Amazon Ends Prime “Invite” Program
Amazon is shutting down its “Invite” program. This program allowed customers to request access to purchase limited-availability products. The program will officially end on October 21. No new invitations are being sent out.
The “Invite” program aimed to give regular customers a better chance to buy products that are often hard to find. These items are often in high demand. This includes items that are frequently resold at higher prices.
What Was the “Invite” Program?
The program was designed to help customers get access to specific products. Customers could request an “invitation” to buy the item. If selected, they would receive an email with a link to purchase the product.
The “Invite” program helped avoid issues with bots and resellers buying up all the stock. This gave regular shoppers a better chance. It also ensured that those genuinely wanting the product could purchase it at a fair price.
Products Offered Through the Program
The “Invite” program offered things like the PlayStation 5 gaming console. It also included certain name-brand PC graphics cards. Some hard-to-find collectibles were also offered.
Why is Amazon Ending the Program?
Amazon has not stated a specific reason for ending the program. The program likely served its purpose of controlling the distribution of highly sought-after items during periods of limited supply. Now that supply chain issues have improved, the program is no longer needed.
What Happens Now?
After October 21, the “Invite” program will no longer be available. Customers will need to purchase these high-demand items through the regular Amazon channels.
This means keeping an eye on product pages and being ready to purchase quickly when items become available. It is still important to watch out for inflated prices from third-party sellers.
Meanwhile, Amazon continues to offer other programs and services for its Prime members. These include free shipping, streaming video, and exclusive deals. Amazon is working on ways to improve the customer experience.
In addition, Amazon is likely exploring new ways to handle the sale of high-demand items in the future. This could involve different types of lotteries or waiting lists.
However, for now, the “Invite” program is coming to an end.
Source: usatoday.com
