I have bought and sold on eBay for years. It is safe if you do your due diligence on the seller. Don’t just go by the rating, actually read the reviews and pay attention to what kind of support they provide. Every seller will have a problem here and there, but it is how they handle it when it happens that really counts. eBay itself also provides protection against any seller who misrepresented their item when you bought it. And get a PayPal account if you do buy on eBay. Besides being the simplest way to buy on eBay, it is the safest.

You might also want to check out Walmart.com. We have been finding items there cheaper than on Prime at times, and they offer free shipping on orders of $35.00 or more and many items have 2 day delivery included - and no membership fee to get either.

[KRM0614]

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’ve used EBay for 20 yrs and barring a few unethical sellers had great experience. Amazon prices increased 10-100% to screw us during covid

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by deestatham@aol.com

I’m an avid Amazon Prime user too. In my humble opinion, Amazon Prime is superior.
I’ve never had a problem with Amazon. They are on top of their game. So in my humble opinion, Amazon Prime wins.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I love Amazon and I buy almost everything from them. But, when I buy something online, a low price is not my primary concern. I really don't know much about eBay, but I would give it a try only if the seller will accept a direct credit card payment. I don't like Paypal, have never used it, and I never will use it. To me, it is a way for merchants to take away my Federal credit card legal protection rights. I think that a reputable merchant should deal directly with the customer, and not need to hide behind Paypal. I may buy something from eBay some day, but only if Paypal is not involved in the transaction.

I’ve been using PayPal for years, and it is great. It’s very easy to use, and it is secure. I buy things from private sellers who aren’t set up to take credit cards, and I sell things to the same sort of people. That’s why PayPal is perfect for eBay. I also use it to send money to friends or relatives.

I can remember back when if I sold something on eBay, I might have to wait a week for a check to arrive, then another week for the check to clear, and then ship the package. With PayPal, the company informs me when the payment arrives and it is safe to ship, and that is usually at once. It is easy to transfer the money to my checking account. PayPal is essentially an escrow account, with the company taking the risk in return for a small fee.

[retiredguy123]

If PayPal is so great as some posters have said, why don't stores like Home Depot, Best Buy, Publix, restaurants, small shops, etc, require their customers to use PayPal? I buy a lot of things in stores and online, but I have never been required to use PayPal. But, as I understand it, almost everything you buy on eBay must go through PayPal, even from large venders.

[davefin]

Both very good. Returns easier on Amazon . Better bargains on ebay

[Boston1945]

Been using E-Bay since day one.Have purchased just about every thing from A-Z. Not just small items.How about six cars and trucks. It's like any thing else in this world.You have to read the small print. Never had one bad experience on any purchase. You do not have to use Pay-Pal for any purchase..You just check off the box for credit card and enter your card info.

[Finchs]

Originally Posted by Northerner52

I use both but mostly from Amazon. This week I googled an item I was going to buy on Amazon and Google found it at half the price at Target. Walmart is also frequently less expensive. Good idea to use Google shopping to compare prices.Google Shopping

Thanks for the suggestion to use Google Shopping! I had not heard of it before, and I just now used it to order Co-Q 10--I am getting it for less than half of what I paid at Sams!

[Curtisbwp]

I have always had good luck wiyh ebay. On one occation the seller did not deliver the product. I contacted ebay and they immediately refunded my money and took care of matterd on their rnd.

[MandoMan]

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.

Amazon vs. eBay is a little like comparing a grocery store to a department store or baseball to football: they are both useful, but they are very different.

I use Amazon Prime a LOT, often $1,000 a month. I use eBay less, but I buy things on eBay that Amazon doesn’t have. For example, I buy used books on Amazon, but also on eBay. But I also buy used musical instruments on eBay, often great values, but never on Amazon, though I have bought some new ones there. Antiques, I’d buy only from eBay. I collect fine art, mostly over a century old, and I’ve made some wonderful purchases there for much less money than I’d pay in a gallery. (But eBay also sells garbage Chinese painted copies of great art at very low prices. Horrifying. Don’t buy it! You also have to watch out for shady sellers who make untrue claims—this gets better all the time).

I find that eBay has all sorts of unusual things Amazon probably doesn’t carry. But I check both. I often use Buy It Now on eBay, but I’ve also used auctions a lot. I’m selling things by auction right now. (I have over 1,200 positive reviews and no negative reviews.) There are tricks to buying by auction. They are the same as buying at a live auction, for the most part. For example, don’t bid unless you know what something is worth, and know how much you are willing to spend. It is completely unfair to try to return something you bought at auction because you decide you don’t like it. If you don’t like it, resell it! Some people get caught up in the excitement and bid early and want to always have the top bid. I love it when people do that when I’m selling something! I love it when they have to have it at any cost. But as for me, I try to register my first and only bid seven seconds before the end of the auction, and I bid the maximum I’m willing to pay. Then it’s too late for counter-bids.

I know people up who use eBay on a cell phone, but I strongly urge people to use an iPad or computer. You see larger photos of products there and can see all of the information instead of just part of it.

Buyer beware! It’s possible to go onto Amazon, find some book or item you know about, and buy it with your mind half asleep. (I’m sure you know people whose sharp thinking never kicks into gear, who go through lives without ever really thinking.) EBay requires sharp wits. It’s for smart people who are careful and canny and read the fine print and can search photos carefully for flaws. Then they get bargains. You have to remember to see how many reviews a seller or buyer has, and what percentage are positive. You have to check the condition report. You have to check the shipping costs. I have been burned a couple times on eBay, sometimes for several hundred dollars. I’ve also returned some things successfully when they weren’t as advertised. (Never because I decided I didn’t like them. I despise people who do that.) I find that eBay is always trying to making changes that protect buyers. It can make it hard for sellers. I try to be scrupulously honest when I sell things. A lot of sellers do. Also, a lot of eBay sellers are very friendly and will answer your questions.

I have a friend who buys old marbles, some of them quite rare and expensive. She shops only on eBay. There are antique stores that sell them, but those stores are all over the world, and it isn’t easy to get there or know who has something special. On eBay, she can look at 10,000 old marbles.

I find that eBay is GREAT for collectors, but collectors who know what they are doing do better. Amazon is useless for collectors. EBay is also good for collections of things. For example, one eBay seller who lives in The Villages is selling twelve novels by one author because he has read them. On Amazon, you would have to buy each book separately and pay shipping on each one.

I have a friend who lives in The Hamptons and spends weekends going to yard sales and buying designer clothes used at very low prices. Then she resells them on eBay with ads explaining what she has. She makes about $2,000 to $3,000 profit per month! I figure I’m lucky to break even selling things I don’t need.

In short, I’d say, if you aren’t looking for used or collectible things, and you are just looking to buy everyday products cheaply, stay on Amazon. If you are alert and careful and willing to see the eBay search as a lot of the fun, and you buy mostly used things or collectibles, give eBay a try.

[JohnNordick]

I have used e-bay multiple times with perfect results!

[Ladygolfer93]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I love Amazon and I buy almost everything from them. But, when I buy something online, a low price is not my primary concern. I really don't know much about eBay, but I would give it a try only if the seller will accept a direct credit card payment. I don't like Paypal, have never used it, and I never will use it. To me, it is a way for merchants to take away my Federal credit card legal protection rights. I think that a reputable merchant should deal directly with the customer, and not need to hide behind Paypal. I may buy something from eBay some day, but only if Paypal is not involved in the transaction.

I have used E-bay but much less than Amazon. Agree with what you posted and others on here. I do not have Paypal and never will. I have purchased a few things, in particular arts and craft materials and have purchased collectable items as gifts (a rare stein for a family member who collects them, a "retired" piece for a Christmas village no longer available at retail for another relative, etc.) and have (so far) never had a problem. Again, I don't order but a few times per year and the items have all been as described (excellent condition, etc.), come quickly and well packed. Only one time did I decline to purchase because the person only accepted Paypal; later I was able to find the same item from a seller who did accept my Amex. With all this said, I have never quite had the same feeling about both sites, Amazon, with it's large regional facilities and uniform shipping, packaging, etc. "probably" is less of a "gamble". Perhaps someone on here will have a tale about NOT receiving an item as it was described and the repercussions/outcome ?

[Chi-Town]

Amazon Prime is my favorite, but Ebay has gotten much better over the years. PayPal is easy to use and a go to option when I do buy something there.

[zendog3]

the big difference between Amazon and Ebay is that Amazon was created to sell new merchandise, while Ebay was created as an auction site to sell used items.

To my knowledge, Amazon does not feature used items, or items for sale from private parties. Ebay now has some new merchandise, but that is not it's focus.
Amazon does, however, have some "other sellers" that deal in used items -- like used and out-of-print books.

Ebay is also a little more of a "wild west", you might find a real bargain on an out of stock or reconditioned item, but there is always an element of risk. I have bought from both.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Halibut

I've been using eBay more frequently now while at home. Amazon is typically my first choice but some items are less expensive on eBay or hard to find elsewhere. I only use the Buy It Now option (no bidding). You can see the seller ratings and avoid anyone who seems problematic. Items are generally shipped very quickly; just make sure they're not coming from overseas.

Many items include free shipping these days. eBay makes it easy for sellers and buyers to contact each other and will mediate any disputes if necessary.

Once you have your account and payment methods set up, eBay is easy to use.

I found Ebay to be really good about resolving disputes. They also have an insurance policy to reimburse a buyer if the seller does not deliver, misrepresents item, or otherwise acts unethically. The last I was aware of, it did have a maximum refund amount of about $2,000. So, if you are bidding on a car or other expensive item - be cautious.