[dhm]

In many situations the actual cost to a vendor does fluctuate over time, but continuously updating prices has costs that outweigh the upside demand and perhaps brand loyalty that comes from transparency. Some example costs include (a) customer frustration from unpredictable prices and (b) consumers deterring purchasing decisions waiting for prices to reach some threshold they are hoping will arrive one day.

[welshrats]

I feel like Steam, although the practice is successful for them, is pushing all consumerism in this direction. I defer all my gaming purchases until they come on sale on Steam. I can't help it, by this point I have been trained to act this way. So much so, that is almost Pavlonian.

[stronglikedan]

I'm certainly in the (b) category. I don't have to have most things right away. I have a list of things that check pricing on frequently, and when the price is right, I buy. Sometimes I never buy because the price never meets the threshold. Of course, that's only for things I desire, and don't necessarily need.

Of course, as morley pointed out in a separate reply, this seems like it may only be limited to art and memorabilia, which tend not to have a set value. If limited to these types of items, then Amazon's approach may make sense.

[collyw]

Try a holiday in India, Nepal or Morocco. Nothing has a set price. Its annoying at first, but after a while you may appreciate that you pay for what you value, not paying based on some price set by someone else.

[smeyer]

Or if you're American and want to try it closer to home, buy some tickets from a scalper.