You know the feeling. You fill up your online shopping cart, get second thoughts, and close the tab. Then, within hours — sometimes minutes — your inbox lights up with a subject line that feels almost personal. "Did you forget something?"
You didn't forget. But it turns out that waiting can actually save you money.
How Dynamic Pricing Bots Target Abandoned Carts
New research from web data company Decodo reveals that those discount emails are not random. According to Fortune, Decodo tracked more than 1,500 products across 120 retailers in over 40 countries throughout 2025. The study found that cart abandonment discounts follow highly predictable patterns based on the retail category.
This means retailers are using dynamic pricing — algorithms that adjust prices in real time based on your behavior — to win you back. When you abandon a cart, the system flags you as a potential lost sale and sends a discount to lure you back.
Shoppers Can Use These Patterns to Their Advantage
The good news is that shoppers who understand these patterns can use them to get better deals. According to Yahoo Shopping, the same algorithm designed to win you back can work in your favor — if you know how to play the game.
Decodo Product noted, "You can both win and lose." The catch is that your browsing history and shopping behavior determine whether you get a good discount or a weak one.
The Strategy: Abandon Your Cart on Purpose
To put it plainly: if you want a discount, leave items in your cart and wait. The bots will likely send you an offer within hours. But be careful — if you have been browsing too aggressively or returning items frequently, the algorithm may offer you less.
The key is to abandon carts selectively and only for items you genuinely want. This way, you signal to the retailer that you are interested but not desperate, which can trigger a better discount.
Our Take: Dynamic Pricing Is a Two-Way Street
In our view, this research confirms what many savvy shoppers already suspected: online prices are not fixed. They shift based on who you are and what you do. Retailers have been using this against consumers for years. Now, shoppers have a clear strategy to fight back.
But there is a warning here too. The same data that helps you get a discount can also be used to charge you more. If you browse expensive items on a work laptop or shop from a wealthy neighborhood, the algorithm may decide you can afford to pay full price.
The smartest move? Use a clean browser, compare prices across devices, and never be afraid to walk away from a cart. The bots will follow — and often, they will bring a discount with them.
