Amazon is rolling out a new invite-based ordering experience for high-demand, low-supply products. The company told TechCrunch that the purpose of the new option is to help prevent inventory shortages and price gouging caused by bot traffic on a limited number of high-demand items. Amazon says its goal is to make sure real customers can buy these kinds of products. The new program will launch in the US, starting with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles sold and fulfilled by Amazon.
“Every day we strive to provide our customers with low prices, great selection, and fast delivery,” Llew Mason, Amazon’s vice president of consumer engagement, said in a statement to TechCrunch. “This includes developing a shopping experience where customers can Buy items that interest them without worrying that bad actors will buy and resell those items at higher prices.”
The new ordering option will allow customers to request invitations to purchase high-demand items from the product detail page at no additional cost. Any customer with an Amazon account can request an invitation to buy the item, which means you don’t need a Prime account to send a request.
An image provided by Amazon shows that items that are part of the program will have a notice that they are “available by invitation.” The product page will also state that it is a “limited quantity high-demand item” and that Amazon “will not be able to fulfill all requests.”
To ensure genuine customers receive purchase invitations, Amazon will remove bot-like submissions and send invitations to remaining customers. The company will verify real customers by looking at multiple factors, including the account’s previous purchase history and when the account was created. If the customer’s purchase invitation is approved, they will receive an email with instructions on how to purchase the item.
The email will detail how long it will take you to complete your purchase. It will also contain a link to the item so you can place an order. Once on the product page, you can add the item to your cart or select “Buy Now”. The product page will also show you how many hours and minutes are left before your invitation expires. As Amazon receives more inventory, Amazon will send out more invitations to buy.
Amazon said that while bad actors account for only a small percentage of activity on its marketplace, it is committed to preventing them from negatively impacting users’ shopping experience. The new ordering experience should give Amazon customers a better chance of getting a limited number of high-demand products, as it aims to eliminate bad actors who buy products and then resell them at higher prices, which has been the case on consoles in the past. is happening. over the years.
The new subscription option is available for the PlayStation 5 in the US starting today, and will be available for the Xbox Series X in the coming days. Amazon plans to expand the program to other countries and products in the future.