Why are amazon prices always changing up/down

chaparral

chaparral

chaparral

Caporegime
Joined
27 Nov 2005
Posts
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Location
Guernsey
Does anyone know why the prices on so many items on amazon change all the time ? sometimes it can even be every couple of days

Am sure many people on here have also used an amazon price tracker and noticed the exact same thing..
 
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Sometimes it's because a particular seller runs out of stock or gets new stock so the displayed price increases / decreases to match.

Am sure there must be lots of algorithms too though, looking at trends in everything from the weather to the news cycle and also comparing to competitors, trying to generate as much money as possible...
 
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The usual increase in price before they reduce it again for the sales - so they can fairly state look, 45% off! :rolleyes:

The best thing to do is to make a list of what you want and sit on it until the sales, then you'll see if you really are getting the bargain you think you are.
 
I'm sure I'm looking at vacuums that are same price before black Friday discount vs after!
 
It mainly revolves around the "Buy Bar" there is an algorithm not just based on price that gives the "best" seller the "Buy Bar" this can run checks every hour on most products.
 
Direct from Amazon prices I don't find to fluctuate too much and the ones that do are minor, I guess perhaps based on algorithms assessing popularity etc.

Marketplace prices though are up and down like a yo-yo as it swaps between different sellers with stock running out etc.
 
The algorithm tracks views/sales ratios, basically working out supply and demand and then adjust the live pricing.

It's a way to maximise profit, even a few penny here and there adds up.
 
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Nothing new in the below really, just interesting to see how it all works!

Was looking at a toy for our lad this week, it was £10. Today it's on a BF "sale" 20% off £13.00 and £10.40.

Similar for a vacuum cleaner, it's a few quid more in the BF "sale" than it was last week not in the sale.
 
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