Different between selling at Ebay and Amazon

22 replies
I had tried Ebay before and sold some old stuff, but what are the different between these two? People expect second hand in Ebay but new stuff in Amazon? Amazon is mainly USA but Ebay is more worldwide?
#amazon #ebay #selling
  • Profile picture of the author PHR
    Originally Posted by crunchor View Post

    I had tried Ebay before and sold some old stuff, but what are the different between these two? People expect second hand in Ebay but new stuff in Amazon? Amazon is mainly USA but Ebay is more worldwide?

    1.) The Service!

    Most products from amazon are sent by amazon or by amazon sellers which have pretty hard rules in terms of shippment time.

    On eBay if you win an auction or buy something for a fix price, you will never get a service like amazon ones...

    "Amazon is mainly USA but Ebay is more worldwide?"

    Amazon is Worldwide also! They make huge revenues outside of the USA like in germany, italy, belgium, etc. Think about europe, there are nearly a half billion people!
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    • Profile picture of the author crunchor
      Originally Posted by PHR View Post

      1.) The Service!

      Most products from amazon are sent by amazon or by amazon sellers which have pretty hard rules in terms of shippment time.

      On eBay if you win an auction or buy something for a fix price, you will never get a service like amazon ones...

      "Amazon is mainly USA but Ebay is more worldwide?"

      Amazon is Worldwide also! They make huge revenues outside of the USA like in germany, italy, belgium, etc. Think about europe, there are nearly a half billion people!
      So if I sell stuff in Amazon, I need to send the stuff to Amazon first?
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      • Profile picture of the author PHR
        Originally Posted by crunchor View Post

        So if I sell stuff in Amazon, I need to send the stuff to Amazon first?
        Hi crunchor,

        you have 2 options:

        1.) Amazon FBA Programm

        The FBA programm from amazon stands for "Fullfillment By Amazon".
        You have to label every single product you want to sell on amazon => pack it => send it to one of the amazon warehouses.

        After that, your articles will be available for sale on Amazon.

        If someone buys the product: Amazon will pack your product => send it to the customer => You pay some fees for that to amazon and the rest is your profit ($$$). They even handle the customer support which can be a pretty time consuming effort, if you would do it yourself.

        2.) Amazon Seller (You send it from your homebase...)

        The second option is to advertise your products on the amazon website and if you are getting a sale. You have to pack the article and send it to the customer. Also you have to support your customer if he has any questions or wants a refund! Therefore amazon will take a piece of the revenue for themeselve.

        Regards,
        Peter H.
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  • Profile picture of the author geeksonrepair
    Banned
    In Amazon before selling you need to send stuff to it.
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    • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
      Originally Posted by geeksonrepair View Post

      In Amazon before selling you need to send stuff to it.
      No. You only need to send your inventory to Amazon if you are going to participate in their FBA program. Otherwise, you just sell stuff like normal and ship the products sold to your buyers right from your home.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        So if I sell stuff in Amazon, I need to send the stuff to Amazon first?
        Actually - before you sell stuff ANYWHERE - you need to go to the sales site and read the instructions to learn the methods in which you can use that site to "sell stuff".

        Boost your sales with Amazon’s world-class fulfillment.

        https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/homepage.html
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  • Profile picture of the author MMartin89
    To me personally, amazon means some really serious business and longevity in comparison, but of course that's just my opinion..
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Ebay is better. Amazon can close your account at the job of a dime, and seize all your money. It doesn't matter if you have 100% feedback score. Ebay is incredibly easy to get sales, and you can sell whatever you want. It's easy to list items for sale on Amazon, but i've always made sales faster on Ebay than on Amazon.

    But i will say this..... Amazon takes care of their customers. They're the only company i've seen ever who will do anything just to make a customer happy. Even if it means closing down your $3,000/month operation.
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  • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
    I'm 100% certain Amazon has never closed down someone's operation because a single customer complained.
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  • Profile picture of the author vishwa
    Yes, I am also agree that Amazon has some hard rules to sell stuffs online. While eBay is widely used by people. Amazon also high seller fees compare to eBay.
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    • Profile picture of the author crunchor
      Originally Posted by vishwa View Post

      Yes, I am also agree that Amazon has some hard rules to sell stuffs online. While eBay is widely used by people. Amazon also high seller fees compare to eBay.
      Ebay fee is already very high, I remember last time ebay charged me like 30% of my sold price.
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      • Profile picture of the author HarrisAndrea
        I'm selling stuff on both ebay and amazon. Amazon has more customers and selling better than ebay. However they have much stricter rules for sellers compared to ebay.
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  • Profile picture of the author DWaters
    Amazon does have stricter rules to follow and IMO that makes it better (not worse) than ebay. It results in a better experience for both buyer and seller.

    For example a new product being sold via FBA is actually a brand new factory sealed item. On ebay sellers often say an item is NEW when it is not close to being new. Refunds are also a pain in the neck with ebay while it is very simple with Amazon.
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    • Profile picture of the author crunchor
      Originally Posted by DWaters View Post

      Amazon does have stricter rules to follow and IMO that makes it better (not worse) than ebay. It results in a better experience for both buyer and seller.

      For example a new product being sold via FBA is actually a brand new factory sealed item. On ebay sellers often say an item is NEW when it is not close to being new. Refunds are also a pain in the neck with ebay while it is very simple with Amazon.
      Sound like Amazon is good for buyer and big retail brand, but not small retail sellers like us.
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      • Profile picture of the author DWaters
        Originally Posted by crunchor View Post

        Sound like Amazon is good for buyer and big retail brand, but not small retail sellers like us.
        Yes Amazon is very good for the buyer of course, as for big retail brands that is also a yes, as most big brands have some type of presence there.

        As for small retail seller (which I would include myself) I think it is excellent. For one thing, as a seller you are also an Amazon "customer" in their eyes. Since they earn a comission off your sales so it is in their best interest to take good care of their sellers. Also the small seller has a somewhat even playing field with larger sellers, the same great exposure to the buying public on their site and the same excellent customer service is provided to all Amazon customers.
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        • Profile picture of the author crunchor
          Originally Posted by DWaters View Post

          Yes Amazon is very good for the buyer of course, as for big retail brands that is also a yes, as most big brands have some type of presence there.

          As for small retail seller (which I would include myself) I think it is excellent. For one thing, as a seller you are also an Amazon "customer" in their eyes. Since they earn a comission off your sales so it is in their best interest to take good care of their sellers. Also the small seller has a somewhat even playing field with larger sellers, the same great exposure to the buying public on their site and the same excellent customer service is provided to all Amazon customers.
          If a small retail has own unique product, yes. If just "trade", "resell" of something, no.
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  • Profile picture of the author asd335
    I am a seller on both ebay and amazon...
    ebay is more price sensitive than amazon...I list same item on both marketplaces, but i charge $3 more on amazon because of the FBA and fee...
    ebay is more price sensitive...if you want to sell on ebay, you have to offer a lower price.
    amazon is more like ranking sensitive, if you want to make sales on amazon, you need to work on your photos, your listing seo, your service etc..

    as far as the customers, i have to say...ebay customers seems need more education...they don't know how to treat people...kinda like yelling to you all the time...i got over 70 emails a day on ebay, and 10 emails a day on amazon, polly because amazon customer service takes care most of the inquires.

    what is your sales goal. what kind products are you trying to sell? if you can provide more information, i can help you more
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    • Profile picture of the author crunchor
      Originally Posted by asd335 View Post

      I am a seller on both ebay and amazon...
      ebay is more price sensitive than amazon...I list same item on both marketplaces, but i charge $3 more on amazon because of the FBA and fee...
      ebay is more price sensitive...if you want to sell on ebay, you have to offer a lower price.
      amazon is more like ranking sensitive, if you want to make sales on amazon, you need to work on your photos, your listing seo, your service etc..

      as far as the customers, i have to say...ebay customers seems need more education...they don't know how to treat people...kinda like yelling to you all the time...i got over 70 emails a day on ebay, and 10 emails a day on amazon, polly because amazon customer service takes care most of the inquires.

      what is your sales goal. what kind products are you trying to sell? if you can provide more information, i can help you more
      Have a look and please give suggestion:
      [Grey] http://hjewel.com/
      I am at Hong Kong and live in HK. My advantage is I can import products from China easily and can speak English to sell in foreign market. Disadvantage is I am in HK, shipping takes sometimes.
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  • Profile picture of the author steveburns
    I will have to admit that my dying venture in Amazon and ebay got a life saving CPR from ChannelSale. The process of integrating my business with these top marketplaces has actually been profitable. Just about everything, starting from better traffic inflow to management of orders and inventory has been happening with smoothness that I only once read about!
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  • Profile picture of the author RichardAtVeeqo
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    • Profile picture of the author crunchor
      Originally Posted by RichardAtVeeqo View Post

      Amazon is certainly a more professional platform and around 55% of sellers on it tend to make a profit margin of 20% of more, which is lower on eBay.

      Amazon also gets about 3 x as many product searches than Google's search engine, so if you can get your item to the top then you are laughing.

      Much more possibilities with Amazon. Another fact worth noting, 4 x as many people make a million quid on Amazon as opposed to eBay! Best of luck.
      Most of the sellers in Amazon are big brand, while almost all sellers in Ebay are small retail or personal sellers, of course Amazon sellers make more money.
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  • Profile picture of the author TexasSteve
    Ebay is definitely world wide. I would just recommend ebay altogether as it is best for both small time sellers as well as bigger ones. Amazon is definitely geared toward big time sellers.
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    • Profile picture of the author crunchor
      Originally Posted by TexasSteve View Post

      Ebay is definitely world wide. I would just recommend ebay altogether as it is best for both small time sellers as well as bigger ones. Amazon is definitely geared toward big time sellers.
      I agree, except someone over here has a brand and not a small now, amazon would not be as effective as ebay for individual retail seller.
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