3 ms·

It seems to me that the difference with Ebay is that I am buying from a specific person (even if that person is effectively a stranger to me). On the other han

It seems to me that the difference with Ebay is that I am buying from a specific person (even if that person is effectively a stranger to me). On the other hand with Amazon I'm presented with a product that happens to be sold by many different people.

floatingatoll 7y ago
Indeed, I think that’s a critical difference that has likely protected eBay from this concern - and is an area where Amazon thought it could differentiate itself without risk of liability. The risk to eBay is that Amazon’s push on that front of deniability creates a backlash that imposes new constraints of disclosure and/or verification on eBay.
- cannonedhamster 7y ago
  eBay is a flea market. It's what that sell themselves as. You are knowingly purchasing used items and there's almost always a picture of the exact item you're getting and where it's being shipped from. Amazon by comparison is a black box of magic, only the magic smoke is toxic and you have no idea who to go to for redress. Amazon has gotten a free ride for years, screwingb both their sellers and buyers, making knock off products when it sees profit motive, it's time to pay the Piper.
maccard 7y ago
I've bought and sold a moderate amount on eBay - as a buyer I am protected for the most part. Every dispute I've filed as a buyer I've won, and every dispute I've had filed against me as a seller (2, in 10 years) I've lost. One was my fault (I made a mistake with the description) and the other was someone claiming I shipped the wrong item, (which I didn't, they just got a free game out of it). The weighting is heavily in favour of the buyer on eBay, and even after being scammed once I still think it's the right thing to do. On the flip side for Amazon,it feels unfair that the seller has my contact details and can use it to send me emails asking for reviews and to market their other products even when I've opted out of marketing emails. I've had a few counterfeit products where the seller just hasn't responded and I've been refunded but left with the counterfeit item, which doesn't sit well with me. The comingling is an awful problem, and if there were another site that offered next day delivery on a variety of goods with guaranteed wualotythat was more expensive, id swap in a heartbeat.

floatingatoll 7y ago

Indeed, I think that’s a critical difference that has likely protected eBay from this concern - and is an area where Amazon thought it could differentiate itself without risk of liability. The risk to eBay is that Amazon’s push on that front of deniability creates a backlash that imposes new constraints of disclosure and/or verification on eBay.

cannonedhamster 7y ago
eBay is a flea market. It's what that sell themselves as. You are knowingly purchasing used items and there's almost always a picture of the exact item you're getting and where it's being shipped from. Amazon by comparison is a black box of magic, only the magic smoke is toxic and you have no idea who to go to for redress. Amazon has gotten a free ride for years, screwingb both their sellers and buyers, making knock off products when it sees profit motive, it's time to pay the Piper.

maccard 7y ago

I've bought and sold a moderate amount on eBay - as a buyer I am protected for the most part. Every dispute I've filed as a buyer I've won, and every dispute I've had filed against me as a seller (2, in 10 years) I've lost. One was my fault (I made a mistake with the description) and the other was someone claiming I shipped the wrong item, (which I didn't, they just got a free game out of it). The weighting is heavily in favour of the buyer on eBay, and even after being scammed once I still think it's the right thing to do. On the flip side for Amazon,it feels unfair that the seller has my contact details and can use it to send me emails asking for reviews and to market their other products even when I've opted out of marketing emails. I've had a few counterfeit products where the seller just hasn't responded and I've been refunded but left with the counterfeit item, which doesn't sit well with me. The comingling is an awful problem, and if there were another site that offered next day delivery on a variety of goods with guaranteed wualotythat was more expensive, id swap in a heartbeat.