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With no shortage of convenience and all the products you could possibly need, it's no wonder shoppers love Amazon . In fact, the e-commerce giant constitutes over 50% of all online sales in the U.S.
But size is a double-edged sword. With so many deals to sift through, it's hard to tell if what you're purchasing is really the best deal.
Here are five common mistakes you may be making when you shop on Amazon:
1. You ignore price-color bias
Amazon has a dynamic pricing system when it comes to products that come in different colors. Supply and demand conditions may fluctuate if some colors are more desirable than others (with the less popular ones priced lower).
So if it makes no difference to you whether your tape dispenser is "aqua turquoise blue" or "lime green," you can save a few bucks by choosing the cheapest one.
2. You overlook the offers page
Most shoppers tend to ignore Amazon's offers pages, which can be accessed by clicking the link below the product description on the right-hand side of a product page. (It will usually say something like "New (2) from $8.99," depending on how many offers there are and what prices are available.)
Take a look at the Verona Electric Range:
The listed price is $2,899, but by reviewing the offers page (below), you'll notice that another offer for this product is listed at $2,499.95, which would save you $450.05. Also keep in mind that the best deals don't always appear at the top.
3. You don't comparison shop
By comparing similar deals, you might find that a completely different brand offers better value for your money.
Consider finding a high-end product that normally cost more than you want to spend, being discounted down to the price you would have paid anyway. In this instance, you might not be paying less, but you could potentially purchase a better product for the same price.
This Hamilton Beach Electric Searing Grill, for example, is listed at $64.99, plus a $2 coupon.
Sounds pretty attractive, right?
In fact, it actually is a good deal. But what if you were told that there's a similar grill that sells for quite a bit more, but is currently discounted to pretty much the same price?
The Cuisinart Griddler is only $1 more expensive at the moment, but usually costs closer to $72. With more promising customer reviews and better features, the second option might be your best bet in terms of quality and price.
4. You don't time your purchases
If you don't mind buying last season's goods, you stand to save a huge amount of money — especially on seasonal items.