "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

                                  "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

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