Amazon Marketplace - You can save money here!
Written: Mar 21 '03 (Updated Mar 22 '03)
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If Amazon is the giant Wal-Mart of the online stores, then Marketplace is the big yard sale out in the parking lot. Well . . . the used stuff is really right there on the shelves at Marketplace and ready for comparison to the new stuff at Amazon, which makes it better than yard sales to a point. You won’t find the rock bottom prices that your neighbor might tack on an item they no longer want, and you pay for shipping which adds up. Still, it’s a good thing for online shoppers who like to look around and compare to have the used spots alongside the new.
Amazon has been flirting around with used items for quite a while. They didn’t go head-to-head really well with Ebay, which is bidding-oriented and a mental “rush” for buyers. But, Ebay bought out half.com which features used items but at set prices (by the seller), and the Marketplace at Amazon began to pick up some speed as buyers learned to price check on used items like on half.com (and some of these “used” things are actually brand new).
Though I shop some at Ebay (review for making sure you don’t get ripped off at http://www.epinions.com/content_39207538308 ), I tend more to the half.com model with set prices and one click to confirm and buy. That meant that Amazon Marketplace was a natural for my style. If you like to take chances and get really low prices or get taken at times in the heat of the moment, then Ebay is the way to go. If you like a sure thing, then half.com or Marketplace are the spots to visit.
I both buy and sell at half.com (review at http://www.epinions.com/content_37972446852 ), and I “buy only” at Amazon Marketplace. The services are similar on the selling end, and I prefer to stick with one space for selling and not deal with lots of different accounts. As far as buying, I go with the best deal. As a rule, I find better deals at half.com vs. Amazon Marketplace. They are really close. Sometimes I score with Marketplace, but more often I seal the deal with half.com.
Marketplace did have some problems with the buy option not being really clear to start with. It was easy to buy and not know the full price prior (which happened to me), but they have taken care of that problem. You do NOW get a final page with full shipping listed before hitting the magic BUY button. That’s really bottom-line when it comes to shopping—what you get and for what price period.
When you look at items on the base price, you’ll find that half.com and Marketplace are almost identical for the lowest. For smaller items like books, the base ship for half.com is around $2.80 and around $3.50 at Marketplace. I haven’t seen any real difference as far as how fast the individuals ship out. It varies. Some are good and some not-so-good at both places. The differences in shipping sort out for higher priced items, but I don’t tend to go with the bigger ticket items from individual dealers and used. Amazon Marketplace appears to have a little edge on bigger items.
While it may seem a little tedious to talk shipping, it does make a difference. Purchases over $25 at Amazon now typically qualify for free shipping, but Marketplace does not go free on shipping. No matter how much you buy used, you’re going to have to pay to get the items to your door. Someone (the seller) must pack the item and ship it. Half.com tends to be a little kinder in that area, so it’s a good idea to go to the last page with each company and see the final cost. There will even be times when you look at discounts and free shipping and come out better buying new. That was the case when I recently purchased some “how-to” writing books. Those are in a niche area and are more likely to run higher if an individual decides to clear the shelves and sell off stuff. For something like an Oprah pick, the used books are a much better buy.
Comparison is the key. Marketplace compares with new at Amazon while Half.com compares with other stores selling the items new. If you are looking for a brand new book, then half.com will give you a better idea as to how low you can purchase from a variety of stores while Amazon keeps it “all in the family.”
If you want good prices overall for new items, then Amazon is solid (my review on the Amazon store is at http://www.epinions.com/content_53171555972 ). If you want to compare, then half.com is a little better for a starting place. Figure out your best deal at half.com and then click to Amazon and compare new and used there at Marketplace, which comes up with the general store to compare at Amazon new goods.
If you are deal shopping, then you’ll want to check for coupons too . . .
These are my favorite deal and coupon sites:
Deal of Day
http://www.epinions.com/content_61830631044
Fat Wallet
http://www.epinions.com/content_69848305284
For more help on couponing online in general and how to get the best deals, see my review at:
http://www.epinions.com/content_1401593988
Amazon didn’t have the used stuff market in the beginning, but they do have a solid foot in the door now. I do look at Marketplace when I purchase now. I lean a little more to half.com, but it is close. Both are great for bargain shoppers and both help as far as getting items for lower prices.
As far as dealing with the companies, I’ve had contact with both. From what I’ve read, it does seem to vary on the service from person to person. My experiences have been better with half.com. I both buy and sell at half.com, so they may pay more attention when I email (which is rare). Amazon was more responsive in the past, but they have gotten so big now that I don’t hear from them when I contact. That tips the scale for me on the half.com side, but I still use Marketplace and will continue to until they really tick me off. In the meantime, I would call them 5 star . . . but not as solid as my first and long-term used online love—half.com.
Recommended:
Yes
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CyndiA
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Member: Cyndi
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