If you are like me, the first place you go to find a product or to check prices is on Amazon. Many times you would think (or Amazon made you think) they always have the best possible price with free shipping.
Sometimes, this is true… but sometimes it is the opposite; especially if the product is being sold by a third-party seller. So before you click “Buy Now” (I never use this button, I always put everything on my cart first), you should continue reading.
As you may know from a previous article, I am reading the entire Horus Heresy saga from Warhammer 40,000. Since I like to save some money to buy more books, I do some research and use this expert trick here: How to Buy Books on Amazon the Smart Way.
The book I want is Fulgrim – Vision of treachery. Unfortunately, it is not sold by Amazon and is currently out of stock at Black Library. The price for a brand new copy straight from the publisher is cad$11.99 (free shipping is available with cad$40 order).
With the retail price in mind, I checked the third-party sellers on Amazon… and I started to see some insane prices… I couldn’t believe… there was a glitch in the matrix… or have I postponed too much my visit to the ophthalmologist… or was I under the influence of a good French wine? No… third-party sellers have gone crazy!
I will stop writing because I believe an image makes more sense:
As you can see, there is a seller offering the book, which normally costs $11.99, for $324.80! And it wants $6.48 for shipping! Yes, because $324.80 will not cover the cost of a small box and shipping.
I honestly can’t understand these prices. Ok maybe the book is amazing! I am sure it is, so far the first four books from the saga are great, but I will never pay more than $11.99 for the book. I could go up to $16.00 but that’s it. So who, in this planet, would pay $324.80 + $6.48 shipping?
Anyways, yes there are better prices from other third parties, but all of them are way too high. $32.32 + 17.46 shipping, $127.73 with a “nice free shipping”, or a USED – Very Good for $114.99 + $6.49 shipping makes no sense. I trust it is in a Very Good condition, for $114.99 I bet it must be even better than a brand new one, maybe it comes inside a gold case or wrapped on silk. Who knows.
In summary: before you click “Buy Now” on whatever Amazon offers you, do a quick check. Verified who is selling, from where it is shipping and also the reviews from the seller. Yes, I already ordered products from third parties, but I always do some research before buying and you should do it too.
I am pro free market, but these prices were way too insane for me not to write about it. I am still waiting for the book #5 and #6 from the Horus Heresy saga to be back in stock at Black Library or… sold by Amazon.