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Has this happened to anyone else?
 

What happens is I find a book detail page that has only 0-1 listings running, and right after I list a copy of my own *within the next day* 2 or 3 other sellers suddenly pop up offering the same thing. Usually they're trying to lowball my price too, so I doubt they're dropshippers but who knows? Even more listings usually follow shortly thereafter within the next few days so that you'd never know that product detail page was a virtual desert not even a week earlier.

It has me wondering though - is there just some kind of 3rd-party software people are using to spot these kind of "new and little competition" listings as they get posted on AMZ and I've just been their unknowing signal? :suspicious: The whole thing reminds me a little too much of repricing software.

This isn't the first time, btw - it's happened only a few other times in the past but I still have a hard time thinking it's a coincidence.

I sell in the electronics category and it doesn't seem to happen to the degree you are describing, but its does happen.

Example,

Right now I am 1 of 2 selling product xyz, 3 weeks ago there were 12-13 sellers.

Not sure about any software though. It doesnt seem like any advantage to have software to make a product more saturated with sellers.

Hmm yeah that's kinda like my situation in reverse, I guess. Although that does mean such large swings in competition wouldn't be unusual in either direction, so maybe this has just been a coincidence with me so far. Oh well, it's not like it was gonna change my strategy or anything; I just found it kinda weird.

About software potentially doing this, well I know no one would want a product that claims to "saturate your competition" lol but I was seeing this more like the unintended consequence of maybe some software out there that claims to "alert you of new Amazon listings with little/no competition!" but then backfired... kinda like how nobody in their right mind would use a software that says "we will drive the value of your merchandise into the ground!!" :D yet when repricing software becomes popular enough that's essentially all it does.

I sell in the automobile category and I do find sometimes there are no any sellers sell certain items that I am going to sell, but once I put on a listing, few days to a week later, I found that couple or one seller start selling the same item of mine and even lower the price a little bit. One time, I was curious to buy the same item from a seller who start selling the item after mine, when I got the item, that item was not alike mine at all and not even close nicer looking than mine, I don't understand why there are no buyers complain about this yet, it is really PMO!

poorgirl,

Did you try returning the item after that? Now that you mention it, I haven't tried buying from any of these coattail-rider listings I've seen but I do notice they tend to be pretty "low" feedback, like 94 or 95%...

I didn't return it, I was going to but I got pretty busy and totally forget about it. Now If I have time, I watch my products and to see which one of my new items got stolen by other sellers, you probably don't know why I say "stolen" because many of my items are not selling in the amazon and many times I was the First time selling these items, other seller follow after me.

No, I know how you feel.. :( Actually I think that may be a big part of what these vultures are counting on, though.. knowing that most people don't even bother to leave feedback as it is, they hope a good number of people will also just forget or not have time to return items even if they're totally misrepresented. The sad thing is, I really don't get the impression most Amazon buyers even pay that close attention to a seller's feedback in the first place so it would just be that much easier for people like this to get away with it. :mad2:

I totally agree with you :) I hope your selling is picking up and wish you the best!