Perl scripts watch Amazon prices

BARGAIN HUNTER

Article from Issue 92/2008

Author(s): MICHAEL SCHILLI

If you are a bargain hunter, you might enjoy this Perl script that monitors price developments at Amazon and alerts you if Amazon suddenly drops the prices on the products you have been watching.

Should I buy the digital camera that caught my eye recently? Should I wait until the price drops? These questions are difficult to answer, but a glance at the price developments over the past few months could tell you where the prices are heading.

If Amazon offered a price history for its products – something similar to the share prices on major financial pages – customers might be annoyed about missing bargains. Or they might speculate on prices continuing to drop and wait for a more favorable opportunity. The online shopping site does not offer this service yet, so you’ll have to set it up yourself.

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