Amazon marketplace pricing of items skewed these days

XYZ

I used to be able to rely on amazon for a pretty good idea of what stuff sells for. At some point, maybe before the 2016 holiday season, it seems like prices just got all messed up. Something that is selling for 10$ on ebay may be lowest priced on amazon at 30 or 40 dollars for example. It seems to me less stuff is being listed on amazons marketplace thus leading to merchants asking unrealistic prices. I know as an amazon seller that if you dont have the premier seller account, you are very limited on what you can even sell, which wasn't a thing in the past. They also cap shipping at 4$ amongst other things that make it harder for sellers. I theorize their marketplace has declined in the past year. I can no longer price certain things using only amazon and now have to check ebay as well, and im not talking vintage video games or other collectobles so to speak, but rather everything, including stuff like cds and movies. Thoughts???

Having a hard time pulling examples but here's a few:

Toki tori 2 was 120 cheapest, now at 50. Meanwhile ebay solds show it selling for.<20.

Nightmare troubadour cib is 22 on ebay but 80 on amazon.

Maertens29

As far as I've been concerned, Amazon has always been an awful way to price used goods. Unless I'm mistaken, you can't see "sold" listings either, so all you get is a bunch of unsold, asking prices. I've always figured that anyone who uses Amazon simply doesn't know how to use eBay sold listings.

Archangel3090

Sometimes cheaper than ebay dicks posting stupid buy it now prices. Ie river city soccer hooligans is priced for 70 by some jackasses on ebay while its 40 new from amazon... But theyre both stupid because its a 15$ game... Ughhhh

Trevor

I never thought of Amazon as a good way to determine pricing in games. Pretty awful sellers on there too.

Astor Reinhardt

I only use Amazon for new games or limited editions. I'd never buy a used game on there...every single used game I've seen on there is way over priced and you get no pictures...just a short description.

SNESNESCUBE64

It has to do with the fact that someone can look at their cart only copy of golf on the NES and see that it is being listed for *insert brand new sealed price* and say "mine is 'like new' so it must be worth that much". As a result, you are left with an overinflated price because that theoretical person didn't do their research. The only way to stop that garbage is to not give them your money. I would look towards another site, I know ebay sucks sometimes but there are still good deals out there.

Lonsta

Yes, it's gotten worse over the last few months. There have been a bunch of phony sellers that Amazon doesn't kick off clogging up the marketplace. Additionally, I started using GameValueNow.com more than anything for prices. Kudos to whoever made that website. (I think they're a member here)

jonebone

I would never use Amazon as a guess for prices? You can ask anything but actual sales are all that matters. EBay completed or a site like Gamevalue is best.

XYZ

Just went on gamevalue for first time. Searched my example "toki tori 2", no results found.

MrWunderful

Originally posted by: Lonsta



Yes, it's gotten worse over the last few months. There have been a bunch of phony sellers that Amazon doesn't kick off clogging up the marketplace. Additionally, I started using GameValueNow.com more than anything for prices. Kudos to whoever made that website. (I think they're a member here)

Hoagie148 (?) i think is his SN. 



And the only thing ive ever bought is misspriced sealed games (listed as "new") or current gen on amazon

MrWunderful

Originally posted by: XYZ



Just went on gamevalue for first time. Searched my example "toki tori 2", no results found.

For ps4? I dont think it tracks that late of a game. 

Tulpa

Once in a while a deal pops up on Amazon, but most items are 10%-40% marked up.

XYZ

Like i said in my op, amazon is of course no good for older stuff. Im seeing amazon skewing on everything, movies, cds, and even newer gen stuff. There was a time when this wasnt the case.

broncofantd793

There are deals to be had on Amazon, if you catch them. I've gotten manuals and games on the cheap, but as a whole, yes, it is one of the worst places to assess value on a game.

AtariJay

It works well for obscure games at times because they don't sell frequently and at times sellers seem to get into a price lowering war.

Indigo_Streetlight

Amazon will give you an idea of what a game will peak at, not necessary what it will fetch when you make the sale. Could be that Amazon buyers are more willing to pay a premium for condition than on ebay; some people just get tired of hunting through all the disc-only/acceptable listings and pull the trigger at the higher price. Plus you gotta consider that ebay auctions are being at the right place, at the right time affairs-- those "lower prices" may not exist when you step up to make your bid.

tubeway

There has indeed been a rash of phony sellers on Amazon, often in the more pricey expensive electronics categories. They'll often have a "Just launched!" account, the item will be a nice round number that undercuts the next cheapest one by like 50%, and the description will try to get you to contact them outside of Amazon so they can basically pull one of those money order scams on you. If you look at the digital camera categories, these "sellers" will appear to have pretty much one of EVERY SINGLE camera body in "New but opened" condition, and so forth.



Amazon can be a great place to find really niche stuff. I'd say more, but I know there are like ten times as many lurkers here that would just make for more competition, so I'm not going to elaborate.  

guitarzombie

I get good deals from time to time on games for systems no one cares for. I just ask for pics and go from there.

Abstract3000

As far as I have seen over the years with Amazon pricing I always figured there were sellers with 2 different accounts. Listing particular merchandise with an unrealistic price on 1 account knowing they won't sell for that amount, and listing the same item at half the price with the other account to appear as if you were getting a deal. In hopes they would sell it at the mid range not taking eBay prices into consideration. Though I have also snagged some really good sealed retro carts for the handheld systems on occasion for better than eBay prices, you just have to be persistent and keep an eye on it.

ExplodedHamster

I actually found a handful or so of sweet deals on Amazon probably 3-4 years ago, but that market has gone to complete shit. I'm not sure who buys at these insane prices, it would have to be one ignorant to the hobby. I rarely bother looking there these days.