ebay item delivered by... amazon

demystified

Hello I had a strange one today I ordered something from an eBay trader and when it arrived it was packed and shipped by Amazon.. not an Amazon marketplace seller using Amazon as a shop front but actually packaged and shipped by Amazon. Had their logo on the packaging and everything but not on the despatch note although it's their paper and printing style. It's definately from the Amazon warehouse it has their address on it i.e. Amazon Way, Dunfermline, Fife.

Very odd, not had this before, anyone know whats going on? I'm not complaining the price was good but it is curious.

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Can you find the item you purchased on Amazon? I'm thinking that the ebay seller has sold for a greater cost and then ordered you the same item on Amazon with a little profit for them.

That or the ebay seller accidentally sold more stock than they had and wanted to fulfil your order - using Amazon to do so regardless of loss/profit.

cte1111

Maybe they re-used Amazon packaging? I do this, e.g. pack my items in whatever boxes I can recycle and more often than not it is Amazon boxes that I use.

hiccup123

happened to me once. i ordered a book off of ebay and it came directly from amazon. the seller bought from amazon and changed the delivery address to mine. when i checked amazon were selling the book £2 cheaper. I know cheack all book prices on ebay and amazon before buying

demystified

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice wrote: »

Can you find the item you purchased on Amazon? I'm thinking that the ebay seller has sold for a greater cost and then ordered you the same item on Amazon with a little profit for them.

That or the ebay seller accidentally sold more stock than they had and wanted to fulfil your order - using Amazon to do so regardless of loss/profit.

Yes it's for sale on Amazon but at a higher price, about £5 more, I bought it for £25 whereas Amazon is £30.

Ah, looking at the Amazon listing it it states "fulfilled by Amazon"... guess that means Amazon handles the shipping... its definately cheaper on eBay. Although he has a different storefront/name on eBay than on Amazon internal evidence would suggest its the same seller.

Strange..

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

demystified wrote: »

Yes it's for sale on Amazon but at a higher price, about £5 more, I bought it for £25 whereas Amazon is £30.

Ah, looking at the Amazon listing it it states "fulfilled by Amazon"... guess that means Amazon handles the shipping... its definately cheaper on eBay. Although he has a different storefront/name on eBay than on Amazon internal evidence would suggest its the same seller.

Strange..

Amazon offer FBA where they hold seller's stock and ship via their usual services from their warehouses but they also have the facilities to process orders placed from outside Amazon.

Crowqueen

Thanks, Lunatic - I was racking my brains thinking how someone could buy their own items on Amazon.

aeb_2

I sold a book then couldn't find it so I bought the same on Amazon and had it sent to my ebay buyer. I lost a couple of ££s but it was easier than explaining, refunding, cancelling the transaction and risking my feedback.

(Found the book about 3 weeks later and sold it again for a bit more so all was well in the end)

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Crowqueen wrote: »

Thanks, Lunatic - I was racking my brains thinking how someone could buy their own items on Amazon.

You could technically do this and change the shipping address to the customers' during Amazon checkout but then you'd have to pay the Amazon fees on the Amazon purchase if you see what I mean.

Odds are the eBay orders are just uploaded by file into the Amazon system. It's a bonus for Amazon because the packaging is advertising their brand.

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

demystified wrote: »

Yes it's for sale on Amazon but at a higher price, about £5 more, I bought it for £25 whereas Amazon is £30.

Mystery solved but I'm glad you got it for the cheaper price!

porto_bello

There seem to be quite a few eBay sellers 'dropshipping', by selling an item via eBay and then purchasing it via a special offer on Amazon and providing the eBay buyer's address.

The problem arises when the eBay buyer receives an Amazon package and finds the Amazon receipt inside... which informs them that the eBay seller has made a cheeky fiver by doing nothing more than buying the item and forwarding someone else's address to Amazon/another seller!

Judging by some of the damaging feedback comments and ratings, quite a few eBay buyers take exception to this, so I'm not sure how successful it is in the longer term.