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Thread: Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

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    Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

    And Prime Instant Video has started to offer streaming in 4K Ultra HD (in the US).
    Read more.

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    Re: Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

    I have used the Make an offer option on eBay and had my offer rejected even when it was a penny lower than the original asking price. If I were going to sell this way I would top load my prices so that customers can bid at a lower price but I would only accept offers that match or exceed the price I originally had in mind.

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    Re: Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

    One of the main attractions of amazon for me is that I can go and buy something in seconds/minutes and then forget about it until it arrives a few days later. I don't want to waste hours of my time negotiating a few pence off, and this is more than likely going to lead to sellers upping their initial prices to compensate for the haggling. This will probably lead to me buying fewer items if I don't find the initial prices acceptable and can't be bothered to negotiate.

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    Re: Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

    I think over all its a good idea (for one of a kind items etc), sure there will probably be some over pricing involved but with one of a kind items i think thats fair for both parties as sellers are more likely to get a sale and buyers are more likely to buy.

    More about the illusion of a bargain/deal than an actual one (although there will be cases).

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    Re: Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

    Yeah I'd agree with the previous comments - first off I use Amazon cos its quick, easy and the prices are generally good. This seems like something that will get in the way of that and lead to some vendors upping their prices in anticipation of haggling. It may be a 'game changer' but its not changing for the better IMO.

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    Re: Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

    there's a reason I use amazon a lot and ebay very little. This is undermining a good thing. Fail amazon!

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    Re: Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

    Well, this is supposed to apply to one-off items only. And, as I read it, to Marketplace only. As I, personally, never use Marketplace and, when buying on Amazon only ever buy from Amazon themselves (and even that is rare, and not for several years) I'd say this won't affect me at all.

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    Re: Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

    I'm not sure if anyone's reading the article,

    Make an offer is only for one-of-a-kind items, not every day consumer products
    The example picture they've got shows a piece of art worth $100,000. I don't think this is aimed at the sort of item you'd buy and forget.

    As for using Amazon because their prices are good, that's not going to change. As long as there's competition from other etailers and the goods are homogeneous, Amazon and its third party sellers will continue to battle for lower prices. Sellers on Amazon fight for sales by lowest price because that's just about the only thing that differentiates them other than the product (same returns policies, same Amazon buyer protection, etc.). As for higher prices with one-of-a-kind items, I'd imagine they're generally priced as high as possible anyway. I would also hazard a guess that most (non individual) sellers will have a policy of 'accept no haggling' or 'up to X% off every item'.

    I don't see this changing the VAST majority of sales any time soon.

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    Re: Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

    Quote Originally Posted by CustardInc View Post
    I'm not sure if anyone's reading the article,



    The example picture they've got shows a piece of art worth $100,000. I don't think this is aimed at the sort of item you'd buy and forget.

    As for using Amazon because their prices are good, that's not going to change. As long as there's competition from other etailers and the goods are homogeneous, Amazon and its third party sellers will continue to battle for lower prices. Sellers on Amazon fight for sales by lowest price because that's just about the only thing that differentiates them other than the product (same returns policies, same Amazon buyer protection, etc.). As for higher prices with one-of-a-kind items, I'd imagine they're generally priced as high as possible anyway. I would also hazard a guess that most (non individual) sellers will have a policy of 'accept no haggling' or 'up to X% off every item'.

    I don't see this changing the VAST majority of sales any time soon.
    It also says it will extend to hundreds of thousands of items so that could encompass a great many things. It also depends a lot on your definition of a one-of-a-kind-items. Like you say it won't change things anytime soon but, if successful, then there is every chance Amazon may extend it further to consumer items.

    On a different point - would anyone looking to buy, or sell, a Picasso really do it on Amazon? (I know - its just for illustrative purposes, I hope).

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    Re: Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

    Quote Originally Posted by george1979 View Post
    It also says it will extend to hundreds of thousands of items so that could encompass a great many things. It also depends a lot on your definition of a one-of-a-kind-items. Like you say it won't change things anytime soon but, if successful, then there is every chance Amazon may extend it further to consumer items.
    According to the first link I found in a google search, Amazon sell 232 million products on Amazon.com (I'm assuming the haggling will arrive there first). A few hundred thousand items is still a droplet in the ocean.

    I took one of a kind to mean hand made or one off productions, i.e. unique. A single item that has it's own EAN/UPC (something Amazon require for a new listing).

    I doubt that we'll ever be haggling over the price of something like a phone case, mouse, etc. I suppose this feature could be handy for when a seller uploads something like a graphics card but doesn't update the price, so a year or two later when it's halved in value, you can make a realistic offer?

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    Re: Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

    Quote Originally Posted by CustardInc View Post
    The example picture they've got shows a piece of art worth $100,000.
    You DO get free shipping, though...

    Which reminds me, I haven't bought anything from Amazon since they dropped free Super Saver Delivery outside the UK. Bad move, Amazon, bad move...

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    Re: Amazon's 'Make an Offer' option allows shoppers to haggle

    good idea but i assume amazon will increase there already sky high seller fee's!

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