Why do prices on Amazon fluctuate by a few cents or dollars here & there?

[pRICE cUBE]

Every time I check the cart prices change. Sometimes it is by a few cents only to shoot up a few bucks next session and then back and back down again. I keep some things in the cart that occasionally go on sale so the feature is useful most of the time to track prices. Anyone know why this happens?

[space-time]

set alerts at camelcamelcamel.com and pull the trigger once it drops below your price

[Grumpyguy]

Didn't i read somewhere that Amazon specifically targets individuals, enticing them to buy with changes in prices?

What wasn't clear in the article was if that price change was visible only to that person or everyone.

[weapon]

Dynamic pricing based on info metrics.

[Racer X]

Check the same web page with a second browser with a clear caches and NO cookies. You frequently get a different price.

[GGD]

My guess is that it's a game to improve rankings when there are multiple sellers for a product, since Amazon favors the lowest price. Maybe when a competing seller is sold out, the rest raise prices.

[space-time]

Racer X wrote:
Check the same web page with a second browser with a clear caches and NO cookies. You frequently get a different price.

I tried that, I even posted here and everyone else confirmed they saw the same price as I did, so I do not have any proof that they show a different price to a particular customer.

[OWC Jamie]

robo-pricing

can be interesting to watch ( camelcamel, wishlistbuddy and others) between Thxgving and xmas.

[NewtonMP2100]

doesn't make CENTS.....

[ArtP]

Honeypot pricing....

I was looking at a item right before Christmas - watching ebay prices but also did a google shopping search - it was $37.xx @ Amazon new with free shipping vs. $45 or more used on ebay. I said I would order the next day when I had more time (had a gift credit in cue and didn't want to use it for that).

Went back and it went to almost $43. It was still cheaper than used ones on ebay but I think low price/google search is to pull you in. If you don't bite that second - it knows you want THAT ITEM so it jacks up the price enough so it is still cheapest but not a RYF deal.

Just me .02¢

It's crazy how they track items you've looked at and are looking for.