Online prices change if you've looked at item before

Scaredy_Cat_3

Not sure if this is the right place, so apologies in advance if I'm wrong.

I saw the brief news report this week about some online stores increasing the price of an item if they record the fact that you've looked at it before. I just wondered what everyone thinks and what we can do about it?

I shop online a lot and tend to look at an item numerous times before getting round to buying. With places like Amazon I will leave an item in my basket and come back to it. Sometimes the price increases, but then I usually just wait and a few weeks later it often comes down again - is it increasing because they know I'm interested in it, or is it coincidence?

Has anyone any experience of this happening, I don't mean Amazon specifically - but who else does it? Would it help to search using one browser and then once I've made the decision to buy, use another browser?

Dave_C_2

There is already an ongoing discussion here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4291709

Please post any comments there so they are all in one place.

Dave

Azari

Sounds like a very poor way of doing business.

"Oh, look, Fred's had a look at X but not bought it.

I know, let's put the price up and see if he'll buy it at a higher price if he looks again."

Probably more of an unfortunate coincidence.

Scaredy_Cat_3

Dave_C wrote: »

There is already an ongoing discussion here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4291709

Please post any comments there so they are all in one place.

Dave

Thanks for that, I did have a bit of a look around as I was sure there would already be a discussion about this, but wasn't sure where to look, and couldn't find anything. I'll use your link - thanks!

Scaredy_Cat_3

Azari wrote: »

Sounds like a very poor way of doing business.

"Oh, look, Fred's had a look at X but not bought it.

I know, let's put the price up and see if he'll buy it at a higher price if he looks again."

Probably more of an unfortunate coincidence.

I know, it doesn't make sense to me, but according to the BBC that's pretty much what they are doing. Makes me wonder if I've been paying more than I should.

somethingcorporate

More than you "should" is a sentence that makes no sense.

More than you "could have at some point in time" may be more accurate.

If you buy at the higher price you are still offering to make the purchase at that higher price. If you are unhappy with the price do not offer to purchase it.

Azari

somethingcorporate wrote: »

More than you "should" is a sentence that makes no sense.

Of course it makes sense.

If you are money saving you should always buy at the cheapest price you can.

If you don't check around as much as you need to you may pay a higher price.

Thus you have spent more that you should have spent.