You see something you want. The price looks good. Your cursor moves toward the yellow "Buy Now" button.

Stop.

There's a three-second move that most Amazon shoppers never make—and it could save you anywhere from 10% to 30% on almost everything you buy.

Here's what you're missing.

The Hidden Link Most Shoppers Ignore

Right below that big yellow "Buy Now" button, there's a small line of text that most people never click. It usually says something like:

"Other Sellers on Amazon" or "New & Used from [price]"

That's it. That's the trick.

When you click "Buy Now" or "Add to Cart," Amazon automatically chooses which seller gets your money. It's usually Amazon itself, or a seller paying for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). But here's the catch: it isn't always the cheapest option.

In fact, there could be a highly-rated third-party seller offering the exact same item for significantly less money. The only difference? You might have to wait an extra day or two for shipping.

Why Amazon Doesn't Show You the Lowest Price First

This isn't Amazon being sneaky. It's just how their system works.

Amazon uses a complex algorithm to decide who gets the "Buy Box"—that's the default seller when you click "Buy Now." The algorithm considers factors like:

Price (but not price alone)
Shipping speed (Prime and FBA sellers get priority)
Seller performance (feedback ratings and history)
Inventory availability

Here's the key insight: a seller with slightly higher prices but faster shipping can win the Buy Box over a cheaper seller with slower delivery.

That's great if you need something tomorrow. But if you can wait a few extra days, you're probably overpaying by clicking that yellow button.

How Much Can You Actually Save?

Let me give you a real example.

I recently looked up a popular kitchen gadget on Amazon. The Buy Box price was $34.99 from Amazon, with free Prime shipping.

I clicked the "Other Sellers on Amazon" link. There were eight other sellers offering the exact same product. The lowest price? $24.99, from a seller with a 98% positive rating.

Same product. Same condition (new). Just a different seller. The only trade-off? Shipping would take five days instead of two.

That's a $10 saving—almost 30%—for clicking one extra link and waiting three more days.

When This Trick Works Best

This strategy works especially well for:

Non-urgent items – If you don't need it tomorrow, why pay for speed?

Popular products – The more sellers competing, the better your chances of finding a lower price.

Items sold by multiple brands – Generic electronics, kitchenware, toys, books, and household goods often have dozens of sellers.

Older products – New releases have fewer sellers. Products that have been around for a while usually have a thriving secondary market.

What to Look for in Other Sellers

Not all sellers are created equal. When you click that "Other Sellers" link, here's what to check:

Seller rating – Stick with sellers who have at least 95% positive feedback. Amazon makes this easy to see.

Shipping cost – Some sellers offer "free shipping" but build it into the price. Others charge separately. Always compare the total cost.

Delivery estimate – Cheaper shipping often means slower delivery. Make sure the timing works for you.

Condition – Most sellers clearly label "New," "Like New," "Very Good," etc. Don't accidentally buy used if you want new.

A Note About "Add to Cart" vs. "Buy Now"

This trick works whether you use "Buy Now" or "Add to Cart." Both buttons default to the same Buy Box seller.

The "Other Sellers" link is the same either way. Click it before you commit.

When Not to Use This Trick

There are times when the Buy Box seller is genuinely your best option:

You need it fast – If you're relying on Prime's two-day (or same-day) shipping, stick with the Buy Box. No third-party seller can match that speed.

The price difference is tiny – If you're only saving $1 on a $50 item, it might not be worth the extra clicks and slower shipping.

The seller looks sketchy – If a deal seems too good to be true, check the seller's feedback. Very low prices from sellers with no history are a red flag.

Beyond the "Other Sellers" Trick

Once you master this three-second move, here are a few more advanced strategies:

Check Amazon Resale – Formerly called "Amazon Warehouse," this is where Amazon sells returned and open-box items at steep discounts. Products are often perfectly fine—just with damaged packaging. You can save 20% to 50% off the new price.

Use price trackers – Free tools like CamelCamelCamel or the Keepa browser extension show you the price history of any product. You'll see if that "sale" price is actually a deal or if the price was artificially inflated last week.

Clip digital coupons – Always scan the area right below the product price for a small checkbox that says "Apply coupon." If you don't click it, you don't get the discount.

The Bottom Line

Amazon has engineered a shopping experience that's incredibly convenient. But convenience comes at a cost—and you're often paying for it.

That three seconds it takes to click "Other Sellers on Amazon" could save you 10%, 20%, or even 30% on your purchase. The only trade-off is a few extra days of waiting.

Next time you're about to hit that yellow button, pause. Click the link. Compare the prices.

Your wallet will thank you.

This article is based on reporting from Money Talks News and publicly available information about Amazon's pricing and Buy Box algorithms. All pricing examples are illustrative and based on real observed market conditions.

The Three-Second Trick That Could Save You 30% on Amazon