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Amazon selling. Selling limits and potential scams.

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Comments

  • martindow
    martindow Posts: 10,470 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I thought I would give an update on Amazon as I have finally registered and listed items. It seems that Amazon have agreed with some manufacturers to block listings of used items unless the seller can show they are an authorised dealer, or have a letter of permission from the manufacturer. For anyone selling a single used item this means they cannot list without getting permission. Amazon doesn't seem to be a user friendly experience for those selling second hand goods.

    In my view this means that for online sales of used items ebay have a monopoly depending on the category. I am able to list some brands on Amazon without restrictions, but not others so I am still hoping I will sell something. Overall it's not a great situation as I don't sell face to face and can't think of any serious contender to ebay apart from Facebook. As I mentioned in the other thread I have tried Shpock and Vinted, but I don't think these are anywhere near as good as ebay.
    Ebay has a similar system called VeRO where certain brands can't be listed (or shouldn't be listed), so you might have the same issues there.

  • RFW said:

     They really aren't a monopoly in any sense.

    Well that's my view and I seem to be in a fix for the lack of an alternative. I did say for used items in certain catagories. I am selling two phones that would have sold a month ago with ebay at a decent price. They aren't selling on Shpock and I can't sell those makes on Amazon without being a dealer or getting a letter of permission from the manufacturer.

    I can't see what alternative exists for online sales unless you start your own online shop. Even if you did you will hardly be likely to get the traffic / price that you would with ebay. If you were right I would be able to get the prices and sell the items I used to with ebay. That seems to be impossible with other sites.

    martindow said:

    Ebay has a similar system called VeRO where certain brands can't be listed (or shouldn't be listed), so you might have the same issues there.


    I used to sell with ebay and never had an issue. It looks like Amazon wants to encourage retailers of new items and those sellers don't want to be competing with used items. That doesn't seem to be the case with ebay.


  • RFW
    RFW Posts: 10,273 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    RFW said:

     They really aren't a monopoly in any sense.

    Well that's my view and I seem to be in a fix for the lack of an alternative. I did say for used items in certain catagories. I am selling two phones that would have sold a month ago with ebay at a decent price. They aren't selling on Shpock and I can't sell those makes on Amazon without being a dealer or getting a letter of permission from the manufacturer.

    I can't see what alternative exists for online sales unless you start your own online shop. Even if you did you will hardly be likely to get the traffic / price that you would with ebay. If you were right I would be able to get the prices and sell the items I used to with ebay. That seems to be impossible with other sites.

    As I said there are alternatives, they often aren't very good but that's not Ebay's fault. In certain areas they're the market leader, that's not a monopoly.

    .
  • RFW said:
    In certain areas they're the market leader, that's not a monopoly.


    Said those defending Google.
  • RFW
    RFW Posts: 10,273 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 4 September 2022 pm30 4:27PM
    RFW said:
    In certain areas they're the market leader, that's not a monopoly.


    Said those defending Google.
    Again it depends what you're referring to. As far as search engines go then Google do have a monopoly. They've been pretty rubbish in some other markets where they definitely don't have a monopoly.

    Ebay have about 10% of online sales in the UK, so about 2-3% of total sales in the UK. Google has over 90% of online searches. So one is a monopoly, and one isn't.
    .
  • Buster_Danog
    Buster_Danog Posts: 716 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 4 September 2022 pm30 7:04PM
    RFW said:

    Ebay have about 10% of online sales in the UK, so about 2-3% of total sales in the UK. Google has over 90% of online searches. So one is a monopoly, and one isn't.
    I referred specifically to used items in certain categories.. Online sales in general is another issue. At the end of the say a situation exists where the main competitor for online only sales, Amazon, seems to be agreeing with manufacturers not to advertise their items used. The only other serious competitor as far as I know is Facebook where people expect you to sell in person as well. I don't see any serious competition to ebay for online used items.

  • TripleH
    TripleH Posts: 3,134 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 6 September 2022 am30 11:12AM
    I had accounting software new, unused in original box that I put up for sale on Ebay (it was several versions old).
    Advert got pulled and I was told I couldn't sell as not authorised seller but could sell the manual and give away the software for free.
    I found another use for the software (edit to correct original outcome as misremembered).
    May you find your sister soon Helli.
    Sleep well.
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