9 Costliest Mistakes You Make When Shopping Amazon

Shopping on Amazon can be a truly delightful experience if you know the ins and outs of how to navigate the online retail jungle. As great as the prices and deals are for everyday items listed on Amazon, customers can make mistakes that cost them money while they think they are actually getting a bargain. 

“These mistakes can add up over time, resulting in wasted money and missed opportunities for savings,” said Karl Filmore, a consumer advocate and co-editor of Coupon Keg. 

“By being mindful of these pitfalls and adopting savvy shopping habits, consumers can make the most of their Amazon shopping experience while maximizing their budgets,” he said.

What are some of the most common shopping mistakes consumers make when shopping through Amazon, which includes the Amazon Prime Program, and how do these mistakes cost them in the long run? GOBankingRates has some insights from Filmore and other retail experts that you can use the next time you log onto Amazon.

Being an Amazon Prime customer can get you perks — such as free shipping and significant discounts at checkout — but anyone can shop on Prime Day for deals. However, lots of consumers do not mark their calendars for this big day in retail.

“…many consumers do not take full advantage of Amazon Prime memberships, including exclusive deals on Prime Day and access to services like Prime Video,” said Timothy J. Williams at Thinksia. “From a strategic perspective, leveraging all components of a service you’re paying for aligns with maximizing ROI (return on investment).”

“Shoppers often overlook additional coupons or promo codes that can be applied at checkout for extra savings,” said Jeanel Alvarado, a retail expert and the founder and CEO of Retail Boss. “These discounts may not be immediately obvious, so it’s important to read product listings carefully.”

“Many shoppers overlook the abundance of deals and discounts available on Amazon, especially during events like Prime Day,” Filmore said. “By not taking advantage of these offers, they miss out on significant savings opportunities.”

“Amazon’s Today’s Deals tab is always worth a quick look if you’re shopping on Amazon because it’s populated with limited-time offers,” said Consumer Analyst Julie Ramhold with Deal News. “Unlike Lightning Deals, these don’t necessarily have a visible countdown clock; instead, there’s a bright red tag denoting these offers as limited time. Navigating to a product page likely won’t tell you when the deal will end, so if you’re sold on something it’s best to add it to your cart ASAP.”

“If you fail to check different colors or options, for example, some colors or configurations of a product may be less popular and, therefore, cheaper,” Alvarado said. “If the specific color or variant isn’t crucial, opting for these can save money.”

Not checking the authenticity of your purchase beforehand can lead to more problems down the line, potentially even additional costs.

“With the rise of third-party sellers, ensuring product authenticity is crucial,” Filmore said. “Failing to verify sellers and products can result in receiving counterfeit or substandard items.”

“Neglecting to read product reviews and ratings can lead to purchasing inferior or unsuitable products,” Filmore said. “These insights from fellow consumers provide valuable information about product quality, performance and customer satisfaction.”

“Amazon has a known issue with fake reviews, so blindly trusting star ratings can cost you time and money,” Alvarado said. “Shoppers should take star ratings with a grain of salt and look for trusted external reviews before making a purchase decision. I would do my due diligence by searching on other independent blogs, Reddit and checking the Trustpilot and BBB ratings.”

“Amazon’s prices fluctuate frequently and failing to utilize price tracking tools means missing out on potential savings,” Filmore said. “By monitoring price changes, shoppers can strategically time their purchases for maximum savings.”

“Limiting oneself to Amazon without comparing prices across other platforms can result in overspending,” Filmore said. “Exploring alternative retailers can reveal better deals and ensure shoppers are getting the best value for their money.”

“While Amazon often offers competitive pricing, there are instances where other retailers provide better deals or exclusive offers,” said Williams, whose research has shown that “well-informed purchase decision(s) can save as much as 10 to 20% of the product cost by simply taking the time to compare.”

Buying an item from Amazon can be quite easy, but sometimes the return process is not. Plus, there could be additional return, shipping or other fees trying to send the item back to Amazon.

“Not familiarizing oneself with Amazon’s return policies can lead to frustration and additional costs if a product doesn’t meet expectations,” Filmore said. “Understanding the return process ensures a smoother shopping experience and protects against buyer’s remorse.”

You can log onto Amazon with the notion that you are only there to buy one thing. Then one item in your shopping cart turns into two, then three, and so on…until you are spending more than you originally budgeted.

“Amazon’s convenient one-click purchasing can tempt shoppers into making impulse buys they later regret,” Filmore said. “Taking a moment to evaluate whether a purchase is truly necessary can prevent unnecessary spending.”