Is Amazon Stupid?

[MarkG]

So you want to buy an ipod nano for $199

and amazon suggests that you buy another one and save $0!
why cant someone put in some logic in that feature?!?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Um... this is standard practice you know? Buy X with Y for the price of both. It's not offering you a deal, but showing you something else you may like with it... for Nano's there aren't any other comparable products (perhaps they could offer it with a iPod Classic or something).

[Japher]

but you get free shipping for both!

That's twice the free shipping!

[Proteus_MST]

It is a good idea to buy another one.

After all then everyday you can choose which one you use today, the black one or the silver one. And everything for just twice the price of a single iPod

[MarkG]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Um... this is standard practice you know? Buy X with Y for the price of both.

no, usually on amazon, this feature has a smaller price if you buy both products

for Nano's there aren't any other comparable products (perhaps they could offer it with a iPod Classic or something).

then show nothing
on say "other colors availiable" and show the silver thing....

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by MarkG
no, usually on amazon, this feature has a smaller price if you buy both products

Nope, you are wrong. I thought it was the same thing as well, but then I realized that for the vast majority of get Y with X for $, the $ is simply the sum of the Amazon price for both items (unless it's labeled something like "Best Value"). It is only obvious here because they are offering the same item in a different color.

For example:

http://amazon.com/gp/product/0374105235/ref=amb_link_5157592_/002-9814845-1331258?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1PPNWE03B6J8NMQF0MTT&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_p=300909401&pf_rd_i=1000108821

Look at "Better Together":

Long Way Gone is $13.20
Thousand Splended Suns is $14.27

They add up to $27.47, which is what Amazon says it would be if you "buy together today".

for Nano's there aren't any other comparable products (perhaps they could offer it with a iPod Classic or something).

then show nothing
on say "other colors availiable" and show the silver thing....

That's not how it works, I'm sure. They don't go into every single listing and decide if its worth it (I'm sure that'd be a ton of work). They'll change if for the "Best Value" where if you buy two items together it'll be 5% cheaper than the Amazon price, but for everything else, they are just linked to the comparable item.

[LordShiva]

Amazon pwns

[MarkG]

That's not how it works, I'm sure. They don't go into every single listing and decide if its worth it (I'm sure that'd be a ton of work).

given that they actually sell cpu time (=amazon ec2), i think they have the power to do a couple more comparisons and calculations

[Imran Siddiqui]

But why would they? It'd only cost them money for not much gain.

[MarkG]

cause it's bad business to give stupid information to people and present it as an offer

[Japher]

Have I got a deal for you!

If you give me $50! That's right, only $50! I will take it!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by MarkG
cause it's bad business to give stupid information to people and present it as an offer

Yeah, I'm sure Amazon is losing a lot of sales on that iPod listing .

[Arrian]

Is Amazon Stupid?

No. Are you?

-Arrian

[Asher]

Yes.

[Lorizael]

First rule of government spending: Why buy one when you can buy two for twice the price!