# Platform Comparison Reference Platform-specific pricing nuances for major ecommerce marketplaces. Use this reference when interpreting price gaps across platforms in the Price Gap Monitor skill. --- ## Amazon (US, UK, DE, JP) ### Pricing structure - **Buy Box price**: The price shown on the main product page. May be from the brand owner, an authorized reseller, or a third-party seller. - **Other Sellers**: Below the Buy Box, Amazon shows alternative offers. These are important for competitive context but often ignored. - **Subscribe & Save**: Recurring delivery discount, typically 5-15% off. Note separately from one-time price. - **Coupons**: Visible green badge on search results. Clip-to-apply. Reduces effective price. - **Lightning Deals**: Time-limited (usually 6-12 hours). Show countdown timer and claimed percentage. - **Prime exclusive price**: Some items show a lower price for Prime members only. ### Key normalization notes - Always check whether Prime shipping is included (it usually is for Prime-eligible items). - "List Price" with strikethrough is often inflated. Compare actual selling prices, not claimed discounts. - Amazon's "Climate Pledge Friendly" or "Amazon's Choice" badges don't affect price but affect visibility. ### Data collection tips - Search results show up to 48 items per page (desktop) or 16 (mobile). - Sponsored listings appear at positions 1-3 and throughout. Always flag these. - Category pages (Browse nodes) show different rankings than keyword search. --- ## Walmart (US) ### Pricing structure - **Everyday Low Price**: Standard pricing philosophy. Less frequent promotions than Amazon. - **Rollback**: Temporary price reduction, similar to a sale. Usually lasts 2-4 weeks. - **Walmart+**: Free shipping for members on orders $35+. Similar to Prime for shipping. - **Marketplace sellers**: Third-party sellers on Walmart.com may price differently from Walmart-direct items. ### Key normalization notes - Walmart has a **Price Parity policy**: Marketplace sellers cannot price significantly higher on Walmart than on their own website or other marketplaces. This creates a pricing floor effect. - Free 2-day shipping is common for Walmart-fulfilled items. Factor this into landed cost. - Walmart's "Compare at" price is their version of a reference price — treat with same skepticism as Amazon's "List Price." ### Data collection tips - Search results typically show 40 items per page. - Walmart groups "Best Seller" and "Popular Pick" badges visibly. - In-store vs online prices may differ. This skill only covers online prices. --- ## Temu ### Pricing structure - **Flash sale pricing**: Temu frequently runs time-limited deals with significant discounts. - **New user pricing**: First-time buyers see different (lower) prices. Always note if browsing as a new user. - **Bundle deals**: "Buy 2, get X% off" is common. Normalize to single-unit price. - **Free shipping**: Most items ship free with no minimum. This is a significant competitive advantage at low price points. ### Key normalization notes - Temu prices are often 40-70% lower than Amazon/Walmart for comparable (not identical) products. - Quality and brand positioning differ significantly. A $5 Temu item is not a direct competitor to a $25 branded Amazon item, even if the product category matches. - Delivery times (7-15 days) vs Prime (1-2 days) represent different value propositions. Note this context. ### Data collection tips - Temu's search results are heavily personalized. Results may vary between sessions. - Product images and descriptions may be less standardized. Verify product match carefully. - Rating systems differ — Temu uses a 5-star system but review volume is often lower. --- ## TikTok Shop ### Pricing structure - **In-video pricing**: Products linked in TikTok videos may have creator-specific discount codes. - **Shop tab pricing**: Standard marketplace pricing, comparable to Amazon. - **Flash deals**: Time-limited promotions tied to live shopping events. - **Creator commissions**: Built into the price. A $20 TikTok Shop item may include 10-20% creator commission. ### Key normalization notes - TikTok Shop is newer than other platforms. Review counts and sales history are typically much lower. - Pricing may be more volatile due to smaller seller base and frequent promotional events. - Shipping is typically free for most items, fulfilled by the seller or TikTok's logistics. ### Data collection tips - Product search on TikTok Shop is less mature than Amazon/Walmart. Results may be less relevant. - Live shopping events can create temporary price spikes or drops. - Verify that the product is actually available (not just shown in a video). --- ## eBay ### Pricing structure - **Buy It Now**: Fixed price. Most comparable to other platform listings. - **Auction**: Variable price. Not useful for competitive pricing analysis unless monitoring final sale prices. - **Best Offer**: Listed price with negotiation option. Actual transaction prices may be 10-20% lower. - **Promoted Listings**: Seller pays a commission for better visibility. Doesn't directly affect price but affects ranking. ### Key normalization notes - eBay mixes new, refurbished, used, and parts listings. Always filter for "New" condition when comparing. - Shipping costs vary widely. Some sellers use free shipping, others charge separately. Always calculate landed cost. - eBay's "Sold" data (visible on completed listings) provides actual transaction prices — but accessing this requires specific searches. ### Data collection tips - Use "Buy It Now" filter to exclude auctions. - Sort by "Best Match" for organic ranking, "Price + Shipping: lowest first" for price analysis. - eBay shows "X sold" counts on some listings — useful for volume context. --- ## Cross-Platform Comparison Checklist When comparing prices across platforms, verify: - [ ] Same product (not just same category) - [ ] Same condition (new vs refurbished vs used) - [ ] Same quantity (single vs multi-pack) - [ ] Shipping costs included in comparison - [ ] Temporary promos flagged and noted separately - [ ] Currency converted if comparing across markets - [ ] Platform-specific pricing policies noted (e.g., Walmart price parity) - [ ] Review count and seller maturity included as context - [ ] Delivery time differences noted (Prime 1-day vs Temu 10-day) - [ ] Sponsored vs organic placement distinguished