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I’ve purchased thousands of items on Amazon over the last two decades. I maybe only one time got something that was used but marked as new. What kind of items a

I’ve purchased thousands of items on Amazon over the last two decades. I maybe only one time got something that was used but marked as new. What kind of items are you getting that are used?

KingOfCoders 3y ago
This might be Germany specific, I don't know. People seem to order stuff, use it, then send it back, and Amazon sells it as new (which it isn't - just like cars, you buy it and drive it, it's a used car). Used items: Electronics, DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, lenses (especially bad, has someone dropped them?), latest (this week) was a Gardena water splitter. I mostly by somewhere else if possible today (Bauhaus for garden stuff, Mediamarkt for electronics, cameras from my local store). It doesn't help that too many manufacturers don't seal their packaging.
- a254613e 3y ago
  I have around 180 orders from Amazon in 2022 in Germany, I've ordered multiple DSLRs/Mirrorless cameras, lenses, all my Gardena stuff, and a ton of more things - never had one single item arrive that showed any signs of use, neither on the package nor on the item itself, and I've never heard anyone else say that they got used items. It's very weird that you've had so many used items delivered, but it's definitely not a common thing in Germany.
  - AmVess 3y ago
    I made the mistake of ordering a lens from Amazon. It arrived in a bubble envelope. I didn't even bother to see if it was functional. They did the same thing with 2 2tb nvme drives. Bubble envelope. Sent right back. And yet, they will sell me $12 wet wipes that are double boxed.
    - wombat-man 3y ago
      eh, the nvme drives should be fine I think.
  - KingOfCoders 3y ago
    It's totally weird that you never got this. Perhaps you spend so much money on Amazon (I'm sadly not that rich - 180 orders/year of electronics,cameras and lenses, wow, I'd wish I had that spare money!), that you moved into a VIP bracket. I've met many people in Germany who also got used stuff from Amazon and therefor left. I also know several people who buy 3 cameras/TVs/phones, use them for two weeks and then send 2 of them back and keep one. And whenever I've bought lenses on Amazon I didn't find marketplace deals, so these cameras and lenses need to end up somewhere. Amazon is trashing returns but for sure not $3k cameras.
- Dudester230602 3y ago
  Amazon once sent me a slightly used deodorant stick - someone else's armpit hair included. I go direct or Ebay most of the times now. Main feature that Amazon has - pages and pages of knock-off Chinese brands - is more elegant on Ebay.
- nicolaslem 3y ago
  I don't use Amazon but the alternatives I regularly use all clearly label returned items as "opened box" or "B-stock" and sell them at a ~15% discount.
salad-tycoon 3y ago
USA here. Amazon certainly sells trash and used items as new. Not every order but every now and then, if you look closely enough, you will see “oh that tape has a fingerprint under it” or something similar. Infamous story of woman getting a box of soiled diapers. Another complication are the 3rd party sellers. I’ve gotten used watches, air filters, lights etc. personal health gear, books, and more. Again it’s not the rule but it certainly happens and you have to pay close attention. Another dark pattern is that you cannot select sold and shipped by Amazon only anymore, which to my personal experience, leads to higher chances of counterfeits. Had a wedding registry on Amazon once, got some high end knives that immediately started rusting. Realized a lot of the stuff we got was 3 rd party sellers, figured some of it might be counterfeit and I wouldn’t be able to tell until it was too late. Returned hundreds of pounds of cookware, cast iron, etc all at amazons expense.
- KingOfCoders 3y ago
  “oh that tape has a fingerprint under it” This!

I’ve purchased thousands of items on Amazon over the last two decades. I maybe only one time got something that was used but marked as new. What kind of items are you getting that are used?

KingOfCoders 3y ago

This might be Germany specific, I don't know. People seem to order stuff, use it, then send it back, and Amazon sells it as new (which it isn't - just like cars, you buy it and drive it, it's a used car). Used items: Electronics, DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, lenses (especially bad, has someone dropped them?), latest (this week) was a Gardena water splitter. I mostly by somewhere else if possible today (Bauhaus for garden stuff, Mediamarkt for electronics, cameras from my local store). It doesn't help that too many manufacturers don't seal their packaging.

a254613e 3y ago
I have around 180 orders from Amazon in 2022 in Germany, I've ordered multiple DSLRs/Mirrorless cameras, lenses, all my Gardena stuff, and a ton of more things - never had one single item arrive that showed any signs of use, neither on the package nor on the item itself, and I've never heard anyone else say that they got used items. It's very weird that you've had so many used items delivered, but it's definitely not a common thing in Germany.
- AmVess 3y ago
  I made the mistake of ordering a lens from Amazon. It arrived in a bubble envelope. I didn't even bother to see if it was functional. They did the same thing with 2 2tb nvme drives. Bubble envelope. Sent right back. And yet, they will sell me $12 wet wipes that are double boxed.
  - wombat-man 3y ago
    eh, the nvme drives should be fine I think.
- KingOfCoders 3y ago
  It's totally weird that you never got this. Perhaps you spend so much money on Amazon (I'm sadly not that rich - 180 orders/year of electronics,cameras and lenses, wow, I'd wish I had that spare money!), that you moved into a VIP bracket. I've met many people in Germany who also got used stuff from Amazon and therefor left. I also know several people who buy 3 cameras/TVs/phones, use them for two weeks and then send 2 of them back and keep one. And whenever I've bought lenses on Amazon I didn't find marketplace deals, so these cameras and lenses need to end up somewhere. Amazon is trashing returns but for sure not $3k cameras.
Dudester230602 3y ago
Amazon once sent me a slightly used deodorant stick - someone else's armpit hair included. I go direct or Ebay most of the times now. Main feature that Amazon has - pages and pages of knock-off Chinese brands - is more elegant on Ebay.
nicolaslem 3y ago
I don't use Amazon but the alternatives I regularly use all clearly label returned items as "opened box" or "B-stock" and sell them at a ~15% discount.

salad-tycoon 3y ago

USA here. Amazon certainly sells trash and used items as new. Not every order but every now and then, if you look closely enough, you will see “oh that tape has a fingerprint under it” or something similar. Infamous story of woman getting a box of soiled diapers. Another complication are the 3rd party sellers. I’ve gotten used watches, air filters, lights etc. personal health gear, books, and more. Again it’s not the rule but it certainly happens and you have to pay close attention. Another dark pattern is that you cannot select sold and shipped by Amazon only anymore, which to my personal experience, leads to higher chances of counterfeits. Had a wedding registry on Amazon once, got some high end knives that immediately started rusting. Realized a lot of the stuff we got was 3 rd party sellers, figured some of it might be counterfeit and I wouldn’t be able to tell until it was too late. Returned hundreds of pounds of cookware, cast iron, etc all at amazons expense.

KingOfCoders 3y ago
“oh that tape has a fingerprint under it” This!