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You miss the point. PriceZombie was above board with what they were doing at all times. Amazon TOLD THEM that as long as their latest price was within 24 hours

You miss the point. PriceZombie was above board with what they were doing at all times. Amazon TOLD THEM that as long as their latest price was within 24 hours they could display price history like dozens of other price trackers were doing. PZ was reviewed three times, not just by low level people but higher up in the chain, and each time there was no question they were within the TOS so long as they displayed the current price along with price history. This is why PZ's Reddit bot always pulls up and displays the current price when queried. After three years, Amazon changed their mind - but not for everyone, just PZ.

ryao 11y ago
Many of the shoppers using Price Zombie likely relied on Price Zombie's historical pricing data and notifications of price drops to delay purchases until prices for items were relatively low. The affiliate link gave Amazon data on which shoppers were using Price Zombie. Maybe someone at Amazon used their data to estimate the decrease in margins from that, causing Amazon's leadership to change its mind.
- dhimes 11y ago
  So Price Zombie was the best, and it hurt them. GOTO patio11's comment https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11360482 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11360482
- BorisMelnik 11y ago
  yes it is true, one of the main reasons I used PZ was for historical data mainly PC parts and such
kuschku 11y ago
And there are many similar sites – including ones sponsored by the German government – that still do the same.
mattlutze 11y ago
I guess we'll need some references here -- that's a lot of either inside knowledge or assumptions otherwise. If they did have permission from Amazon to violate the TOS, I hope they had a contract to do so with protections/compensation for early termination. If not, the situation is not unlike how off label drug usage can be okay until the FDA tells you to stop. Once they change their minds, that's that.

ryao 11y ago

Many of the shoppers using Price Zombie likely relied on Price Zombie's historical pricing data and notifications of price drops to delay purchases until prices for items were relatively low. The affiliate link gave Amazon data on which shoppers were using Price Zombie. Maybe someone at Amazon used their data to estimate the decrease in margins from that, causing Amazon's leadership to change its mind.

dhimes 11y ago
So Price Zombie was the best, and it hurt them. GOTO patio11's comment https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11360482 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11360482
BorisMelnik 11y ago
yes it is true, one of the main reasons I used PZ was for historical data mainly PC parts and such

kuschku 11y ago

And there are many similar sites – including ones sponsored by the German government – that still do the same.

mattlutze 11y ago

I guess we'll need some references here -- that's a lot of either inside knowledge or assumptions otherwise. If they did have permission from Amazon to violate the TOS, I hope they had a contract to do so with protections/compensation for early termination. If not, the situation is not unlike how off label drug usage can be okay until the FDA tells you to stop. Once they change their minds, that's that.