How to avoid being pushed overpriced items when shopping on e-commerce platforms? Practical tips for Pinduoduo and Taobao.

OnE-commerceWhen you buy things on a platform, are you always being pushed expensive items? Actually, there is a precise algorithm behind it.

The platform will tag you based on your search habits and browsing behavior to decide whether to push high-priced products or coupons.

This article reveals the push mechanism of e-commerce platforms, teaching you how to avoid overpriced recommendations, get more practical discounts, and make shopping smarter and more economical.

Do you think you have free choice on e-commerce platforms? Actually, you've already been tagged by the system.

The recommendation logic of e-commerce platforms is far more complex than you might imagine.

It doesn't push notifications randomly; it's precisely calculated.

When you type "Rolls-Royce", "Cartier", or "Moutai" into the search box, the system immediately labels you as a "high-potential consumer".

Therefore, the products you see next are often the ones with higher prices and greater profit margins.

This is not a coincidence, but an inevitable consequence of big data.

The Secret of E-commerce Platform "Labeling"

The core of an e-commerce platform's algorithm is user profiling.

Every search, click, add-to-cart action, and even the time spent on a task is recorded.

If you frequently browse luxury goods, the system will assume you have purchasing power.

It won't waste resources showing you socks that cost a few dollars; instead, it's more inclined to display bags that cost thousands.

This is what is known as "precision marketing".

Conversely, if you always search for "cheap," "discount," or "offer," the system will categorize you as a "price-sensitive person."

This group of people is characterized by their willingness to place orders as long as there are coupons available.

Therefore, the platform will constantly push discounts, spending reductions, and large coupons to stimulate your consumption.

Why do you always feel that platforms are "price gouging" on loyal customers?

Many people complain that when booking hotels and flights, the price increases the more they refresh the page.

This is actually the platform's dynamic pricing strategy (similar to Pinduoduo, etc.).TaobaoThey are different recommendation algorithms.

It will determine whether you "urgently need" something based on your search frequency and dwell time.

If you repeatedly search for hotels on the same date, the system will assume you must book one.

As a result, prices will gradually rise, forcing you to place an order as soon as possible.

This is what is known as "ripping off familiar customers".

A smarter approach is to search for different dates and locations to confuse the system's judgment.

In this way, it cannot accurately target your needs, and naturally it will not easily raise prices.

User experience sharing: How to get more discounts?

One netizen shared their strategy:

If you see an item you like on Pinduoduo, don't buy it immediately.

I click in every day to take a look, browsing repeatedly, but I just don't place an order.

You can even uninstall the app and reinstall it a few days later.

As a result, the platform will offer you large coupons in an attempt to win you back.

Some people say that if you add items to your shopping cart and check them twice a day, you can receive a large coupon worth tens of yuan after a few days.

These are all part of the platform's "recall strategy".

It's willing to sacrifice some profit just to get you to complete the transaction.

Psychological tactics of e-commerce platforms

The recommendation logic of e-commerce platforms is essentially a psychological battle.

It uses data analysis to accurately capture your consumption habits.

such as:

• If you frequently add items to your favorites but don't buy them, the system will assume you're hesitant.
• If you repeatedly browse the same product, the system will assume you have a strong interest.
• If you stay on a page for a long time, the system will assume that you are seriously considering it.

These behaviors will trigger the platform's "incentive mechanism".

As a result, coupons, discounts for spending over a certain amount, and limited-time offers will appear one after another.

You think you've gotten a good deal, but actually the platform is guiding you to complete the transaction.

Why do platforms prefer to promote expensive products?

There are two reasons behind recommending expensive products.

First, the profit margin is higher.

Luxury goods and branded products have much higher gross profit margins than ordinary goods.

The platform naturally wants you to buy these.

Second, user segmentation.

Platforms need to segment users into different levels to operate more effectively.

For high-spending users, we recommend premium products; for price-sensitive users, we recommend coupons.

This layered logic maximizes the utilization of the platform's resources.

How can I avoid being recommended expensive products?

If you don't want the system to identify you as "rich," you need to pay attention to your search habits.

Search less for luxury keywords and browse more affordable products.

When shopping, you can add items to your favorites or shopping cart first, but don't place an order immediately.

The system will then interpret this as a sign of hesitation and push more offers to you.

Additionally, when booking hotels and flights, you can search for different dates and locations to avoid the system precisely targeting your needs.

These tips can help you shop smarter on e-commerce platforms.

Conclusion: The battle between consumer wisdom and algorithms

The recommendation logic of e-commerce platforms may seem cold and impersonal, but it is actually full of psychological games.

It incorporates each user into the data model through tagging and stratification.

The products you see are not random, but the result of precise calculations.

In this era of big data, consumers need to learn to think in reverse.

Don't passively accept push notifications; instead, actively control your consumption pace.

As哲学As some have said, reason is humanity's most powerful weapon.

Only by remaining rational in the face of e-commerce platform algorithms can one truly achieve "consumer freedom".

Final summary

• E-commerce platforms will tag users based on their search habits.
• Searching for luxury keywords can easily lead to being identified as a high-spending consumer, resulting in the recommendation of expensive products.
• Searching for cheap items will categorize you as a price-sensitive person, giving you access to more coupons.
• Hotel and flight bookings are subject to dynamic pricing, and frequent searches can lead to price increases.
• Adding items to your favorites or shopping cart, repeatedly browsing them, and not placing an order immediately can trigger the platform's promotional strategies.

The importance of this topic lies in the fact that consumption is not just about spending money, but also a game of strategy against algorithms.

Only by learning to take the initiative can one truly find their own "smart consumption" within the recommendation logic of e-commerce platforms.

Take action! Try these methods next time you shop, and you'll find that discounts and freedom are truly in your own hands.