It feels like Amazon is at a place where eBay was about, what, a decade ago? At least from a shopper point of view. In other words it feels like you're overwhelmed by choice but much of that choice makes you feel uneasy.
It seems to be full of dodgy sellers using questionable practices like those described in the post, the feedback (review) system is utterly broken, getting in touch with a real person is near impossible, sellers are using bots to game prices and the search system.
And (AFAIA) Amazon still doesn't use 3d Secure / Verified by Visa? Perhaps this is a sweetheart deal from the card schemes, given they're so big, or do the issuers not want to take the liability shift? There's something not quite right here.
Anyway, I don't know if eBay actually solved any of the problems or if most of the dodgy sellers just moved to Amazon.
Amazon is completely and utterly flooded with companies that sound like they fell right out of a random string generator. If you'd like a bedside alarm clock for example, you have to sift through pages and pages of nonsense "brands" like Tisaika, Keniy, Noklead, Yissvic, Anjank, Coulax, Famicozy, Noklead, Liorque, Jiemei, Paladone, Yzzseason, Tokincen, Hopsem, Mosuo and Moxtoy.
It is now incredibly difficult to find products by reputable brands that you stand a chance of recognising, and if you do, they are probably knock-offs too.
I suspect they don't do 3-D Secure because they're storing the cards on the first transaction.
Subsequent sales are marked "card on file" which is priced in its own way and often doesn't require the same info (for example, no CVV, but often also no 3-D Secure) I wonder if they're willing to eat the higher cost of a non-3-D Secure initial transaction for the appearance of frictionlessness? Or that their volume is so huge they can demand concessions for rates?
We had a power strip catch fire. I left a review with a photo of the scorched strip and started getting bombarded with off-Amazon contact requests to "make it right" if I'd take the photo down.
I haven’t personally had any of these problems with Amazon, other than prices being higher for any name brand household items than if you just get them at a local supermarket or retail store. But from people online who do experience these issues with Amazon, I’ve heard some sentiment that eBay is actually better now in this regard.
It seems to be full of dodgy sellers using questionable practices like those described in the post, the feedback (review) system is utterly broken, getting in touch with a real person is near impossible, sellers are using bots to game prices and the search system.
And (AFAIA) Amazon still doesn't use 3d Secure / Verified by Visa? Perhaps this is a sweetheart deal from the card schemes, given they're so big, or do the issuers not want to take the liability shift? There's something not quite right here.
Anyway, I don't know if eBay actually solved any of the problems or if most of the dodgy sellers just moved to Amazon.