[fuball63]

I was of a similar mind this year, but when I went to Walmart's website, they had 3rd party sellers on there too. It is really annoying, especially with the pandemic, trying to sift through all the trash online.

I ended up buying we webcam from BestBuy.com, because a webcam I got from Amazon was pay-for-review and was utter garbage.

Just more evidence, to me, that the era of internet business models being "get everything online" (Amazon, Spotify, Steam) is closing, and the era of online aggregation as a product is just beginning.

[hanklazard]

I've also found myself buying a lot of things from Best Buy, something I would have scoffed at 5-7 years ago. These days, I just want to know that I'm getting a genuine (vs replica) product and most of the time I can go pick-up my purchase same day, solving the "fast shipping" problem.

[coldpie]

Since NewEgg started up their 3rd party seller program, I've also switched to Best Buy. Running out of places to buy from that aren't flooded with trash.

[kabdib]

One 3rd party seller on NewEgg has been ripping off customers for years. (You order something from them -- say, a mouse -- and they find some shitty used product on Ebay or someplace and ship that to you. Getting a refund can be a challenge).

Multiple complaints (including contacting the CEO of NewEgg) haven't removed this bad actor. So I just assume that this practice of retaining terrible 3rd parties reflects NewEgg's true* extent of their caring for customers, and I don't buy stuff from them anymore.

[ethbr0]

Aka "the Etsy effect" (lowering the bar for new sellers results in a flood of bad-faith sellers)

[mcpherrinm]

BestBuy has added third party sellers online too: https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/about/selling-on-marketplace/bl...

Though they don’t seem to have many yet, I did run across it recently. In-store pickup items are still seemingly safe though.

[thwarted]

This is the trend because the existence of the brand's website as a multi-seller marketplace is considered more valuable/higher ROI than the actual direct selling of items. And that's a reasonable view considering most of what is being sold is commodity and prices, thus margin, having downward pressure. The e-commerce website gets a positive reputation and a brand is built for being a good place to buy things, so it expands into being a hosting platform other sellers, with the intent of drawing more customers based on the brand reputation.

[jamiek88]

At the risk of long term diluting that brand reputation.

[thwarted]

Yes, but the brand, being non-tangible, has stronger staying power as the platform marketplace expands to encompass more sellers. The brand then becomes more powerful as it eats up the reputation of the individual sellers.

Additionally, no one gives a crap about long-term anymore. Scorched earth, grab what you can, screw everyone else and all that.

[coldpie]

Seems to not be on the US site, for now, but that's very discouraging to see. I don't know where to turn for electronics if Best Buy goes to crap, too.

(I smell a market opportunity for a retailer that sells only quality products...)

[lotsofpulp]

Adding third party sellers is not a problem. Removing the ability to filter for items sold by the retailer, and commingling inventory with random resellers is the problem.

[bradfa]

I’ve started buying electronics from B&H Photo and Provantage recently. So far I’ve been very happy and the prices are reasonable.

[bandhphoto]

Thank you. -- Henry Posner / B&H Photo-Video

[scioto]

> Since NewEgg started up their 3rd party seller program, I've also switched to Best Buy. Running out of places to buy from that aren't flooded with trash.

I still buy from NewEgg, but the first thing I do when I hit the search results is to click the Sold by Newegg button. Might be a few bucks more, but at least I'm getting the real deal ... at least so far.

[treis]

NewEgg screwed me out of a monitor. I wouldn't trust them as as retailer anymore. That's from someone who used to buy all their computer stuff through them.

[jonnycomputer]

Did NewEgg do that? Damn. Irritated with Walmart for the same reason. I want to know what I'm getting, dammit.

[brewdad]

I've shifted a lot of purchases to Best Buy as well. I also ordered far more products directly from the manufacturer's web site this year. Many offer the same free shipping if you are buying anything of value.

I figure if Netgear sends me a fake switch when ordering directly from them it's time to give up on capitalism.

[zucked]

Searching out the manufacturer (assuming there is a brand behind the product and not just an Amazon shop) has made my recent efforts, too. A surprising number of times, the item is cheaper from the manufacturer, and they offer free shipping or a coupon for further discount. I imagine that works out for the buyer and seller - I get a genuine product at their chosen price, and they get to keep fees that would have otherwise gone to Amazon.

[bombcar]

I avoid marketplace sellers like the plague - usually you can do a "ships and sold" or "pickup today" to weed them out.