online ordering

[libby]

Does anyone know if online stores have programs now that track what you are shopping for and adjust prices accordingly?
Some months ago I was shopping on Amazon (I think) and clicked on an item I was intersted in. I didn't buy it, but a short time later I went back and the price had gone up noticeably. At the time I thought that perhaps tracking your purchase history (which I often find quite helpful) also allows them to determine your interest in a product and raise prices accordingly.
Then, last night, I was looking at amazon for an item for my toddler. I determined it was too expensive and went to walmart.com and it was $25 cheaper there, so I bought it. This morning, I have an ad on the side of my home page with that exact item from amazon at $40 cheaper than Walmart, and $65 cheaper than what it was on amazon yesterday, plus free shipping. I was quite...startled.
Needless to say, I cancelled the WM order and ordered from amazon, but I was curious if anyone else is noticing such a pattern.
Again, I have no problem with the tracking of my shopping patterns, but I am a bit curious if others notice price changes.

 

[Misfit]

Yes. If I have stuff in my Amazon wish list (which is public if anybody wants to buy me a present) and it sits there for a long time, I've noticed the price will go up. You'd think they'd lower it to entice you to buy it but whatever.

 

[GWguy]

Many sites do that to increase the impulse buy. Some sites are nice and have a notice that the price shown expires in x minutes/days.

 

[libby]

Yes. If I have stuff in my Amazon wish list (which is public if anybody wants to buy me a present) and it sits there for a long time, I've noticed the price will go up. You'd think they'd lower it to entice you to buy it but whatever.

I've seen that, too, but I'm pretty sure I've seen prices go down just as often as they go up, so I was guessing those were normal price fluctuations.

 

[libby]

Many sites do that to increase the impulse buy. Some sites are nice and have a notice that the price shown expires in x minutes/days.

I haven't seen an expiration, but I guess I didn't look. I'll keep an eye out for that. I'm not sure if I consider this kind of tracking helpful or invasive. Guess that depends on if it works for or against me on any given product, eh?

 

[slotpuppy]

When I put stuff on my amazon wish list, they send me emails if it goes on sale.

 

[GURPS]

Does anyone know if online stores have programs now that track what you are shopping for and adjust prices accordingly?
Some months ago I was shopping on Amazon (I think) and clicked on an item I was intersted in.

Yes. If I have stuff in my Amazon wish list (which is public if anybody wants to buy me a present) and it sits there for a long time, I've noticed the price will go up. You'd think they'd lower it to entice you to buy it but whatever.

I have aprox 200 items 'saved for later' - once a week I review what is saved, and anywhere from 3 - 25 items have gone up or down ... some a few pennies to more that $ 20 bucks


for example today;

Important messages about items in your Cart:

2 items in your Cart have changed price.

Items in your Shopping Cart will always reflect the most recent price displayed on their product detail pages.
​

•Gerber 22-41545 Black Diesel Multi-Plier with Sheath has decreased from $44.87 to $44.43
•B-24 Combat Missions: First Hand Accounts of Liberator Operation... has decreased from $7.69 to $7.67

 

[Idunno]

Retail prices can fluctuate quite a bit. Amazon has thousands of businesses that sell via Amazon, and Amazon itself will purchase and sell the same items at a greater discount because their mark up is smaller. Most retail stores mark up merchandise 2 to 5 times the actual cost, depending on what the "market" is willing to pay for that item. If you don't hit the checkout right away you run the risk of the prices changing. It's nothing personal at that point, just retail as usual.

As far as ads appearing on your web pages, Amazon does track the items you look at, so does google. Google will use that information to supply advertising on the web pages that use the "google powered" advertising. That way you get "local" or searched for items as your ads. THEN it becomes personal.

 

[SoMdDude]

Just got a new vehicle and went to buy a cargo liner online for it... filled out the info and had the item in my cart... but saw it would of taken over a week to get it... then remembered I can probably get it right away at trick trucks in waldorf so I canceled the order before submitting it and went to trick trucks.

When I got home, I had a a email from the website I almost purchased the liner from for 10% off of the damn thing lol even had a picture of it in the email... how did they save my email if I never clicked "purchase"

 

[b23hqb]

The NSA and their data gathering is nothing, compared to the online retail business and their tracking and selling users information for business purposes.

 

[frequentflier]

Retail prices can fluctuate quite a bit. Amazon has thousands of businesses that sell via Amazon, and Amazon itself will purchase and sell the same items at a greater discount because their mark up is smaller. Most retail stores mark up merchandise 2 to 5 times the actual cost, depending on what the "market" is willing to pay for that item. If you don't hit the checkout right away you run the risk of the prices changing. It's nothing personal at that point, just retail as usual.

As far as ads appearing on your web pages, Amazon does track the items you look at, so does google. Google will use that information to supply advertising on the web pages that use the "google powered" advertising. That way you get "local" or searched for items as your ads. THEN it becomes personal.

 

[Idunno]

30 years in retail product purchasing and management, I know my stuff. 15 years ago it was only 25% to 50% mark up. MOST places mark up at least double now. That t-shirt you wear may only cost $.30 to manufacture overseas, they sell it to the store for $.70, yet you pay $7.00 or more? That tube of toothpaste may cost $.50 to produce, they sell it for $1.00, you pay $3.00? How do you think places stay in business? They can charge what ever the consumer is willing to pay.

 

[frequentflier]

30 years in retail product purchasing and management, I know my stuff. 15 years ago it was only 25% to 50% mark up. MOST places mark up at least double now. That t-shirt you wear may only cost $.30 to manufacture overseas, they sell it to the store for $.70, yet you pay $7.00 or more? That tube of toothpaste may cost $.50 to produce, they sell it for $1.00, you pay $3.00? How do you think places stay in business? They can charge what ever the consumer is willing to pay.

I own two stores and wish I could double my money on products. Because of their buying power and deep pockets, big box stores many be able to double or triple their money but certainly not for small independents like me. Most items, I am lucky to be able to mark up products 30 to 40%; like pet foods. Big box competition and ecommerce businesses have hurt many of us considerably.
Your statement does a great disservice to SMALL businesses because many of us are not getting rich. Not even close! Though I am grateful to pay my bills on time and being able to afford payroll for my employees. I do not pay myself.
I am also grateful for the loyal customers and friends I have made since opening my doors 7+ years ago.

 

[Idunno]

Good to know there are people like you that can still run a small business. The country was founded with people like you. I admit that all my retail experience has been in medium to large box stores. I really wish there was a way for the small guys to make a bigger profit. I do shop local small business when possible. I hit one of the farmers markets every week to stock my fridge.