Amazon Marketplace

[DavidRoss]

I always forget to pass through this site when buying from amazon - what percentage does the forum get of every purchase when clicking on the amazon link?

Thanks for the reminder.  I was supporting my local classical radio station through an Amazon click-thru, but now that I', participating in GMG again I just tried to revise my Amazon bookmark for GMG  (naturally just after yesterday's purchases!).  But amazon flags don't show on my GMG pages these days, I'm not sure the old link still works ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/573448?tag2=goodmusicguideco ) so I just tried revising my bookmark URL to the link http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2F&tag=goodmusicguideco&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=39095 . 

[George]

I'm just curious here, so no big deal.

I wonder what the business model is for certain vendors on the Marketplace. As an example, look for almost any Classical disk and then go to the "Used" tab and look at what's available. There will often be 15-20 disks under $10, then a few in the regular retail price range (under $20). And then, the mystery (to me). There are a few vendors there, like "Any-Book" and "Woody's Books" and a couple of others that have the same disk, used, for anywhere from $40 to $100! What's that all about? Do they actually sell these? Do they even intend to sell them?

I have a CD for sale in that range. It's OOP. I have paid up to $100 for a single CD in a handful of cases.

[Gurn Blanston]

I have a CD for sale in that range. It's OOP. I have paid up to $100 for a single CD in a handful of cases.

Oh sure, there are lots of disks in that $100 range. But it is the paradox of having a disk for $100 right below an equal one (or 20 equal ones!) for $2.98 that makes me reel. If you have the only copy of an OOP classic for sale, you can ask what you want. If there are 25 copies available and yours is priced 30X higher than others', that just doesn't make sense.   And it isn't like this is a rarity; almost any disk you pull up has this going on.

[George]

Oh sure, there are lots of disks in that $100 range. But it is the paradox of having a disk for $100 right below an equal one (or 20 equal ones!) for $2.98 that makes me reel. If you have the only copy of an OOP classic for sale, you can ask what you want. If there are 25 copies available and yours is priced 30X higher than others', that just doesn't make sense.   And it isn't like this is a rarity; almost any disk you pull up has this going on.

I guess they are preying on the less informed customers. There was a thread recently over at CMG on this very topic that mentioned that any book seller.

[Scarpia]

Oh sure, there are lots of disks in that $100 range. But it is the paradox of having a disk for $100 right below an equal one (or 20 equal ones!) for $2.98 that makes me reel. If you have the only copy of an OOP classic for sale, you can ask what you want. If there are 25 copies available and yours is priced 30X higher than others', that just doesn't make sense.   And it isn't like this is a rarity; almost any disk you pull up has this going on.

Such as this one, which just happens to be in my shopping cart because someone here mentioned it.



http://www.amazon.com/Korngold-Schmidt-Music-Strings-Piano/dp/B000006O66/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1284754746&sr=8-2

I have a used copy in my cart for a bit over 5 bucks, but if I go to the list of used copy, there is one seller that lists it for $80. 

This is my theory:

You go to a page and see a used disc from seller X for a good price.  You put it into your cart.  Then you go to the seller X "storefront."  The seller X "storefront" only shows you discs from seller X, it doesn't show you if the disc is available from other sellers unless you take considerable trouble to look.  They you see a disc on seller X's storefront that you have always wanted, but for $100.  Damn, it must be rare, you think.  I'd better get it now before it is too late.  You buy it, and never know that 10 other Marketplace sellers have it for $5.
 

[MN Dave]

I have paid up to $100 for a single CD in a handful of cases.

Was it Jesus playing Bach?

[Gurn Blanston]

Such as this one, which just happens to be in my shopping cart because someone here mentioned it.



http://www.amazon.com/Korngold-Schmidt-Music-Strings-Piano/dp/B000006O66/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1284754746&sr=8-2

I have a used copy in my cart for a bit over 5 bucks, but if I go to the list of used copy, there is one seller that lists it for $80. 

This is my theory:

You go to a page and see a used disc from seller X for a good price.  You put it into your cart.  Then you go to the seller X "storefront."  The seller X "storefront" only shows you discs from seller X, it doesn't show you if the disc is available from other sellers unless you take considerable trouble to look.  They you see a disc on seller X's storefront that you have always wanted, but for $100.  Damn, it must be rare, you think.  I'd better get it now before it is too late.  You buy it, and never know that 10 other Marketplace sellers have it for $5.

Yup, just like that!

I see what you're saying. It never occurred to me because I don't think I've ever been to a seller's store (except once to Newbury Comics'). But that makes good sense if someone only goes there, or happens across it that way. Damn!

[Gurn Blanston]

I guess they are preying on the less informed customers. There was a thread recently over at CMG on this very topic that mentioned that any book seller.

I haven't checked them out in a long time. But "Any_Book" must be getting famous off speculation on their business model.

[Scarpia]

I see what you're saying. It never occurred to me because I don't think I've ever been to a seller's store (except once to Newbury Comics'). But that makes good sense if someone only goes there, or happens across it that way. Damn!

Amazon is evil. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Amazon is evil.

Well, it works better for people who are patient and thorough. Otherwise one can take a good licking.

[Scarpia]

Well, it works better for people who are patient and thorough. Otherwise one can take a good licking.

Well, it's either play, or get played.  Maybe I'll put a few $100 items into my marketplace listings and see if anyone bites. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Well, it's either play, or get played.  Maybe I'll put a few $100 items into my marketplace listings and see if anyone bites.

We'll send George an advert...        

[karlhenning]

. . . It never occurred to me because I don't think I've ever been to a seller's store (except once to Newbury Comics').

Ditto. Even unto the Newbury Comics (I've made a couple of purchases directly from their site to keep the shipping charge rational).

There have been times when I have wanted to buy Andriessen's De staat, but the Schoenberg Ensemble/de Leeuw recording has been OOP, and for a couple of years, there were only stiffly overpriced copies available from the 3^rd-party sellers.  There was no way I was going to pay those asking prices, not even $24.99, for a disc with a single 40-minute (IIRC) work.  It was a lucky day when Paul mentioned the piece again last week or so, because it prompted me to have a fresh look — and lo! I found a new copy for $12 plus sh/h. And it was very good.

I mean: any_book is the high asker for $118.  I could fly to Holland just to have a laugh over that with Louis in Den Haag.

[karlhenning]

Well, it's either play, or get played.  Maybe I'll put a few $100 items into my marketplace listings and see if anyone bites.

Heck, just for a lark you should try.

[snyprrr]

Is anyone familiar with Zoverstocks (a vendor on Amazon)?

AArrrrgh!!!!!

[karlhenning]

Is anyone familiar with Zoverstocks (a vendor on Amazon)?

AArrrrgh!!!!!

I've ordered a couple of items from them in the past half a year; they're in the UK, and there's something generally slow about parcels out of the UK these days.  (Yes, I think that even ZOverstocksUSA ships out of the UK.)

[karlhenning]

I know that the suggestion that one need be patient with shipments from the Mother Country, does not vitiate Your Condition (per subject header) . . . .

[kishnevi]

I've ordered a couple of items from them in the past half a year; they're in the UK, and there's something generally slow about parcels out of the UK these days.  (Yes, I think that even ZOverstocksUSA ships out of the UK.)

Things aren't shipped in the UK; they are despatched.    I learned that from AmazonUK when I ordered there.  And they don't have shopping carts, they have baskets.

Meanwhile, as I mentioned in the Bruckner thread, I'm still waiting for Zoverstocks to despatch the Argerich box set I ordered over the weekend.

Separate question: is Marketplace vendor FabulousCD actually the same as Abeille Musique.  I've placed two orders with them, and both were shipped by Abeille.

[Coopmv]

Separate question: is Marketplace vendor FabulousCD actually the same as Abeille Musique.  I've placed two orders with them, and both were shipped by Abeille.

I placed 2 orders with FabulousCD and the packing slips that came with the orders did say Abeille ...

[DavidW]

I've ordered a couple of items from them in the past half a year; they're in the UK, and there's something generally slow about parcels out of the UK these days.  (Yes, I think that even ZOverstocksUSA ships out of the UK.)

To be fair to the UK, whenever I order from mdt I have it within a week.  Zoverstocks takes several days just to mail out their orders.  Not very prompt, but they're cheap.