[word-reader]

For all the people concerned about Amazon's business ethics here, stop buying your stuff on Amazon too. It used to be that Amazon had solid products and eBay was just a bunch of random sellers selling random things of unknown quality. Now Amazon is more like the latter than eBay is.

I love using eBay; it puts a bit of excitement back into e-commerce when you get packages from overseas -- the stamps, the names, the exotic goods. This year I ordered from 4 different countries things that weren't available in the US. But most products on eBay are shipped domestically, and they won't slow-roll your shipping for a week because you didn't pay for Prime.

[turtlebits]

eBay is too high barrier for me. For Amazon- the fact that shipping is fast and cheap/free and returns are easy outweighs any other seller for me.

My ebay thought process, which makes searching a chore..

- Returns will probably be a hassle so I really better want it. - Is it buy it now or do I have to bid? - Exorbitant shipping price or it's "freight" with no price - Shipping may require signature and I have to be at home - Checking seller reputation - Checking seller location

[velp]

Agreed - though recently I've had several packages from Amazon delivered FedEx with Sig Req'd. Can't seem to find a way to refuse this kind of shipping - FedEx regularly misses deliveries (just two weeks ago I had a signature required package where the driver left a note on my door...despite the front door being open, with me VISIBLE in the kitchen through the open door. I had my back to the door and was cooking lunch, waiting for the package, and the driver just noped out).

[Scramblejams]

Exactly! On Amazon I know I can get (most) anything I buy delivered very quickly and I can return anything without a hassle. eBay, on the other hand, presents an entirely different and multivariable risk model to the consumer.

It's a completely different experience.