Has this happened to anyone else?

[Ghost]

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? 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.

[adam34996]

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.

[Ghost]

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.

[poorgirl]

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!

[Ghost]

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%...

[poorgirl]

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.

[Ghost]

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.

[poorgirl]

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