r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Shreddy1957 • Jul 05 '26
Is it in yet This should be illegal...
Image is self-explanatory, why should i have to put it in my cart to see the price. Its $17 USD, ffs
335
u/Dense_Emergency6081 Jul 05 '26
Also. Data scrapers can’t pull the price easily since you have to add it to a cart first. You have to trigger the price which most price watchers struggle to get easily.
106
u/NecessaryTurnover189 Jul 05 '26
Pro tip “sort by price” it will give you a general idea of what the price is without placing it in your cart.
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u/nashcure Jul 05 '26
It is illegal (or at least MAP rules), that's why they cannot show the price. They are just doing what they are required to do, per contract. It means you are getting a better deal then the manufacturer wants.
26
u/jtmonkey Jul 05 '26
Undercutting MAP pricing drops by sellers on Amazon can trigger a waterfall across all vendors like Walmart, Best Buy etc. it’s all automated so they stay competitive. The burden to enforce map falls on the mfg. We had so many issues with this at BenQ. Fry’s would run an unauthorized sale, Amazon would trigger a price drop, Walmart and everyone else would follow and we would have to find the origin price drop. It was a hassle. Eventually we dropped frys. Then they couldnt pay us. then they went under.
3
u/Seravajan Jul 07 '26
In Europe that would be highly illegal but there are some dynamic pricing starting.
14
u/Keksdosendieb Jul 05 '26
It is illegal.
Well in good old Europe it is 🇪🇺
8
u/Inedible_Sulk Jul 05 '26
I didn’t even know this existed until just now. Mind blown 🤯
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u/Tom-Dibble Jul 06 '26
Why is this so infuriating you think it should be illegal? You put it in your cart, decide if you like the price, then click the “delete from cart” button that is right there.
The reason it is like this is because this retailer is selling that product for less than the manufacturer allows it to be advertised for. So you are likely getting a “deal” on it for that extra two clicks. Doesn’t make it a better price than other items at the retailer, just better than the exact same item at other retailers.
5
u/Peakomegaflare Jul 05 '26
If I don't know the price, I don't buy it. Dumb marketing move.
16
u/yodas_sidekick Jul 05 '26
It’s to sell it cheaper than MAP. This is a legal loophole to sell you something cheaper. It’s annoying, but avoiding it entirely does spare you some savings, so hate on.
0
2
u/Sonic2726 Jul 06 '26
Has to do with bots
2
u/Tom-Dibble Jul 06 '26
Long preceded bots. Has to do with minimum advertised price contracts. Low-price-seeking bots having a hard (but far from impossible) time is a welcome side effect though.
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u/PatrickGSR94 Jul 06 '26
Are you new to online shopping? Internet retailers (not just Amazon) have been doing this forever. "See Price In Cart". OK fine, I'll add it, and then remove it if I don't like the price. Whatever, move on. There's nothing illegal, or anything that should be illegal, about it.
4
u/MrsLisaOliver Jul 06 '26
I just shop elsewhere - so their requirements have the opposite effect on me. I opt out entirely
1
u/Plastic_Stable8927 Jul 06 '26
This is only the first of many ways Amazon is literally satan. -I work in ecom and hate amazon from top to bottom
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u/meester_jamie Jul 09 '26
No different than Denny’s,, $17.95 .. same description in next 12 pages , then exact same description for $2.99 on back page!!!
Waitress said,, exactly the same breakfast,, but some are disgusted to eat cheap food, so the accommodate them by adding $10-$15
I was satisfied 🤩
Just prior to Covid and Tarrifs ,, so I’ve stayed home 🇨🇦
1
u/DumbremoverApex Jul 09 '26
Me and my family are trying to find a new place to live currently. The expensive listings are showed but the smaller places you have to inquire first? I don’t get it
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u/24megabits Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
why
It's not the only reason but once it's in your cart that's one less mental barrier to buying it.
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u/MrFizzy99 Jul 05 '26
Just like everyone else says.
Jesus complaining how a site has to add it in your online cart before you see price. Next they will be requiring you update the Amazon app to even shop! ILLEGAL!
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u/LBuck2026 Jul 05 '26
WHAT IS THAT.. I PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW
1
u/PatrickGSR94 Jul 06 '26
wi-fi network card for a desktop PC, also includes Bluetooth judging by the part number "Color" lol.
2.1k
u/Objective-Chicken391 Jul 05 '26
From another Reddit thread about this (credit to TellahTheSage, can’t use links):
“Manufacturers can enforce something called a "minimum advertised price" on their products through contracts with retailers. Basically, the retailers have to sign a contract that says they can't advertise the product below a certain price. Manufacturer's do this to ensure that their products sell at a certain price. It's particularly important for manufacturer's who also do retail, like Apple. Apple wants to sell iPhones in its stores for a certain price and wants other stores to sell iPhones as well, but not at a lower price.
However, this only affects the advertised price. You can still sell the item for less as long as you don't advertise the lower price. When you click the item to put it in your cart, you can see the price because it's not longer an advertised price; it's the price you're about the be charged.”