Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

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AuctionBytes Blog
News and insight focusing on
ecommerce and the online auction industry
by Ina Steiner, Editor of AuctionBytes.com

October 13, 2009

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

By: Ina Steiner

Tue Oct 13 2009 15:26:40

Amazon.com sellers are concerned that the marketplace is scaring off buyers of vintage, rare and collectible items due to a new price-warning feature. When an item's price is over list-price, Amazon displays a yellow warning sign alerting shoppers with a notation of how much above list price it is. For example, directly under the price of the item, Amazon.com might show the triangle with the words "$8.85 above list price" next to it.

It's not clear why Amazon.com is displaying a list price for vintage items, and sellers write that it could kill their sales. Sellers of vintage toys and used and out-of-print books seem especially concerned by the new feature.

Wrote one seller on the boards, "Are you telling me that 5 years ago it sold for $39.99 so that is the list price? You cannot even find these items in stores and our entire store is based on hard to find items and items that are no longer even made. We spend hours and hours trying to find these items and now we cannot even sell them and make money. A lot of these items we had to buy for more than the "list price" that Amazon now has."

Link to Thread: Item Above List Price? This is a "Vintage" Merchant Killer....

Link to Thread: List price?

Comments (25) | Permalink

Readers Comments

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: joe

Tue Oct 13 15:48:36 2009

Damm Why didn't Donahoe think of this, I guess it will be in the next round of eBay changes in the Spring.

OH Wait Wait Wait, there's still time to do it before Christmas...

Get on it John baby.

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: fruity

Tue Oct 13 15:52:26 2009

That's because those sellers are vendors and they're not understanding the difference. Same goes on ebay, everyone just dont know it yet. Hello!

You know everyone should get an education on the actual functions of retail supply chain and you'll see where you are on the map.

What's great about the internet is that the websites and retailers can shift almost full liability to the backend office , ie the sellers or vendors or suppliers with the goods

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: Petey

Tue Oct 13 16:07:34 2009

I like ebays way to do it.

Ebay puts a percentage off retail on all the items, which is good and most likely the best way to do it.

But ebay DOES NOT PUT IT ON VINTAGE ITEMS...

Amazon's triangle reminds me of ebays alert when you violate some unknown policy.

As for dislaying it on Amazon the idea truly sucks BIG TIME, you paying attention JEFF

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: Homero Simpson

Tue Oct 13 16:08:07 2009

Did Amazon just hire Donnyho? It sounds like the kinda stupid thing he would do. MSRP on a 1960's Aurora model kit was $2.98. Now they sell for $298.00, is that a ripoff? NO. It's their market value. Hey sellers that create new listings on Amazon, please don't fill in MSRP in optional details. I don't have this warning on a single listing I created. Does Amazon need to hold the hands of the dummies that are paying 5X retail for this season's hot garbage toys? Apparently so. Hey parents, the Toy industry releases a Hot list every year, and you dumbbells feed right into it everytime,as soon as the media hypes it up, LOL.

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: SO SO SAD

Tue Oct 13 17:15:02 2009

Oh Boy, now Donahoe will have to hurry and create a newer even harsher way to punish us eBay sellers.

I think it is quite clear, if you sell used or vintage stuff, THE BIGS BOYS REALL DONT WANT US !

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: Dan

Tue Oct 13 18:00:04 2009

Ina,

It would be great if Amazon could address this directly. I think readers and sellers would like more information and detail. It's a very interesting post.

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: Ming the Merciless

Tue Oct 13 18:17:18 2009

Does anyone honestly expect Amazon to behave any differently than any other stock price/performance bonus/greed driven corporation?

This and Amazon's recently announced seller cannibalization program strongly suggests Amazon believes it's now in the driver's seat (ahead of ebay) and will now behave with the same arrogance ebay does and often in areas in which as a practical matter they know little about.

Once again a site that invites 3P sellers will incrementally tighten the noose of micromanagement and interference.

The ONLY way to end corporate tyranny to migrate to other sites and rebel at the first whiff of anti-seller policy changes.

This is the ONLY way small sellers can survive.

DEATH to ebay corp. in 2009.

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: Et tu, Brute!

Tue Oct 13 20:03:03 2009

Well, it might be because a bunch of disenfranchised ebay sellers galloped over to Amazon and brought with them a widespread price crash!

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: ex powerseller, now sells on Amazon

Tue Oct 13 20:31:08 2009

Ummm, this is about pricing OVER MSRP. Has nothing to do with Ex Ebayers, dude, unless it's the bad actors. Sorry Us Ebay Fugees gotta eat & feed our families too, brother. The market sets it's own level & sellers will always try & get the most they can. Every year, the toys on the TIA hot list lways sell over retail, as did every game console when new. If some granny stupidly paid 2000% over retail for Tickle Me Elmo, and the next boatload arrives & the price drops, how is that the seller's fault? You wanted to be first to have it, so pay & shut up. It's a shame grownup adults aren't smart enough to realize they are being huckstered, but that's life. In any case, according to Amazon'sd boards, they have already retracted this on many items, and there is no announcement anywhere regarding anything about this from Amazon.

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: matza

Tue Oct 13 21:58:23 2009

whoa a stupid move finally!

looks like some folks will be going back to ebay.

lol

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: ex powerseller, now sells on Amazon

Tue Oct 13 23:56:05 2009

Not so fast there, Matza, looks like Amazon actually listens to their sellers, they have retracted this already. I'll take one mistake over the tidal waves of carp donho did to feebay's best sellers. Anyway, they aren't stopping you from selling over MSRP, just letting the people that can't add figure out they are paying over MSRP. I don't really see this affecting me, I have sold model kits from the 60s with MSRP of $3.49 for $1000+, and slider puzzles with .19 cents price tags for $150. Even once sold an item with a MSRP of $2750 on Ebay for $10,000. That will never happen again.Ebay is finished.

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: fruity

Wed Oct 14 00:03:27 2009

Ebays copied just about everything from Amazon for the past 3 years so save it if you actually believe that sellers on ebay are somehow SAFE. If there's money to be had they'll milk it.

thinking in the momenet is so newbie ebay seller

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: kevin

Wed Oct 14 09:07:55 2009

wow....this is something stupid you would expect from ebay, but not amazon

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: Harriet

Wed Oct 14 11:26:18 2009

I guess I just don't grasp the idea of interferring with the natural order of commerce. If the price is something people are willing to pay, then they will. Collectors who want to add something to their collection that will complete it, will pay much higher prices.

If the price is too high, then the item just won't sell.

It works itself out all on its own w/o any interference from an outside source.

It is like price fixing.

Both Amazon and eBay are heavy into commerce interference. They think it's commerce manipulation which will render things more sellable.

I don't think it is necessary.

Pointing out very old List prices on vintage or antique things is absolutely stupid.

On some of my antique items, the prices were 10 cents and even 5 cents, since some of the original prices are on them. Does anyone think I will be selling them for those 100 year old prices?? No way in this world.

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: ex powerseller, now sells on Amazon

Wed Oct 14 12:02:33 2009

This should never apply to any item that is no longer available at retail stores. As several pro sellers have noted at the board, they can change the MSRP or just set it higher when listing the item on Amazon. The funny thing is, they even put the warning on their own items. The only ones that seemed exempt are the Mega Diamond sellers like target. Hopefully, they got the message yesterday when they took it away fast, because amazon listened to their sellers.And I agree with Fruity, if it stays in place, you can bet Donuthole will be rolling it out in SR1 2010, since he doesn't have 1 original idea.

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: jojodancer

Wed Oct 14 12:41:12 2009

Speaking as a consumer, I think this was a good idea. Why is it that the seller community feels that allowing customers to make a more informed purchasing choice is a bad thing? Are they afraid that if people knew how much they were being gouged (e.g. 2000% over MSRP Elmo) that they'd be less likely to put the gouger's offspring through college?

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: ex powerseller, now sells on Amazon

Wed Oct 14 13:11:46 2009

Jojo, I agree fully, and poster the Elmo example, but this only needs be in place on currently available goods. If a book from 1953 was published at .29 cents, and now sells for $34.99, how is the original MSRP even relevant? People need to learn when to say no. It's this kind of stupid greedy mentality that caused the Beanie Bubble, when these fools got slickered out of millions of dollars buying Chinese made junk plush toys, tag holders & magazines, thinking they were going to put their kids thru College one day on the profits. The last Beanies I bought was 105 pieces for $3, less than the original retail for one, and I only got one $9.99 bid for them. Amazon wants to do something like this? Why not post instead this warning: "BEWARE, this is a currently available item, produced in the millions. This item will drop in value as more boatloads of them arrive daily from China. You are paying a premium to be the first to have this item. Please be aware, no returns on this item allowed, as it will go down in value"

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: matt

Wed Oct 14 23:32:11 2009

Jojodancer's comment is exactly why Ebay and maybe Amazon are the way they are. Moron buyers.

If some moron is going to pay 2000% more than MSRP for an Elmo doll than they should have saved the money and gotten their GED and gone to college themselves.

Ebay is catering to the buyer because so many of them are absolute ignorant 10 IQ morons. Unfortunately, because the vast majority of the population are morons yet still buy things, we have to cater to these buyers.

Jojodancer....you need more than to see blocked bidder lists...you need a good kick in the arse.

Amazon shouldn't have this warning for collectibles. Amazon could win over alot of people by actually listening to reasonableness and changing the policy on some items (something Ebay would NEVER do).

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: Another Wronged Seller

Wed Oct 14 23:41:34 2009

MSRP shouldn't even enter into the equation. S= ''suggested'' Retailers of all sorts have always been free to set their own sale price up or down. Antique and collectable items shouldn't even have MSRP shown. It doesn't even apply NOW and had little relevance even when the item was first introduced.

Can you imagine anyone being stupid enough going out to buy a classic mustang and needing to have it pointed out to them that it originally sold for approximately $2000 or so?

The MAJOR difference here is that amazon realized their mistake and is quickly correcting it. Ebay makes countless mistakes, refuses to acknowledge them, insists THEY are right despite EVERY evidence to the contrary, and then outright lies about it.

If this was something ebay did, we'd have to live with it for YEARS not DAYS like amazon....

Amazon.com Sellers Upset over Yellow-Triangle Price Warnings

by: jojodancer

Thu Oct 15 12:48:00 2009

Dear Matt,

What a charming display! It's no wonder consumers have such a low opinion of third-party vendors, with wonderful folks like you representing the seller community so well.

Kudos to you, sir!

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