Amazon lightening deals wait list

[wtrmlnlabs]

Can someone please tell me how the wait list works!? I tried looking it up on Amazon but couldn't find it. I've never actually had the opportunity to purchase something I was wait listed for till today. I was trying to get the cheap Skylanders guys. I was on the wait list twice and didn't know it was available to me to purchase till it popped up and said "your time to purchase is expired" I had my cart open, the lightening deal page open, and I was checking them constantly. I got up to get my one son up and the other one a quick bowl of cereal. When I sat back down, there it was, saying I missed my chance!! How long do you have to purchase it like that? I know when you put a lightening deal in your cart you have 15 min. How does the wait list work? How do I know I am able to purchase it? So frustrating.

 

[JamesMom]

The way I figure it is that Amazon figures a % of people will not purchase the item in the 15 minute window so it allows people to be on the waitlist. When you click it will give you an indication of how much of a chance you got. Saturday I was waitlisted 'fair' and missed the deal for the Skylanders Swap.
The real problem with waitlist is that you have to hang around your computer waiting for the 'buy' button to appear. I think you have less than a minute to get it in your cart and 15 minutes while in your cart to buy it. It's list another lightening round. Snooze you lose.
After 15 minutes of being on waitlist - the item must have sold out; but Amazon does not clear your waitlist status. That is an annoying bug because the only reason you are on the waitlist is because the set quantity is in peoples cart and you are essentially in a queue waiting for the carts to time out and release the inventory. If 15 minutes have passed, then the deal is done, right? But Amazon keeps hope, falsely IMHO, alive by keeping the wait list option open.

 

[sydneysmom]

You have to keep a window open w/ Amazon because if you go on the waitlist, a box will pop up in the upper right corner telling you that your item is available and then you have to then choose to put it in your cart. You've got 15 min to add it to your cart and check out. I did this for the first time the other day w/ an American Girl dog that was on lightning deal... it was STRESSFUL ! but all of a sudden, that box popped up flashing and I added it immediately before it changed it's mind!

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

hmmmm, I don't really know what happened. Maybe I didn't have my window up far enough. I had it scrolled down so I could see the lightening deal, thinking it'd would show from "you are on the wait list" to something to tell me I could buy it. I never saw anything pop up until it popped up saying I missed it. Bummer. I'll have to pay much closer attention next time!

Thanks for the response. At least I have a better idea if it happens again!

 

[Arkum]

Not sure if you saw that the skylanders giants battle pack #1 is only 12.50 today for 3 figures on amazon. It includes the shroom guy that was on the lightning deal.

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

Not sure if you saw that the skylanders giants battle pack #1 is only 12.50 today for 3 figures on amazon. It includes the shroom guy that was on the lightning deal.

Excellent! Thanks a million!! I did not see this I'm totally new to this whole skylanders thing. The boys are really interested and I figured for the prices why not. But now I have to try and understand the figures too!

 

[tyniknate]

Think this is a huge gimmick for some of their items. Was waiting for the clock. Went directly from 1 second to waitlist to waitlist full. I did get to join the waitlist but I'm not holding out any hope.

Really? Did they have ONE item at that price? I won't be wasting my time with this type of deal anymore.

I did manage to get the Xbox One last week, so I won't totally write off Amazon.

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

Think this is a huge gimmick for some of their items. Was waiting for the clock. Went directly from 1 second to waitlist to waitlist full. I did get to join the waitlist but I'm not holding out any hope.

Really? Did they have ONE item at that price? I won't be wasting my time with this type of deal anymore.

I did manage to get the Xbox One last week, so I won't totally write off Amazon.

Yeah, you have to wonder sometimes don't you?! Most of the time I'm not interested in the "hot" items so I do fine. I just decided last minute to go ahead and get a skylanders game for the boys... then want to have at least a few other figures for them.

I still love Amazon!

 

[luvmy3]

It may not be the case that you were able to purchase it, it just may be that they time for the deal ran out before you were.
I was on the waitlist for something today and never got the chance to purchase it and got the same message when the lightning deal's time ended.

 

[GOOFY D]

Think this is a huge gimmick for some of their items. Was waiting for the clock. Went directly from 1 second to waitlist to waitlist full. I did get to join the waitlist but I'm not holding out any hope.

Really? Did they have ONE item at that price? I won't be wasting my time with this type of deal anymore.

I did manage to get the Xbox One last week, so I won't totally write off Amazon.

That happens ALOT! Amazon's "deals" can be very frustrating as they tend to be marketing gimmicks.

 

[Arkum]

I have been very lucky lately with the lightning deals. Every skylanders set I wanted, I managed to get. But they did say all were claimed within 2-3 minutes. I wish I Had convinced my son to ask for the giants skylanders set. I bought the starter set for $30 and have managed to get 11 more figures and have only spent $80. I'm saving it for later this year as a gift. He asked for the infinity

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

I have been very lucky lately with the lightning deals. Every skylanders set I wanted, I managed to get. But they did say all were claimed within 2-3 minutes. I wish I Had convinced my son to ask for the giants skylanders set. I bought the starter set for $30 and have managed to get 11 more figures and have only spent $80. I'm saving it for later this year as a gift. He asked for the infinity

NICE!! I was able to get more Skylanders guys yesterday no problem. I was waiting for them!! I had only just decided to get the game right after the first figures had gone "live" so I missed grabbing them up. My boys want Skylanders and Disney Infinity but the reviews for Inifinty on Wii are so bad I decided to stick with Skylanders. I got one for DS's Feb birthday and the other I'll give them for Christmas. I'm holding the guys for birthdays too. Our Disney trip coming up is our main Christmas... we'll be gone 3 weeks!