Reselling Amazon items directly on ebay - is it legal?

DiploRed

I feel like I've been conned by an ebay seller, but I can't find anything in ebay's rules to clarity whether it's illegal simply to resell directly from another seller. Does anyone have any advice?

I wanted to buy a Milton Jones DVD for my husband for his birthday. It was out of stock at Amazon, and a new supply wasn't going to come in before the birthday.

Instead, I ordered from a seller on ebay who claimed to have several in stock. There was quite a long delivery period given (8 days) - but the DVD didn't turn up during that period. When I asked the seller where it was, he said he'd arrange me another one and that it would be with me the next day.

And yes indeed, the DVD did turn up the next day. The seller had simply ordered it from Amazon for me as a 'gift', using a Prime account to get the next-day delivery!

I feel entirely conned as I could have ordered it from Amazon for much less money than I paid the seller, and indeed I was only buying from him as he claimed to have the DVD in stock when Amazon did not. In the end, ordering from him was no faster than waiting for Amazon (he obviously had to wait for the restock too) and I ended up paying him a premium for ordering something I could have ordered myself.

I've sent it back, asking for a refund, as I'm so disgusted, and have reported the seller to both ebay and Amazon (I think Prime is only available for personal orders) - but can anyone clarity if this behaviour is legal or not?

Myyrrddyn

As far as I can see there has been no rules broken.

zenseeker

No rules have been broken. You bought an item from the seller, and they, indirectly, supplied it. Reporting the seller to Amazon and eBay was just a waste of your time, and theirs.

I feel sorry for your husband...you bought him a present, but sent it back because you are petty and small minded, I'm sure he wouldn't have minded a late extra pressie.

botanical

DiploRed wrote: »

I feel like I've been conned by an ebay seller, but I can't find anything in ebay's rules to clarity whether it's illegal simply to resell directly from another seller. Does anyone have any advice?

I wanted to buy a Milton Jones DVD for my husband for his birthday. It was out of stock at Amazon, and a new supply wasn't going to come in before the birthday.

Instead, I ordered from a seller on ebay who claimed to have several in stock. There was quite a long delivery period given (8 days) - but the DVD didn't turn up during that period. When I asked the seller where it was, he said he'd arrange me another one and that it would be with me the next day.

And yes indeed, the DVD did turn up the next day. The seller had simply ordered it from Amazon for me as a 'gift', using a Prime account to get the next-day delivery!

I feel entirely conned as I could have ordered it from Amazon for much less money than I paid the seller, and indeed I was only buying from him as he claimed to have the DVD in stock when Amazon did not. In the end, ordering from him was no faster than waiting for Amazon (he obviously had to wait for the restock too) and I ended up paying him a premium for ordering something I could have ordered myself.

I've sent it back, asking for a refund, as I'm so disgusted, and have reported the seller to both ebay and Amazon (I think Prime is only available for personal orders) - but can anyone clarity if this behaviour is legal or not?

Of course it's legal.

People are entitled to sell anything if they own it and you can choose to buy or not buy.

I think your seller is a sharp tack, actually. Don't be annoyed. That's Capitalism.

If you bought something when you could have got it cheaper elsewhere, how is that the sellers fault?

Reporting to eBay and Amazon is ridiculous. They'll ignore it. They are markets for people to buy and sell.

StevieJ

Often thought about doing that myself, good bit of arbitrage

botanical

StevieJ wrote: »

Often thought about doing that myself, good bit of arbitrage

arbitrage?

suited-aces

Taking advantage of different rates in different markets, I can see why stevie calls it arbitrage. Anyway OP, you may have a complaint with Ebay for late delivery, but it's just stupid to suggest it's illegal.

hermum

I didn't think that ebay allowed it, surely that would be the same as drop shipping, I'm sure that it has been said on here before that dropshipping isn't allowed , all I can find on the Help pages is this
Product availability

When buyers bid on or purchase an item on eBay, they should feel confident that the item is available and will be delivered in a timely matter.
What to do
You must ensure that your items will be in stock for the duration of your listing.
If you run into an inventory problem that's beyond your control, you're responsible for letting the buyer know when the item will be available or issuing a refund immediately for the full amount.
What not to do
You can't:

• List an item that may be out of stock by the time of purchase
• List on eBay the same individual item which has been offered for sale outside of eBay
• Offer an item that won't be what will be delivered to the buyer

So it looks as though what he did was against ebay rules, whether they will do anything or not is of course a different matter

soolin

hermum wrote: »

I didn't think that ebay allowed it, surely that would be the same as drop shipping, I'm sure that it has been said on here before that dropshipping isn't allowed , all I can find on the Help pages is this
Product availability

When buyers bid on or purchase an item on eBay, they should feel confident that the item is available and will be delivered in a timely matter.
What to do
You must ensure that your items will be in stock for the duration of your listing.
If you run into an inventory problem that's beyond your control, you're responsible for letting the buyer know when the item will be available or issuing a refund immediately for the full amount.
What not to do
You can't:

• List an item that may be out of stock by the time of purchase
• List on eBay the same individual item which has been offered for sale outside of eBay
• Offer an item that won't be what will be delivered to the buyer

So it looks as though what he did was against ebay rules, whether they will do anything or not is of course a different matter

Actually reading the bit you posted I don't think it has breached rules. Item turned up in is 9 days? whether or not that is unreasonable I wouldn't really like to say, at most a matter for star ratings I would have thought . They also didn't actually breach any of the last three things you quoted. Drop shipping is not against ebay rules as long as it is mentioned in the listings, so technically it breached that and only that rule.

At best OP can hope for a refund on safe return, but as she has done that then that is the end of th ematter.

I tend to agree with a poster above that is seems petty to return a gift because they feel they could have got it cheaper. Maybe the seller really did have the first one go astray and decided to do the honourable thing and have it sent as a gift from Amazon instead, surely that is a good thing not a bad thing?

EDIT as a seller I would not risk this strategy myself as I think it does carry a lot of issues. However I have in the past bought on Amazon had it delivered to me and then sold it immediately on ebay at a profit and posted it off, the idea that buying to resell on a different site is illegal is nonsensical.

F&L

I believe Amazon Prime is only available for the account holder and their family. I think most people would be annoyed at receiving an item they bought on ebay direct from Amazon although the eight day delivery period would have made me think they did not have the item to hand. If I'd have been the seller here I would have had the item sent to myself from Amazon and then sent it to you 1st class when it arrived as even when you tick the gift box with Amazon the buyer will still know where it's come from. You can of course reflect your buying experience in the feedback you leave and the seller will have to refund your order in full under the DSRs and pay to return the item to Amazon.

Strapped

It's not unknown for eBay sellers to dropship from other eBay sellers when short of stock