eBay Vs. Amazon: The buyer's perspective

<h1>eBay Vs. Amazon: The buyer's perspective</h1>Author: <a title="Pedro Neira" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/pedro-neira/102707.htm">Pedro Neira</a> Some months ago I wrote a couple of articles about <a href="http://mbainternetmarketingmanager.blogspot.com/2008/10/online-retailing-amazon-vs-ebay-selling.html">Amazon vs. eBay focused on the seller’s perspective</a>. Now, here’s my view on both marketplaces fron the other point of view: the end consumer; the buyer. On a feature by feature analysis, this would be a very concise summary of the buying experience in both eBay and Amazon from my standpoint. BUYERS Perspective Amazon eBay Fees WORSE Higher average fees translate to higher average prices BETTER Lower average fees prices means lower prices for the end consumer Format FIXED Price Format FIXED price + AUCTION Average sale Price HIGHER Amazon buyers tend to focus more on product condition than price. LOWER eBay, by its nature, is competitive and draws buyers looking for the lowest possible prices. Payment Methods WORSE Only Credit / Debit cards or AMAZON payments BETTER, MORE PAYMENT OPTIONS Besides credit and debit cards, eBay sellers can accept PayPal, money orders, cashier's checks or cash (in person) Return Policy BETTER “A-Z Guarantee” favors the Buyers WORSE NO Buyer Guarantee, only a “Resolution Center” that works sometimes Shipping BETTER Buyer always knows the shipping cost (Amazon sets the shipping cost) SLIGHTLY WORSE Variable shipping costs, dependant on sellers. Web experience – Personalization tools BETTER No doubt, Amazon is probably the best online store available WORSE Doesn’t have as many personalization tools, cross selling, A/B testing methods, etc as Amazon. The buying experience is Summing it up, Amazon is a better online experience for the buyer… but at higher average prices than eBay. Both are perfectly valid options for online shopping and just as in “brick and mortar” retail stores some prefer to buy at WalMart and some at Target, on Internet the different mix of service/price also gives consumers more options to choose from. My personal favorite... Amazon. I don’t care if they’re cents more expensive on average. .. so far, no other online retailer has been able to create a better experience than Amazon. About the Author: Pedro Neira is an MBA Internet Marketing Manager. Freelance Consultant and Online Entrepreneur with experience in Strategic Consulting, Start-Up fundraising and general management. Online Marketing expert with special abilities in SEO, SEM and Viral Marketing.
Visit my blog <a href="http://mbainternetmarketingmanager.blogspot.com/">MBA Internet Marketing Manager</a>Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/ecommerce-articles/ebay-vs-amazon-the-buyers-perspective-1466122.html" title="eBay Vs. Amazon: The buyer's perspective">eBay Vs. Amazon: The buyer's perspective</a>

Some months ago I wrote a couple of articles about Amazon vs. eBay focused on the seller’s perspective. Now, here’s my view on both marketplaces fron the other point of view: the end consumer; the buyer.

On a feature by feature analysis, this would be a very concise summary of the buying experience in both eBay and Amazon from my standpoint.

BUYERS Perspective

Amazon

eBay

Fees

WORSE

Higher average fees translate to higher average prices

BETTER

Lower average fees prices means lower prices for the end consumer

Format

FIXED Price Format

FIXED price + AUCTION

Average sale Price

HIGHER

Amazon buyers tend to focus more on product condition than price.

LOWER

eBay, by its nature, is competitive and draws buyers looking for the lowest possible prices.

Payment Methods

WORSE
Only Credit / Debit cards or AMAZON payments

BETTER,

MORE PAYMENT OPTIONS

Besides credit and debit cards, eBay sellers can accept PayPal, money orders, cashier's checks or cash (in person)

Return Policy

BETTER

“A-Z Guarantee” favors the Buyers

WORSE

NO Buyer Guarantee, only a “Resolution Center” that works sometimes

Shipping

BETTER

Buyer always knows the shipping cost

(Amazon sets the shipping cost)

SLIGHTLY WORSE

Variable shipping costs, dependant on sellers.

Web experience – Personalization tools

BETTER

No doubt, Amazon is probably the best online store available

WORSE
Doesn’t have as many personalization tools, cross selling, A/B testing methods, etc as Amazon. The buying experience is

Summing it up, Amazon is a better online experience for the buyer… but at higher average prices than eBay. Both are perfectly valid options for online shopping and just as in “brick and mortar” retail stores some prefer to buy at WalMart and some at Target, on Internet the different mix of service/price also gives consumers more options to choose from.

My personal favorite... Amazon. I don’t care if they’re cents more expensive on average. .. so far, no other online retailer has been able to create a better experience than Amazon.

Pedro Neira is an MBA Internet Marketing Manager. Freelance Consultant and Online Entrepreneur with experience in Strategic Consulting, Start-Up fundraising and general management. Online Marketing expert with special abilities in SEO, SEM and Viral Marketing. Visit my blog MBA Internet Marketing Manager

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Article Tags: amazon, ebay, amazon vs ebay, buyer, marketplace, online buying, review, shopping experience, comparison

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A while ago I wrote a couple of articles about Amazon vs. eBay focused on the seller’s perspective. Now, here’s my view on both marketplaces fron the other point of view: the end consumer; the buyer. On a feature by feature analysis, this would be a very concise summary of the buying experience in both eBay and Amazon.

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