# Amazon Bait-and-Switch like tactics **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 28, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846 "2026-03-28T20:29:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/1 "2026-03-28T20:29:11Z")
I need to vent for a sec about Amazon Prime pulling what feels like a bait-and-switch. Last Thursday I’m ordering something, and the page says (paraphrasing): “Order within the next 3 hours and 27 minutes and you’ll get it tomorrow.” It also says ships from Amazon, sold by Amazon. So I add it to my cart and go straight to checkout. At checkout it changes to: arriving Saturday and now it says ships from Amazon, sold by Other. “Other.” WTF? What is that? Who is “Other”? That’s totally sketchy. This was for a pair of nice headphones that were $100 off. I should have known it right there and then: too good to be true. So a few hours later (stop laughing), alarm bells go off in my head and I canceled the order before it shipped. No way I am risking a forgery for a $100 discount from “Other.” Seriously, how is this not bait-and-switch? This isn’t the first time this has happened. Super lame! ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/2 "2026-03-28T20:36:58Z")
“Other” is just who Amazon is selling it for. Amazon still stocks and ships it (for a fee to the seller) and accepts returns if you are unsatisfied with it. In fact, they are more generous when it comes to refunds when it is coming out of someone else’s pocket. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/3 "2026-03-28T20:42:25Z")
I’ve never had very much issue with “other” on Amazon. I still look to see the seller of origin. If sketchy or not “verified” I’m out. Those flash sales for certain time frames can be exceptional. I’ve gotten some nice things like that. Have you been looking for headphones? ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2026, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/4 "2026-03-28T21:02:29Z")
@Beckdawrek Sennheiser is up for sale again and I wanted to get another backup of my favorite headphones in case they stop making them. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2026, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/5 "2026-03-29T10:52:22Z")
I think you scared yourself over nothing. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/6 "2026-03-29T19:09:24Z")
Yep. Amazon _tries_ to give it’s users the best deals. ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/7 "2026-03-30T00:02:21Z")
@LSLGuy Perhaps. But I feel better. So no one cares that they lie and shift shipping dates? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/8 "2026-03-30T00:16:39Z")
I feel honored to get anything delivered out here. The next day? Never happen. I take their delivery times as firm suggestions not a promise. I’ve never had an issue with returns or refunds. Their customer service is top drawer. IMO. I know there have been some really sketchy tales about Amazon and how bad they are. I’m not ordering expensive tech things tho. My stuff is mostly clothes and junk I like. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/9 "2026-03-30T00:30:13Z")
> [@by-tor](#): > > So no one cares that they lie and shift shipping dates? It’s possible since it was on sale that someone else ordered before you and that’s why it changed to a different shipper and shipping date. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/10 "2026-03-30T00:34:38Z")
If you get it and it sucks, you can easily return it. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/11 "2026-03-30T00:52:41Z")
> [@by-tor](#): > > So no one cares that they lie and shift shipping dates? Not really. The thing is I’m pretty sure it’s neither a lie or a bait & switch. I’m fairly certain the fine print for Amazon’s Prime will state something along the lines that the date ‘are best estimates only, we make every attempt to deliver on time but in some cases actual delivery times may vary.’ It would be foolish of them if that wasn’t in there, so after doing this for years I’m sure it is. There also no reasonable hypothesis I can think of to do a bait & switch, especially for high-end Sennheiser headphones. > [@by-tor](#): > > Sennheiser is up for sale again and I wanted to get another backup of my favorite headphones in case they stop making them. The absolute best deal for a quality pair of Sennheisers used to be not Amazon, but the [6XX off of Massdrop/Drop](https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-sennheiser-hd6xx#signupv2). They’re indistinguishable from the 650 and through their special online deal were much cheaper. The price varied from drop to drop but if you had gotten in on the last two drops it looks like you could have gotten them for [$149 in January](https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapcsales/comments/1qod0nd/headphones_massdrop_x_sennheiser_hd_6xx_149_w/) and [$159 in Feburary](https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapcsales/comments/1r9cea3/headphones_massdrop_x_sennheiser_hd_6xx_159_w/), if that Reddit poster is to be believed and they likely were on the money. Because sadly Drop is closing up shop in a couple of days and took their last orders a few days ago. If I had known I would have snagged a pair at that price as a gift for someone. We’ll see if the deal remains with Corsair. I got a pair a couple years back from them for $219. Right now they have one on Amazon (by a reseller or Drop liquidating remaining stock?) for $272 and the 650 is going for $359. You should never buy the 650 when the 6XX is available, but it might be this will be it. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/12 "2026-03-30T01:41:57Z")
I got a pair of 6XX 'phones from Massdrop several years ago. Can’t remember the exact price, but they were definitely under $200. Great sounding headphones and a bargain at that price. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/13 "2026-03-30T02:31:49Z")
Anyway, around here folks are more likely to be anti-Amazon because of Jeff Bezos and because Amazon is the implacable enemy of mankind (or something), not because of any allegedly shady sales tactics. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/14 "2026-03-30T03:03:46Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Anyway, around here folks are more likely to be anti-Amazon because of Jeff Bezos Bezos only owns 8.2% of Amazon. And how soon we forget the terms of “six to eight weeks for delivery”. > [@Tamerlane](#): > > Not really. The thing is I’m pretty sure it’s neither a lie or a bait & switch. I’m fairly certain the fine print for Amazon’s Prime will state something along the lines that the date ‘are best estimates only, we make every attempt to deliver on time but in some cases actual delivery times may vary.’ Right. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/15 "2026-03-30T03:37:14Z")
I live very close to, and right in between, two Amazon fulfillment centres, and you’d think I’d get same day or next day delivery easily. But no, at least half the time it takes two or three days, presumably because it’s coming from further afield than they initially claimed. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/16 "2026-03-30T04:20:07Z")
I can’t understand your concern at all. If you don’t like the headphones, just send them back. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/17 "2026-03-30T04:20:51Z")
I agree that it was safe. I also however share your gripe about the timing. I’ve actually gone back to the listing after this happens, and it will still say that you can get it tomorrow if you order by a certain time. So it’s not just “things changed between you clicking to buy it and the purchase screen.” Whether due to intentional lying or incompetence, that statement is wrong, and it does entice you to hurry up and buy something you might have taken more time on otherwise. So I do consider it a bad tactic. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/18 "2026-03-30T05:42:34Z")
Have you been on Temu or Ali. They have an active shopping clock they say shows actual items being sold. So it’s really supposed to make you order quickly. I don’t work that way. I have to compare and look at reviews and think. I dust binned the apps because if you leave items in a cart they hound you incessantly. Hate that. Amazon has push notifications but I only allow it after ordering for shipping and delivery notifications. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/19 "2026-03-30T10:35:36Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I dust binned the apps because if you leave items in a cart they hound you incessantly. Hate that. I’ve never understood the desire to leave things in an e-commerce shopping cart. All the e-commerce sites have some sort of list, favorite, or “save for later” feature to let you keep track of things you are interested in, but not willing to buy right now. The sole legit purpose of the cart is to put things in there now to buy now before departing their site / app in a next few minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846/20 "2026-03-30T14:27:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Bezos only owns 8.2% of Amazon. That is a massive number for a publicly-traded company, especially one the size of Amazon. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-bait-and-switch-like-tactics/1028846.md?page=2)