'On-line' shopping...your choice

Jace

Jace

Well-known Member
Either...or

Amazon or eBay

It all started...back when...have gotten some good buys on eBay

No experience with Amazon

Your opinion... experience!
 

Amazon of course. I have literally bought countless items from them over the years. eBay? Absolutely nothing. Originally, it seemed that you had to bid on things on eBay. That was a turn off. If I want something, I'll buy it online. Bidding on it was totally stupid in my opinion. My older sister told me about her bidding on items and sometimes winning them. My response (to myself was), "Whoopie!"
 
I often lived far from shopping areas, or didn't have a car. Amazon was great for a few years.

But gradually they started putting too many restrictions on delivery methods. Couldn't deliver certain items to a post office box, which is/was my only mailing address. (Not my idea -- that's just how the post office does things.) Couldn't deliver some items to the island where I lived. Etc.

Very annoying to find this out after you've spent an hour carefully deciding which thing(s) to buy.

I think it's even worse now.

As @Paladin1950 said, eBay was originally an auction site. I wasn't interested in auctions, so I've never shopped there. (It has changed, but I've still never shopped there.)

I'm so turned off Amazon that now I'm tending to buy more from other companies. Many large and small companies sell online.

I'll only buy from companies that use the postal service. Too many problems with couriers, especially for cross-border purchases.
 

I quit eBay several years ago when I got stung on a purchase.
Could never return it
It went into arbitration
Thought, 'Now I'm gonna get some resolution'
Nobody to talk to
It's been well over 10 years
Pretty sure it's still in 'arbitration'

I use Amazon exclusively
They have never made an issue of any returns
My only gripe with them is their continued pestering me to join their Amazon Prime
They seem to try different ways to hide the no thanks button
I'd use Prime.....if I bought more online
I don't....yet
 
Started with eBay not long after they first started. I really liked it. However in recent years I have come to use Amazon a lot more.

I do sometimes price check on eBay, or go to eBay for things I can't find anywhere else. But eBay has gone from 90+% of my online buying 20+ years ago to less than 10% today.

I do some online shopping elsewhere, but probably no more than 10% total.
 
Yes, there are some auctions on ebay.. haven't had any luck with.
Some sellers have a "make offer" option..and that's how I've gotten some things are really good prices.
no problem..if item isn't right..have returned & gotten refund.
 
I don't buy my wife does. Depending on what she wants she will price shop Amazon, eBay & Walmart. Helpful is once in awhile Discover card will offer a full 5% on Amazon purchases. Naturally my wife will find something to use that cash back on:)
 
I mainly use eBay, but only from 'eBay stores' based in the UK. Too many items are direct from China.

Like others, I'm turned off by Amazon's constant pestering to use 'Prime'. For 1 or 2 items a year, it's not worth it. Even then, they insist on giving me a free 28 day trial which I have to cancel.
 
Use Amazon almost exclusively... altho' I price check against Ebay and occasionally Ebay wins, or some other online retailer..

I have Amazon Prime.. which is great value for me.. for an annual cost of £95 per year, I get free deliveries on everything regardless of the size.. same day delivery on some items as well but mostly next day delivery..

I get access to over 30,000 movies which I can watch online.. or on any one of my devices.. ipad, phone..TV..

Get unlimited access to over 1,000 ebooks and magazines..

Access to Prime music... and lots of other things.. so for my £7.91 per month.. I save on fuel and shoe leather going to the stores.. and while I'm waiting for my deliveries, I can choose to watch films, read books, and access music.. (y) ..win - win for me ..who orders a LOT from Amazon every year..

I used to sell a lot on Ebay, and began soon after it first appeared online as an Auction site .. and still occasionally buy if the item is cheaper on there.. but I stopped using it mainly when the odds were stacked against the seller.. and the fees also became too high. Now there's lots of other outlets to sell .. if one wishes to.. and many do..
 
I haven't used Amazon in years because they kept trying to trick me into joining their Prime. I don't order enough to pay me to join it. Now, I use Ebay and Walmart most of the time. When I use Ebay, I don't use the Auction choice. Instead, it is the Buy Now or it's worded something like that. Plus, I only purchase from sellers that has a high feedback rating. I read the feedback before I make my decision. So far, I haven't had any problems with them.
 
NorthernLight said:
I often lived far from shopping areas, or didn't have a car. Amazon was great for a few years.

But gradually they started putting too many restrictions on delivery methods. Couldn't deliver certain items to a post office box, which is/was my only mailing address. (Not my idea -- that's just how the post office does things.) Couldn't deliver some items to the island where I lived. Etc.
Click to expand...
I have the same problem. It started when carriers such as UPS and Fed Ex started switching things over to the post office for delivery, what they're calling "Sure Post". Amazon will deliver to my PO Box, but only items that are small.
 
This internet ignoramus has never purchased anything online. That's not quite true though. There was a hat that I wanted and after failing three times to fill out the gobble-de-gook gibberish, I gave up and phoned the store. The lady said that she could stop by my place on her way home, which she did and I paid her in cash. That's about the limit of my internet buying experience.
 
I use Amazon for new products. and eBay for used things. Amazon has products from the manufactures of the products. eBay has people selling something they happen to have. They don't have the knowledge of the products as the ones, who made them. And Amazon is great for returns. Also, eBay has a rep of ripping off people.
 
charry said:
never used E Bay as i dont do Pay Pal
but use amazon all the time....never had any trouble with them
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You can use a credit card at Ebay. You don't need Paypal at all to just shop at Ebay.

I've purchased from both Amazon and Ebay. I dropped Amazon 10 years ago for reasons that have nothing to do with their service. I still shop at Ebay which is cheaper even than buying at the local store and my order comes right to me so, no having to lift heavy items. I was burned a few times in 20 years on Ebay but filed claims and have never lost a case yet. Choosing sellers as close to where you live as possible and with the highest feedback score possible is the best way to deal with the 'Bay. I too prefer the "Buy it Now" feature over bidding which I found annoying. You can personalize Ebay to your taste.
 
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