Amazon Black Friday scam

JimmyTheWig

This thread has gone way off topic.
People are arguing semantics about the word "scam".

Can we agree that what Amazon (and plenty of other retailers today and every day) are doing is designed to mislead the public.
Some people call that a scam. Some don't.
But if we can agree that it is misleading then we're agreeing on 98% of the point.

Fella

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

This thread has gone way off topic.
People are arguing semantics about the word "scam".

Can we agree that what Amazon (and plenty of other retailers today and every day) are doing is designed to mislead the public.
Some people call that a scam. Some don't.
But if we can agree that it is misleading then we're agreeing on 98% of the point.

Well said.

JimmyTheWig

JReacher1 wrote: »

Still seems quite a lot cheaper than RRP and other retailers. The fact it was a bit cheaper a week ago doesn't really have any relevance. It's the comparable price of other retailers today that would bother me if I wanted to buy it.

That's only the relevant point if you needed to buy it today.

If, on the other hand, you were planning on buying it at some point in the next 6 months then knowing whether you are looking at a good price or not would be very helpful.
The implication is that by buying today (it is Black Friday, afterall) you're getting it 55% cheaper than you would if you waited.
Whereas the evidence suggests (we don't know what Amazon will do with prices going forward, but we can guess based on their past prices) if you wait you can get it cheaper.

JimmyTheWig

Exile_geordie wrote: »

Milk last week at the corner shop was 59p a pint, this week for some reason its 55p - is it a scam?

No.
But if they put it back up to 59p next week and claim it is in some sort of sale then that is somewhat misleading (I'm not using the "s" word!).

anotheruser

Amazon's pricing structure is also influenced by clicks on that product.
I carefully watched a product for weeks and noticed when I encouraged people to click on a link that sent them to the page, the price would increase by a few percent.

Other products stayed the same price throughout.

Makes sense. If more people clicking on that product = lots of interest = igher price.

powerful_Rogue

Fella wrote: »

Yes, every instance of a made-up price is a scam. A very simple point to grasp.

The RRP is a price that the manufacturer sets for the retailers as a guide.

If you look for the item in other shops, you will see that the majority list the RRP as £100.

As such, the saving on the deal of 55% against the RRP was correct.

visidigi

Fella wrote: »

Clearly it's not obvious at all. If the general public knew the same item was cheaper a week ago 88% of them wouldn't have sold.

Although it's nice to see the tradition of this board continues, no matter what anyone posts there are people wetting themselves to find a reason to disagree

Anyone sensible sees this for the scam it is.

So let me get this straight, you think Amazon are a scam for stating bogus numbers.

And in your post you state a bogus number?

Epic fail.

barryboris

Fella wrote: »

Yes, I'm sure you prefer arguing with someone you win against

You've been utterly dominated in this thread. Sorry but you lost.

visidigi

Fella wrote: »

Are you actually seriously saying you don't think Amazon are deliberately advertising this as 55% in the full knowledge that plenty of people will assume it's a genuine 55% off the USUAL price, regardless of whether it says RRP.

Personally I don't believe you are that stupid.

EVERY retailer advertises based off the RRP, its not an Amazon exclusive issue here. There is no such thing as a usual price - there is an RRP and a current price, that current price can be below, the same as or in some cases above RRP - its called supply and demand.

dodger1

Fella wrote: »

You're saying that it's irrelevant if the RRP is made up.

I'm saying that by definition if Amazon are offering sales based on a made-up figure, then this is a scam.

I don't see how someone can agree that the RRP is a made-up figure, designed purely to trick people into thinking they're getting a bargain when they pay less than it, then argue that an advertised saving, that is based on a reduction from that false figure ISN'T a scam?

Philips quote the "suggested retail price" as £100

http://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/HX8211_02/airfloss-w-1-nozzle

I'm with the not a scam, as long as Amazon always use the £100 figure. Today's offer is just that, no indication of the past or future offers just what it will cost you today.