Anyone else noticed that Amazon and Ali Express are getting better and eBay is getting worse for buyers?

[6ply]

I have ordered items on AliExpress, waited several weeks for despatch, then received notification the seller has cancelled. Annoying!

 

[Trevorleach]

I still use paypal on ebay and other sites all the time.

Find amazon very limited on tools/car parts etc, but when my wife orders something from amazon it is here super fast as she has prime, ebay is a real lottery.

 

[julianf]

I have ordered items on AliExpress, waited several weeks for despatch, then received notification the seller has cancelled. Annoying!

Ali express is currently like ebay used to be last century.

Some you win, some you (actually) loose, but, overall, if you work in the losses, it can still be preferential for some stuff.

 

[Erie Fred]

I've used Aliexpress for the CNC plasma cutter project.

They have all the proper fitting stuff to go along with the machine. Breakaway torch holder with the right prox switches, etc.

Years ago I got a couple of 3 hose torches from an Ebay seller in Texas.
They are great, but the hose fittings are oddball, and I could never find them anywhere, even on E-bay.
Aliexpress has lot's of them, so I bought 5-10 of each size, and put them up in a little divided box.

Unfortunately their search system is terrible.
I'd buy 10x more from them if I could find what I want.

 

[Blobber]

I sell a fair bit on ebay and you cant really go on the estimated dispatch/delivery times, our stuff certainly gets sent/delivered a lot quicker than implied, also if they are a business seller you should find their contact information at the bottom of the listing so give them a ring if you need something quicker and to check stock, its nice to talk to people!

 

[ukracer]

There is often a free postage option if you look but slower delivery. It's not always obvious though. The last two items I have bought were like that. I'm not usually in a rush for stuff though.

And there is often rush shipping available but again not immediately obvious. You often need to buy it and then update for faster shipping.

 

[prepman]

In recent weeks I've ordered bits on eBay and they have turned up (usually quicker) in Amazon packaging.

ditto.... although Royal Mail the best for me. Small items obviously.

 

[Keithmac]

I use PayPal with ebay all the time and never had an issue.

You can go directly to PayPal if there's any problems.

 

[rcx132]

eBay added a direct payment option which I've been unwittingly using, you're all right, PayPal is still an option. I'll go back to using it now that I've been strung by ebay's 30 day limit.

 

[Trevorleach]

eBay added a direct payment option which I've been unwittingly using, you're all right, PayPal is still an option. I'll go back to using it now that I've been strung by ebay's 30 day limit.

I think you have to use ebays own payment option if you are selling, so I no longer sell my scrap/useful junk I bin it!

 

[armalites]

For an occasional user, where Prime doesn't make sense, Amazon is more expensive for low priced items, because of the postage that is whacked onto orders less than £20.

To be fair Prime is probably the best value for money service available today. When you consider the access to some really good TV/Films and storage for photos you really don't need to be ordering much to make it worthwhile. The reality is it costs the same as one next day delivery and for that you could have 50 next day deliveries.

Each to their but I do genuinely struggle to understand how anyone can argue it's an expensive service. They are certainly more expensive for a lot of stuff but for me being able to order at 10 o'clock at night and get it next day is worth the extra spend.

 

[Erie Fred]

Each to their but I do genuinely struggle to understand how anyone can argue it's an expensive service. They are certainly more expensive for a lot of stuff but for me being able to order at 10 o'clock at night and get it next day is worth the extra spend.

Yabutt ! How much packaging do they use ?
Can't make the box too big.....or use too much padding....

 

[bourbon]

Just has an item delivered from China, a bi-axle reduction motor. They have sent a single axle one. I have contacted the seller. Let's how this pans out as I really CBA to send the other one back

 

[Blicksheep]

I use eBay for pretty much everything still. I ordered two little grow lights from China to get my seeds ahead. One stopped working, thought oh dear here we go but I was pleasantly surprised. A new one arrived pretty sharpish no questions asked from China

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I used to buy everything on eBay...these days it's just too much hassle if/when it goes wrong.

Amazon is far easier...arrives quicker plus returns are easier. Well except you have to be careful as some "cunning" sellers have a no return policy set..that's a big headache if for example they send you the wrong item!

eBay keep messing with their search engine...which is like the supermarkets moving the food around...bloomin annoying!

I happily pay more for stuff via Amazon..I just consider it the premium for getting a lot less agro!

 

[ajlelectronics]

Well except you have to be careful as some "cunning" sellers have a no return policy set..that's a big headache if for example they send you the wrong item!

That is unlawful, nobody can override the law with their own terms and conditions. Companies like Currys and Burton Power believe otherwise but they are still wrong.

 

[cheb]

I'll see what happens, I've just listed some stuff on Ebay, anything I get for it is better than nothing. It's not stuff I could sell on here. I generally only buy from sellers that claim to be in the UK on Ebay and don't have many problems with them.