email sales

July 23, 2010 12:51 PM

Will Amazon.com or some other site email you when things you want go on sale?

Looking to buy a boardgame, or a tool, or a specific hat or this or that but don't want to pay the current price and don't need it right now. Will Amazon.com or other sites email you when your chosen item is on sale? (I can't figure out how to do it on Amazon, if they do it at all).
Thanks!

posted by luvmywife to shopping (14 answers total)

As to Amazon.com, which is my go to online retailer for a lot of stuff, not exactly. They will periodically email you to suggest "similar" items, often including something you've actually bought. More helpfully, Amazon.com has a "save for later" option for things you put in your "cart," and you can periodically check back to see price changes for that item.

I'd suggest downloading price comparison extensions in your browser, which are a good fast way to see how competitive the price for a saved item is.

Also, for many websites I routinely check retailmenot.com to see if there's an online coupon available. I've saved quite a bit that way in discounts and free shipping.
posted by bearwife at 12:56 PM on July 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

I can only speak to Amazon.com. Amazon does provide information if the price has increased or decreased since I placed it on my wish list. However, they don't provide email notification. If I remember correctly, this information is provided when I sign into my account, usually when I am purchasing something else.
posted by kaybdc at 12:59 PM on July 23, 2010

Ops, I just checked. Amazon displays the price changes solely for things that I've placed in my cart (saved items to buy later) rather than on my wish list. This information is displayed at the top of the page when I view my shopping cart.
posted by kaybdc at 1:02 PM on July 23, 2010

The Tracktor is a website that emails you when prices for specific items at Amazon.com drop to a level you set.
posted by sharkfu at 1:07 PM on July 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Camelcamelcamel (?) is similar to Tracktor. It also offers rss feeds and I think you can import a wishlist.
posted by stuart_s at 1:55 PM on July 23, 2010

Sonofabitch! That's CamelCamelCamel
posted by stuart_s at 1:57 PM on July 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

Zeezaw does the same as tracktor for the UK, if anyone's interested. It's amazing how often and how much prices on Amazon change.
posted by hazyjane at 2:25 PM on July 23, 2010

NexTag, which is a price comparison site similar to Bizrate, will let you set a predetermined price that you're willing to pay. If your item hits that price, they'll email you to let you know.
posted by fujiko at 2:50 PM on July 23, 2010

I've used PricePinx at pricepinx.com (I'm sorry - I'm not quite getting how to do a link) many times and saved a lot of money.
posted by la petite marie at 2:57 PM on July 23, 2010

Book Depository will notify you when a book on your wishlist falls in price by 10% or more.

(I've also found them to be better value for money than either Amazon or Fishpond, who I used to shop with.)
posted by Year of meteors at 8:31 PM on July 23, 2010

ShoppingNotes.com does that for any site.
posted by Colonel_Chappy at 10:38 AM on July 24, 2010

I like the Firefox extension Alertbox for this. It works on any site and includes specific rules you can apply. Like, alert me only when it is less than a particular amount. The interface is a little clunky, but I love it for getting changes on prices and on websites that don't have RSS.
posted by jyorraku at 11:00 AM on July 24, 2010

Also try a wishlist at wishpot.
They automatically email you an alert when the price drops.

I prefer camelcamelcamel for buys that I really really want but refuse to pay the top dollar for it. Plus camelcamelcamel notifies you via twitter which you can receive via text messages. Additionally, it allows you to view price histories.

However, I keep wishpot for books and other items that i may want.
posted by iNfo.Pump at 7:07 AM on July 25, 2010

WantsThis emails me whenever something from my wish list is on sale.
posted by hansbrough at 1:43 PM on July 26, 2010