Choosing between eBay and Amazon can be tough because both are big names in online shopping, making loads of money with millions of users. They’re both popular for sellers, whether they’re just starting out or seasoned pros. Therefore, determining whether Amazon or eBay is better for buying requires heavy scrutiny.
What’s the difference between eBay and Amazon?
One big difference between eBay and Amazon is how they handle prices. On eBay, only other people sell stuff, so eBay itself doesn’t have its items. You can buy things from individuals or businesses through auctions or set prices, so eBay isn’t your direct competitor. But on Amazon, they sell stuff from other sellers and their items, like Amazon Essentials, which might be competition for you. eBay has auctions, while Amazon sells things at set prices, more like regular stores.
Amazon is bigger than eBay
Amazon and eBay are among the busiest online marketplaces globally. However, Amazon gets over 5 billion visits monthly, while eBay draws around 1.7 billion.
eBay is less competitive than Amazon
While Amazon has its own brand and eBay doesn’t, eBay might be a bit less competitive in this regard. Competition exists on both platforms, which is normal in business. Sellers might offer low prices to sell more, while others prioritize quality over quantity with higher prices. The key is to avoid getting into a price war on either site.
The buyer’s loyalty depends on their persona
Even though eBay and Amazon are both popular worldwide, they attract different kinds of shoppers. Amazon is in 21 markets and eBay in 23, and both have lots of visitors every month. Amazon gets over 2 billion visitors monthly, while eBay had over 138 million active buyers in the 2nd quarter of 2022. Interestingly, more than half of eBay’s sales come from buyers outside the country, which is different from Amazon.
Amazon’s buyers are usually wealthier and older, often with families and college degrees, while eBay’s buyers are mostly male, especially between 35 to 49 years old. Knowing your specific audience is important for success on either site, as some shoppers stick to one site because they think there are differences in prices and product quality.
Sell Products on Both Platforms
If you sell something on eBay for $10 and make a 30% profit, you earn $3 each time. But you’ll need to sell a bunch to make good money. Auctions on eBay can be tricky—you might not always get the price you want, but sometimes you get lucky and make more. On Amazon, you set a fixed price, so you always make $10 per sale.
Both eBay and Amazon have fees to consider. eBay usually charges a 10% fee (varies) and extra PayPal fees, while Amazon takes about 15%, including payment processing. If you use Amazon’s FBA service, there are more charges. When deciding on prices, think about how good your product is, how much competition there is, how special it is, and how well people know your brand. If you have top-notch stuff with clear listings, you can often charge more, especially if it’s unique or really popular.
Success on eBay and Amazon depends on lots of things like how good your product is, how well people know your brand, how much money you make per sale, and how good your listings are. It’s normal to change prices between the two platforms, but your sales come down to these main things.
eBay has fewer restrictions
Amazon and eBay offer similar categories, but eBay generally has fewer restrictions compared to Amazon. Amazon has 40 categories, with 23 being unrestricted and 12 requiring permission to sell, known as ‘gated categories’. Some categories have additional restrictions to prevent counterfeits, while others, like toys and games during Christmas, are seasonally restricted.
eBay doesn’t have gated categories but instead lists restricted products. Before choosing where to sell, it’s essential to ensure your product or category isn’t restricted, prohibited, or gated on either platform. Despite this, both platforms offer a wide range of categories and products to choose from.
Amazon has excellent fulfillment service (FBA)
Selling on eBay is quick and easy. You can list your items quickly and get paid through PayPal when they sell. Amazon also handles payments, but you have to wait 14 days before you can transfer the money to your bank account. It takes a bit more time to list items on Amazon, but it’s still simple. What you sell determines how well you do. Amazon is good for popular items like clothes, baby stuff, and beauty products. eBay is better for used or unique items. Amazon offers a service called FBA that stores, packs, and ships items for you, but it costs extra.
Amazon vs. eBay: Which is safer?
eBay isn’t as safe as Amazon since it has faced issues with scams in the past, affecting its reputation, especially with many overseas sellers. However, trust has improved due to eBay’s buyer protection policies. On the other hand, Amazon is stricter with sellers, resulting in more trust from buyers. Amazon swiftly deals with questionable sellers and offers easy returns and refunds, giving buyers more confidence compared to eBay.
Which is better than online shopping: eBay or Amazon?
Amazon is known for trust, loyal customers, lower fees, branding, and its fulfillment service, while eBay excels in competitiveness, lower fees, loyalty, and fewer restrictions. Each marketplace has its own pros and cons. However, it’s wise not to limit yourself to just one. Even if your products seem better suited for Amazon, you can still sell them on eBay. Diversifying your eCommerce presence across multiple channels is essential for protecting your income and expanding your business.