Requesting Price for Bulk Purchase + eBay v. Amazon Marketplace

terra_ferma

I need to bulk purchase items that are currently sold in small quantities. The seller has already agreed to charge a lower price. The first time I bought them through Amazon and we did it in an unusual way, I purchased a number of items corresponding to the price she was going to charge, and I got a larger number of items.

(sounds risky for the seller as I could have returned fewer items and got a full refund!).

However this time I'd like to buy through ebay.
FIRST QUESTION: Would they be able to charge me a lower price because of buying more items, through requesting a price from them before paying?
I would not want to be left without protection for buying outside their listing!

Incidentally the items were ok, but the seller shipped very late, after collecting the money, falsely claiming to have sent them already. :mad:
Time was of the essence and I had already taken for granted that it was going to be a claim with Amazon, but I got them in the end.

It seems to me that they took Amazon less seriously, because feedback is not as essential, so I'm more keen to use Ebay. Their feedback is very good, on Amazon it's not great.
SECOND QUESTION: Have people found that sellers behave better on Ebay than Amazon? Feedback on Amazon is much worse even for the same sellers.

(before people ask, this stuff is very hard to find in Europe, and this company charges the lowest price by far, so I'm going to use them again, with the right protection in place).

Brooker_Dave

terra_ferma wrote: »

I need to bulk purchase items that are currently sold in small quantities. The seller has already agreed to charge a lower price. The first time I bought them through Amazon and we did it in an unusual way, I purchased a number of items corresponding to the price she was going to charge, and I got a larger number of items.

(sounds risky for the seller as I could have returned fewer items and got a full refund!).

However this time I'd like to buy through ebay.
FIRST QUESTION: Would they be able to charge me a lower price because of buying more items, through requesting a price from them before paying?

They'd be cheaper still if you just brought them direct without ebay or Amazon taking their %.

Can't you just deal with the seller 1 to 1??

terra_ferma

I have thought of that, but I would not trust them with my money directly.

Brooker_Dave

terra_ferma wrote: »

I have thought of that, but I would not trust them with my money directly.

If you don't trust a supplier I'd not deal with them at all.

However why not ask for a paypal invoice and pay by credit card, then if anything goes wrong you can fall back on section 75.

Mrs_justjohn

terra_ferma wrote: »

I have thought of that, but I would not trust them with my money directly.

You can still pay via paypal (which will give you limited protection as it wouldn't be an ebay transaction) but for added protection empty your paypal account and fund the transaction from you credit card (do you have one linked to paypal?) then you get protection from your credit card company against non receipt or 'not as described'.

Mrs_justjohn

LOL Brooker Dave - you beat me to it!

terra_ferma

Thank you for your helpful suggestions, It widens the options.
If I go via eBay will I be able to pay an amount different from the original listing by requesting the amount before paying, or does this only apply to postage costs?

RFW

Mrs_justjohn wrote: »

You can still pay via paypal (which will give you limited protection as it wouldn't be an ebay transaction) but for added protection empty your paypal account and fund the transaction from you credit card (do you have one linked to paypal?) then you get protection from your credit card company against non receipt or 'not as described'.

Provided it is a consumer purchase and not a business one.

Back to OP with questions between Ebay and Amazon sellers, I'd say that Amazon have stricter rules for sellers but Ebay have more visible penalties via detailed seller ratings and subsequent reductions of fees, item visibility.

Seller fees are a good deal higher on Amazon too, so if it is the same product and price you should get a better deal through Ebay.
It may be that this particular seller keeps their Ebay account in a better state than their Amazon one.
From what you have said, communicate with the seller and then decide the best way to proceed.

Mrs_justjohn

terra_ferma wrote: »

Thank you for your helpful suggestions, I widens the options.
If I go via eBay will I be able to pay an amount different from the original listing by requesting the amount before paying, or does this only apply to postage costs?

Sellers have the ability to amend the invoice but can only usually reduce it to the value of the P&P.

They could do a 'money request' direct from paypal and detail in the 'box' what it is exactly you are paying for but this wouldn't show up in ebay as 'paid' so you are relying on them not starting a UID to get their fee's back:cool:

I personally would not complicate things by buying via ebay ...but would go for a direct purchase and ask for a paypal invoice. Then pay it via your credit card.

RFW

terra_ferma wrote: »

Thank you for your helpful suggestions, It widens the options.
If I go via eBay will I be able to pay an amount different from the original listing by requesting the amount before paying, or does this only apply to postage costs?

It depends on how they have the listing. If it is a single item with multiple quantities listed, then no. If they have best offer with the listing, it is more straightforward. If postage is charged (ie not free) then this is another way for reductions. Again see what the seller says and what they suggest.

Brooker_Dave

terra_ferma wrote: »

Thank you for your helpful suggestions, It widens the options.
If I go via eBay will I be able to pay an amount different from the original listing by requesting the amount before paying, or does this only apply to postage costs?

There's no need to include ebay at all.

Just contact the seller, explain that you'd like to either pay by credit card or via paypal, and wait for them to return with a quote.

I know it's hard to believe, but most things brought and sold don't involve an ebay or amazon listing, and they are cheaper because they do not.