[bp243]

Ebay and Amazon are very different and serve different purposes. For one, with Amazon Prime everything is new, a set price and the item is usually delivered within a day or two. In addition, the delivery is free as well as the return. Ebay, on the other hand, can be a new or used item, you can Buy Now or bid on an item that takes several days, there may be a shipping fee, and some sellers accept returns but you pay for that service, There are some really good prices if you have a specific item in mind, but buying and selling is loosely done on eBay with limited oversight. I’ve used both for different reasons, but Amazon is my daily go-to for everything.

[Joe C.]

EBay uses PayPal. PayPal is, I believe, a Russian owned company.

[JohnN]

I use Ebay and Amazon all the time and have for many years. You can find better deals on Ebay because it's not really a retail only site like Amazon (although they have lots of retailers on it). That said, I almost always comparison shop, plus I read the Amazon reviews.

On occasion, I need to return something on either vendor and it's mostly not a problem. On rare occasion there's a screw up but gets fixed.

[Rzepecki]

I’m not a shopper and make most of my purchases online, including Prime and eBay. If payment via PayPal is an option, I use that rather than giving many merchants my credit card number. My PayPal account uses my credit card for payment, therefore, I have credit card protection as well as PayPal’s protections. Only once have I had a dispute with a seller and PayPal refunded my money. I certainly do not make purchases exclusively through Prime as their selection of merchandise and their prices are not always the best.

[HelenLCSW]

Originally Posted by mneumann02

I have been an avid Amazon Prime user, especially these last 5 months with trying to limit my going to stores. I have never used eBay and wondered what peoples' opinions were of Amazon Prime vs. eBay- such things as bargains, confidence in the product, ease of use, hidden charges such as shipping, etc.

They are two totally different entities. I have bought jewelry on eBay at very good prices. I buy almost everything else thru Amazon Prime —not only good products at good prices but I get a considerable amount of money back.

[ithos]

Amazon does have advantages. Amazon has the largest number of reviews. Always check the 3 star reviews. And you can also check the history of the reviewer to see if they are credible or a compensated shill. Also you can compare similar products much quicker. If you find something you like then you can price check other options.

Some vendors have products on both platforms and eBay is usually cheaper. I recently saved $3.00 on a product costing $75.00 . Nothing major but adds up if you shop online frequently.

I highly recommend checking Best Buy if they carry the same items. On Amazon and Ebay you have to worry about used and counterfeit items. Plus there is a local store to return items. I also find that the reviews are more accurate and legitimate.

A big plus for Amazon is that the returns are incredibly easy. You just take the item back to a UPS store and they do the packing.

[HelenLCSW]

Originally Posted by Joe C.

EBay uses PayPal. PayPal is, I believe, a Russian owned company.

Actually, a percentage of PayPal is owned by eBay —I don’t think any Russians are involved —

[kanoa1kale2]

Originally Posted by mneumann02

I have been an avid Amazon Prime user, especially these last 5 months with trying to limit my going to stores. I have never used eBay and wondered what peoples' opinions were of Amazon Prime vs. eBay- such things as bargains, confidence in the product, ease of use, hidden charges such as shipping, etc.

I use Amazon extensively and their protection system is very good. They allow returns and adjustments when necessary and are very fair in their procedures. Ebay has a protection system in place as well and I usually pay through paypal which also has a good protection system. I've had to return articles with both purchase types and have never had an issue. Always check the reviews and seller ratings before ordering as this reduces the number of problems you might encounter.

[2Jays]

Love EBay. Just make sure you read the description of items and return policy. Look for Free Shipping. Much cheaper 80% - 90% of the time than Amazon. Have used both for years. Ebay is very reliable. Also look for the seller- You want one that 99-100% satisfaction. Hoping this helps

[msilagy]

When I find an item I want I check prices on Ebay and Amazon. I don't have prime tho. I have returned things on eBay but these were products that either didn't work or flawed. Ebay gives you a chance to email the seller and a week or 10 days for them to respond and make it right such as refund or replacement. If the seller doesn't there's a money back guarantee and eBay gets involved to rectify the situation. I've returned a few items and never have I seen a seller let eBay get involved because they don't want their rating to go down which is visible to the buyer. I always use BUY NOW button. Ebay will ship a $2.95 item free whereas with amazon I need the $35 minimum. Amazon of course has an excellent return policy and very easy to work with. Ebay doesn't give you return labels so if you don't like something but the item is ok you could be stuck with it. I use both sources and am pleased doing so. I am a price shopper and compare the prices on both before I decide.

[Mikec041]

Depending on what you buy on Ebay it may not be warrantied. Most warranties require purchase through an "Authorized Retailer" and Ebay does not necessarily fit the bill. Also many products purchased on E-Bay come from other countries especially China w/o saying so. That being said IF as mentioned earlier some sellers sell on both platforms and by comparing prices you may save a few bucks using E-Bay. I get auto parts from dealers from E-Bay for MUCH less than over the counter and never had an issue.

[airstreamingypsy]

I have over 350 sales and purchases on ebay, never a problem. When I want something, I check Amazon, Walmart and ebay..... always check to see the seller's feedback. That will tell you that they are good sellers.

[chrissy2231]

Ebay may be cheaper on some items and no shipping charge. Be careful - they show false pictures, China products take a bazillion years to arrive. I bought double sided tape. The photo looked like normal 3/8". Taped arrived 1/16" from China which took 2 months. Have bought other things cheaper than Amazon. Penny wise dollar foolish. The small savings is not worth the searching.

[stadry]

use eBay for conc repair equipment - diamond blades, saws, vacs - evenshirts & hats,,, we've equipped 2 locations totaling over $10K ea mostly via eBay w/o ANY issues,,, always less $ than amazon,,, pp's int free if pd w/i 6mos OR can use cr crds w/no rights diminished,,, bought by eB & listed on nasdag ( pypl ),,, great buy when 1st avail

[DonnaNi4os]

I have bought and sold on eBay and never had a problem. You can get great bargains and find things there that you won’t find elsewhere. Etsy is a great place to buy handmade gifts. I have shopped Etsy.com for years. Also take advantage of Rakuten. You do get cash back on qualified purchases every 3 months.