Amazon Marketplace • Collecting General • The Acaeum

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Amazon Marketplace
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Laertes
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:45 pm

Has anyone used this service for selling stuff online? Other than setting a price and perhaps taking longer to sell than ebay, how does it compare to ebay? Is it more or less expensive for commissions, etc? Any thoughts are appreciated (any thoughts about Amazon marketplace, not just any thoughts).

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Mars
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:06 pm

If you look at the percentage that Amazon takes when you sell an item, their fees are more than Ebay.

mbassoc2003
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:22 pm

Amazon also offer no protection at all. Even if you have a signature from the buyer saying they received their item, they can still ask for and receive a full refund and you will lose all the money and your item. The seller is always right, and is entitled to a full no questions asked refund if they are not completely satisfied, and you have to accept that if you're going to sell through Amazon.

Are you willing to lose that amount of money?
You only have to have 1 buyer ask for a no questions asked refund to lose all the money you made on your last 20 sales.

If you're willing to put the work in in listing things, and you don't care about any of the money, you're better off and safer using eBay because they have the footfall, provide first class online security to both the buyer and the seller, and charge far lower fees than Amazon to boot.

This week I've been mostly eating . . . The white ones with the little red flecks in them.

MetaSigma
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:39 pm

mbassoc2003 wrote:Amazon also offer no protection at all. Even if you have a signature from the buyer saying they received their item, they can still ask for and receive a full refund and you will lose all the money and your item. The seller is always right, and is entitled to a full no questions asked refund if they are not completely satisfied, and you have to accept that if you're going to sell through Amazon.

Are you willing to lose that amount of money?
You only have to have 1 buyer ask for a no questions asked refund to lose all the money you made on your last 20 sales.

If you're willing to put the work in in listing things, and you don't care about any of the money, you're better off and safer using eBay because they have the footfall, provide first class online security to both the buyer and the seller, and charge far lower fees than Amazon to boot.

I am a frequent Amazon Marketplace buyer and I have to agree. Not that I have abused the willingness of Amazon to shaft its sellers, but I've had issues with purchases a handful of times (I order probably 5 or 10 things a month), and they've always almost instantaneously (once within 20 minutes) issued a full refund. My complaints were always factual, but I could easily have gotten hundreds of dollars worth of free books this way. I imagine if it became a regular thing they'd get wise to you, but who knows?

Laertes
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:51 pm

Thanks for the help. Am I to understand that the following language from Amazon basically means nothing?

"Returns

If you receive an item different than what was described, or that is clearly in worse condition than indicated, you must contact your seller directly to report the defect or damage within 14 days of receiving the shipment. You should be able to reach an amicable agreement with one another. If necessary, you can return your item to the seller for a refund. Please note that items purchased from Amazon Marketplace sellers need to be returned directly to the seller and not to Amazon.com.

To be eligible for a refund, you must return your item to your seller in the same condition you received it, and the return must be postmarked within 30 days of shipment. If the item you purchased is a software title, it can only be returned in cases of defect, damage or if the item was different than described. When writing to the seller to arrange for its return, please be as descriptive as possible regarding the problem with the merchandise. "

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Laertes
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:52 pm

The real reason I am asking is because I have a couple high priced items (2 still in shrink copies of Ptolus for example) that I have seen listed for much higher than ebay. The lowest priced copies have sold, and I would likely list for less than the used copies, but still make more money than through ebay even after considering commissions.

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mbassoc2003
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:02 pm

Yes. With all due respect to Amazon, based on personal experience, and the experiences of members here who have been shafted by buyers after obtaining tracking and signature proof of delivery, and premis that Amazon will require the return of the goods and/or mediate in a dispute is complete bullshit. The buyer wll always get a full refund. The seller will have to pay all the fees, and the seller will not get their item back or any compensation from anyone unless they are willing to take private legal action.

If you have a need to sell anything of any value, DO NOT trust Amazon. If you do, and you get stung, at least you saw it coming.

In fact there was a thread here not long back when someone got shafted even having proof of delivery. Was it Diemos?

Try eBay, or private sales here or Dragonsfoot, or just list them with a free account on RPGMarketplace.com and put up links on the forum classifieds. I'm in the market for a copy of Ptolus, if you're selling.

This week I've been mostly eating . . . The white ones with the little red flecks in them.

Last edited by mbassoc2003 on Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

copycat
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:02 pm

I have bought a few things on Amazon, and they are good at giving refunds, that's for sure.

Those who can, don't. Those who should not, do.

mbassoc2003
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:09 pm

Yep. Can't condone fraud, but it certainly seems to be the place to go for free things. Sellers line up to dish out stuff for free, and with no feedback system for buyers, presumably buyers can get as many freebies and they want until Amazon kick them off.

It really is the most fucked up system of online fraud being allowed by any company I have dealt with, and it is actively supprted by Amazon themselves who get paid even when they allow fraud to happen. There really is no recourse. Even when you phone Amazon and ask about it, they say that's the guarantee you signed up to, and if you have a complaint write in to them, and if you have proof that the buyer has committed fraud, call the police.

Basicly, GFY.

I was actually discussing this issue with some Amazon powersellers, or whatever their equivelants are, and they said that they don't have that problem, because after you reach a certain level of transactions per month, Amazon assign you an individual account manager, and they take personal care of disputes and would pay out and refund the seller out of the company's money.

So it seems as though they do look after the big sellers, but the regular punter get the shit treatment. Unless you have the money to pay for special care, you're stuffed.

This week I've been mostly eating . . . The white ones with the little red flecks in them.

copycat
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:37 pm

In my experience with asking for a refund, Amazon always has asked for the item back, and then processed the refund. Others seem to have a different experience, it seems. Or, maybe it's because I've only asked for refunds on DVDs...

Those who can, don't. Those who should not, do.

JohnGaunt
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:10 pm

I have been selling stuff on Amazon for quite a few months and have had no problems with dishonest buyers. I have ordered from Amazon sellers and have had no problem going that direction, either.

Amazon takes a huge cut, but my item can sit on Amazon for months. In the long run, Amazon is cheaper for me and my stock of items. I can easily adjust the price and change the description anytime, though I can't adjust the condition. Listing multiple items, delisting items, and relisting items is also a breeze.

For me, Amazon is much less of a hassle than eBay.

For your Ptolus, you can try and lowball the other Amazon sellers and watch the price war commence.

RPGMarketplace, Dragonsfoot, and the Acaeum classifieds are smaller but more trustworthy than Amazon or eBay.

mbassoc2003
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:35 am

serleran wrote:In my experience with asking for a refund, Amazon always has asked for the item back, and then processed the refund. Others seem to have a different experience, it seems. Or, maybe it's because I've only asked for refunds on DVDs...

That seems to just apply to the company's own stock. They don't poop on their own business.

JohnGaunt wrote:I have been selling stuff on Amazon for quite a few months and have had no problems with dishonest buyers. I have ordered from Amazon sellers and have had no problem going that direction, either.

There are some here who had very similar experiences and praise of Amazon, until they got comfortable and found out the hard way how screwed you get. Good luck. You seem to know the beast you're dancing with. I hope you get out before your bitten.

In a nutshell... Don't offer for sale on Amazon anything you're not willing to lose and pay for the privelidge of doing so.

This week I've been mostly eating . . . The white ones with the little red flecks in them.

frankfromgermany
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:47 am

Laertes wrote:The real reason I am asking is because I have a couple high priced items (2 still in shrink copies of Ptolus for example) that I have seen listed for much higher than ebay. The lowest priced copies have sold, and I would likely list for less than the used copies, but still make more money than through ebay even after considering commissions.

Ptolus was shrinked? Really?

The lowest price on amazon marketplace for a Ptolus is $ 350 atm. I've been keeping an eye on ebay auctions for Ptolus and none of them reached anywhere in the vicinity of that price. 2 auctions ended at $ 200 and those were the highest i have seen and one of them was with a lot of extra material (night of dissolution, and a couple of players guides iirc.)

This auction with a $299 starting bid had no bidders

Last edited by frankfromgermany on Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:23 am, edited 1 time in total.

mbassoc2003
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:06 am

I think it was shrinked in stores. It was shipped boxed in boxes of 8 units, so I'm presuming stores unpacked and shrinked them from there. This is the case with almost all the hardbacks on the market.

This week I've been mostly eating . . . The white ones with the little red flecks in them.

Johnson
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:05 am

Hi,

my Ptolus was shrinked and it came direct from the manufacturers.

Cheers,
malc

I have a plan so cunning, you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel.

mbassoc2003
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:47 am

Cool.
Shame TLG didn't do that on CZ:UW or Yggsburgh.

My LGS got them in wide flat boxes, two abreast, eight per box with distributor's labels on them. I'm guessing these boxes are the same boxes they came in direct from the printers. I would presume Malhavoc just turned them around en mass and shipped them straight into the US distribution chain. The UK distributor is just an extension of that system.

I'd suggest selling Ptolus on Acaeum or Dragonsfoot as a private auction (taking bids by private message and setting a closing date), or listing as a 30 day auction on RPGMarketplace where you pay no listing or final valuation fees, but get the protection from PayPal on the transaction, and get buyers who on the whole are already in the communities.

Or just list on eBay, where you get greater exposure to buyers, but lose about 20% toatl in fees to eBay and PayPal.

If you know how much you want, a private classified or an RPGMarketplace listing may be the way to go. Just make sure you avoid Amazon, or understand the risks you are taking if you go that way.

Good luck.

This week I've been mostly eating . . . The white ones with the little red flecks in them.

Johnson
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:44 am

Hi,

mine came shrinkwrapped inside its box, with a load of other material loose.

Cheers,
Malc

I have a plan so cunning, you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel.

Kingofpain89
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:27 am

lawrenson wrote:Hi,

mine came shrinkwrapped inside its box, with a load of other material loose.

Cheers,
Malc

Same here. Shrinkwrapped in the box with Night of Dissolution plus the manila folder with the "bonus material".

You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. - Homer Simpson

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