eBay

keziak · ‎06-18-2018

For a long time I have made a point of ordering from ebay sellers, the smaller the better. But these days I find myself just ordering from Amazon Prime because it's so easy and I want the quick delivery and free shipping. If I do not care about that, I will try to find a bargain on ebay. Yikes, bargain-hunter with low loyalty to the site. I wonder if it's an epidemic.

emerald40 · ‎06-18-2018

@keziak wrote:
For a long time I have made a point of ordering from ebay sellers, the smaller the better. But these days I find myself just ordering from Amazon Prime because it's so easy and I want the quick delivery and free shipping. If I do not care about that, I will try to find a bargain on ebay. Yikes, bargain-hunter with low loyalty to the site. I wonder if it's an epidemic.

Unless you have a lot of disposable income then it is a necessity.

And even if I had it I still would not waste money either.

I stated this in another thread, some sellers are becoming very greedy with their shipping charge. Their right of course. And like you, it is my right to go elsewhere, which I have been doing more and more lately.

castlemagicmemories · ‎06-18-2018

In my opinion, I doubt it is an epidemic. Ebay has a much greater variety and better prices than Amazon. Free shipping isn't a perk if you can't find what you want, or if the higher prices to have free shipping are higher in the long run than if you paid purchase price and shipping on Ebay. Free shipping does you no good if you pay more for it in the long run, or you can't find what you are looking for.

Those that just go by FREE SHIPPING and don't compare may not be getting the deal they think they are. They are letting FREE SHIPPING cloud their perception and not doing their buyer's due diligence.

Which listing is better? $35.00 with free shipping, or $20.00 with $8.00 shipping. I know which one is, but others may be blinded by preconceived notions that aren't true.

Most items aren't so crucial that quick delivery is an issue~and many buyers state this as well.

the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth · ‎06-18-2018

I agree about the shipping charges. Some sellers are charging $10-15 for something that would ship in a padded flat rate envelope. I don't mind paying a couple of bucks handling but I think it's ridiculous that they charge that much and give it to the Post Office.

rixstuff · ‎06-18-2018

Are you sure you are buyer FROM AMAZON? Too many people dont understand that their seller is just a small guy like us using Amazon instead of Ebay. In fact, you may find that many sellers on Amazon are also sellers HERE.

castlemagicmemories · ‎06-18-2018

Just want to add that many don't care for Amazon or its' format.

the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth · ‎06-18-2018

I don't buy from third party sellers on Amazon. They have a horrendous track record. I've had a much higher proportion of bad transactions from sellers there. It may be because of the shared inventory in fulfillment.

Even Amazon Warehouse. I bought a like new suitcase before vacation. It arrived a couple of days before and the frame was bent. It was obviously shipped that way.

So I only buy new from Amazon themselves. Just got free next day shipping on a coffee maker to replace the one I broke this morning

emerald40 · ‎06-18-2018

@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:
I agree about the shipping charges. Some sellers are charging $10-15 for something that would ship in a padded flat rate envelope. I don't mind paying a couple of bucks handling but I think it's ridiculous that they charge that much and give it to the Post Office.

They are not giving it to the Post Office. They are pocketing the money.

I have seen where some readily admit that is where the real money is - padding the shipping and handling cost.

hioctane62 · ‎06-18-2018

Ebay would like us to comply with all their wishes so they can compete with prime, but most of us small sellers simply can't afford ebay's latest wish (free returns). I'm so tired of ebay using blackmail and threats to have their way with sellers. Here's one side affect of free returns: Since many of my items no longer qualify for the TRS+ discount, I am changing some items from 30 day returns to NO returns. Light bulbs is one example.

The only way ebay could EVER compete with prime is to put their own money on the table, instead of wanting us to lay our money out so they can benefit.

keziak · ‎06-18-2018

@rixstuff wrote:
Are you sure you are buyer FROM AMAZON? Too many people dont understand that their seller is just a small guy like us using Amazon instead of Ebay. In fact, you may find that many sellers on Amazon are also sellers HERE.

Amazon Prime is Amazon itself, unless it's a book from Fulfillment by Amazon. I do not run across those much for what I am looking to buy.

My point was a 2-fer, competing with free shipping but also the fast delivery using UPS. As a seller I am not competitive with that. Even Priority mail sometimes takes longer. Lately I find myself thinking idly that I'd like to have X. I check on Amazon, find the price decent with free shipping and Prime delivery and BAM, I order. No need to get into the car and drive around to see if I can find it locally. I find myself disinterested in looking for the same things on ebay in part because I do not expect such fast delivery there.

Like today my daughter needs some books for her college course that began today. BAM, Prime orders and she'll have them in 2 days. I don't want her to wait several days coming from a third-party seller, sorry guys (and me, as a seller!).

pburn · ‎06-18-2018

@keziak wrote:
For a long time I have made a point of ordering from ebay sellers, the smaller the better. But these days I find myself just ordering from Amazon Prime because it's so easy and I want the quick delivery and free shipping. If I do not care about that, I will try to find a bargain on ebay. Yikes, bargain-hunter with low loyalty to the site. I wonder if it's an epidemic.

Amazon Prime is free? I thought it was $120/year, whether I use it or not.

luckythewinner · ‎06-18-2018

@keziak wrote:
But these days I find myself just ordering from Amazon Prime because it's so easy
bargain-hunter with low loyalty to the site. I wonder if it's an epidemic.

Bargain hunters generally do not have loyalty to a particular site - heck, the word hunt is part of the name.

That aside ...

The best insulation for eBay sellers is to not sell things bargain hunters can get with Prime ...

keziak · ‎06-18-2018

I should check more of my orders to see how many are available only from third-parties, not Amazon itself. It may be revealing. I do sell a lot of books that are specialized and technical and many are out of print now.

agent006140 · ‎06-18-2018

I am not a prime member,but I recently ordered an Irobot battery from AMZN ,free shipping 2-3 days and I have to cancel it as it would take AMZN 3-4 weeks to ship.

I have a generic one which I bought on Ebay for 1/3 the price,but I want another one,a genuine one,and so I thought I would buy from AMZN.

It makes no difference whether you are prime or not,AMZN does not have it in stock,same thing happens to some digestive enzyme which AMZN sells at deep discount,OUT OF STOCK.

But I found them on Ebay .

I think this prime business is overrated,for the last 6 months,most of the items I ordered on internet come from small vendors,they all beat AMZN price.,