Maybe everybody already knows this, but I just figured this out.

I wanted to buy nine copies of a special book to give as gifts. I went to Amazon and found a bunch of copies, new and used, at outrageous prices, like $970.00. This was outrageous! Last May, I purchased two brand new copies of this same book for $67.50 apiece.

Fortunately, I searched on the author's name and the book title and found the book is still in print - publisher's price $67.50. So I went directly to the publisher and purchased the books.

It turns out that people who have Amazon on-line stores often jack up the price of something that Amazon does not carry directly, assuming that people will not search elsewhere.

Did everybody know this but me?

Did everybody know this but me?

Amazon will also show you the highest price first. I recently was looking at something and the page the search landed on was the high price one and it helpfully pointed to Amazon's on still in print at a discount off list price as "other sellers" My take is if you buy it from Mr. Outrageous price you get shipped a phone book.

When I buy from Amazon or ebay, I look for the lowest price delivered to Me, and yes both have their share of sharks.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Not sure its because i`m a prime member or in germany.
When i look for something it always tells you can get this cheaper from this reseller.

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With each crime and every kindness we birth our future.

It turns out that people who have Amazon on-line stores often jack up the price of something that Amazon does not carry directly, assuming that people will not search elsewhere.

Did everybody know this but me?

I've seen weirdness like that on Amazon, yes. I once searched for cameo cookies online, which I can't find in the grocery anymore, and Amazon wanted a small fortune.

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The mind is a weird and mysterious place

I have seen that but always just look else where.

I really get angry at the facebook ads where someone will post an item, like a super bright LED flashlight and claim it is available for a limited time 80% off retail. When in reality they are charging 200% retail and in some cases 10x what you can get it for on ebay.

Caveat emptor

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I dunno.........
Amazon may not list the lowest price first, but when I look for something it shows me that other options are available.
Like this spark plug search................

Product Details
ACDelco 41-816 Professional Platinum Spark Plug (Pack of 1)
by ACDelco
$ 6 52 Prime
Get it by Monday, Oct 2
FREE Shipping on eligible orders
More Buying Choices
$5.08(11 new offers)

It's right there, not hidden. All you have to do is click on '11 new offers' and it displays them all.
They are not 'pulling a fast one'. It is all buyer beware and mind what you click on.

On ebay, I have the option after I search to show 'lowest price and shipping first', and it then sorts them in that order.
You still have to pay attention to the listing before hitting the buy button.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

I dunno.........
Amazon may not list the lowest price first, but when I look for something it shows me that other options are available.
Like this spark plug search................

Product Details
ACDelco 41-816 Professional Platinum Spark Plug (Pack of 1)
by ACDelco
$ 6 52 Prime
Get it by Monday, Oct 2
FREE Shipping on eligible orders
More Buying Choices
$5.08(11 new offers)

It's right there, not hidden. All you have to do is click on '11 new offers' and it displays them all.
They are not 'pulling a fast one'. It is all buyer beware and mind what you click on.

On ebay, I have the option after I search to show 'lowest price and shipping first', and it then sorts them in that order.
You still have to pay attention to the listing before hitting the buy button.

+1

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

I never buy anything on the Internet. My name, adress, and debit card details does not belong in a place where so many criminals do their evil deeds 24/7. If what i want, can't be found in a physical shop, then I just don't need it.

You pay for everything with cash then, right?
You ever hear of credit card skimmers?
Compromised retail terminals?
Card chip readers?
Good luck.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Angela -- I order books, mainly through a one-of-a-kind bookstore, near me. If they have to use Amazon, they get the
lowest price. If you'd like the particulars, I can PM to you. Good luck.

If you do not have your Internet only credit card with maga limits...

;)

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...

You pay for everything with cash then, right?

Yep, mostly, cash or check, I try to keep my profile very low.

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I never buy anything on the Internet. My name, adress, and debit card details does not belong in a place where so many criminals do their evil deeds 24/7. If what i want, can't be found in a physical shop, then I just don't need it.

You pay for everything with cash then, right?
You ever hear of credit card skimmers?
Compromised retail terminals?
Card chip readers?
Good luck.

Of course I pay with cash only. Cash is King, and leaves no traces on the most criminal place on the planet (Intercrime). I withdraw the cash from my bank from a real human being, and never from any unsafe ATM crime machines.

But I take it that you on the other hand put yourself under double risk. Using your data both online, and in shops, using your credit card?

Double good luck with that.

Thank you.
But you don't even have to use a card to be at risk, as the recent Equifax breach shows.
I am not trying to insult you or tell you that you are wrong.
It is just that it is increasingly difficult to live in this day and age without taking those risks.
It it works for you, you are decreasing your exposure.
Congrats.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

It is just that it is increasingly difficult to live in this day and age without taking those risks.
It it works for you, you are decreasing your exposure.

so far , but I keep a close eye on my accounts, I can't afford a major loss.

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If you do not have your Internet only credit card with maga limits...

;)

eh? my card company is happy to generate a one time use only credit card number. they can steal that number all they want and it won't do them any good.

But the real theft is from the merchant banks* that process transactions. A sniff there and millions of transactions are exposed, a day. The crook also gets the pin# CCV# postal code and everything else needed.


*They sell/rent/own the terminals your card goes in.

I never buy anything on the Internet. My name, adress, and debit card details does not belong in a place where so many criminals do their evil deeds 24/7. If what i want, can't be found in a physical shop, then I just don't need it.

You pay for everything with cash then, right?
You ever hear of credit card skimmers?
Compromised retail terminals?
Card chip readers?
Good luck.

Of course I pay with cash only. Cash is King, and leaves no traces on the most criminal place on the planet (Intercrime). I withdraw the cash from my bank from a real human being, and never from any unsafe ATM crime machines.
But I take it that you on the other hand put yourself under double risk. Using your data both online, and in shops, using your credit card?
Double good luck with that.

Cash WAS king here in Sweden.
Today you are treated as a criminal if you use cash!
Only a few days ago I got letter from Upplysningscentralen UC!
https://www.uc.se/
How nice. The swedish UC have even an english website!!!!
https://www.uc.se/en/

Except for My rent check, or this month the gas furnace repairs from H&B, I usually do everything by Debit or credit card, and I've been buying online for about 20 years, I only had trouble at a gas pump, where I fell victim to a skimmer at a small gas station in Bakersfield CA, and yes the bank refunded Me My money, I had the card cancelled, and a new card issued, someone used My card in Ventura, and I've never been there in about 50 years, My bank took care of Me...

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Worth remembering that with a debit card they can only get what is in the a/c. With a credit card they can get up to your credit limit. Or use Paypal, safer all round.

Paypal at a gasoline station, yeah right, unless it's in the form of a card, that isn't possible, and yes I have their business class card, though I almost never use that card.
And as long as the compromised debit card is allowed to exist, the perpetrator can keep withdrawing more and more money. I was in the security business for 10 years.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Worth remembering that with a debit card they can only get what is in the a/c. With a credit card they can get up to your credit limit. Or use Paypal, safer all round.

I use Paypal on ebay, and many other online vendors accept it now as well.
And I check my account activity rather often to keep a lookout for anything I don't recognize.
It's a debit card, and I generally do not keep a very high balance available there.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

I dunno.........
Amazon may not list the lowest price first, but when I look for something it shows me that other options are available.
Like this spark plug search................

Product Details
ACDelco 41-816 Professional Platinum Spark Plug (Pack of 1)
by ACDelco
$ 6 52 Prime
Get it by Monday, Oct 2
FREE Shipping on eligible orders
More Buying Choices
$5.08(11 new offers)

It's right there, not hidden. All you have to do is click on '11 new offers' and it displays them all.
They are not 'pulling a fast one'. It is all buyer beware and mind what you click on.

On ebay, I have the option after I search to show 'lowest price and shipping first', and it then sorts them in that order.
You still have to pay attention to the listing before hitting the buy button.

Well....
Just got off the phone with Amazon.
The order I used in my example above?
Got them for free.

Place the order for 4 spark plugs on Sept. 19th.
By the 29th, no package. And the tracking number supplied was no good from USPS.
Called Amazon and cancelled the order, got an immediate refund issued.
Yesterday, I got the 4 spark plugs.
But it was NOT the supposed 'original shipment'.
They were shipped on the 29th, after I had cancelled the order. And shipped via 3 day UPS, not USPS.
Called and laid the timeline out for the Amazon rep.
They are now mine to keep.

From the customer service email response I got after my phone call............
"I'm sorry to hear about the problem with your 4 ACDelco 41-816 Professional Platinum Spark Plug (Pack of 1). In this case, there's no need to return the item for us to issue a refund. You're welcome to keep, donate or dispose of it--whichever option is most appropriate and convenient for you."

Meow!

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster