Is Amazon products cheap or expensive?
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24650)
Singapore
March 12, 2011 5:38am CST
Do you often buy from Amazon dot com?
I have not bought anything yet, since most of the products are more expensive than those selling in my country.
When I compare the price of gold and silver bars, I find that the sellers in Amazon dot com are quoting a far higher market price than those wholesalers.
What is your experience in online shopping?
Which websites do you get your products?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
13 Mar 11
I used to buy from Amazon quite often, when I had the budget for shopping. If you look at the "buy it used and new at this price" link you can get good deals sometimes, mostly on books, DVDs and CDs, but sometimes other stuff as well.
I also used to take advantage of the Amazon $25 purchase/free shipping offer quite regularly. I have an extensive wish list on the site and whenever I need something I usually look for something else from my wish list to make the order total at least $25 to save on the shipping.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
13 Mar 11
Hi Canellita, I think that is a good strategy for shopping.
The free shipping definitely helps to reduce cost and time, since you do not need to travel to the shop, and buy the products.
Just too bad that the free shipping does not apply to international shipping.
The shipping plus the tax by my government here will erode whatever cost savings from Amazon.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
14 Mar 11
Hi Canellita, if I am not wrong, the tax applies when the purchase is more than $400 in Singapore currency.
Even though USD is devaluing, a dollar is still worth than a dollar in Singapore currency.
There is no point in buying an item of just ten dollars, then ship all the way across the ocean.
It makes sense to buy in bulk so that the shipment can consolidate, and I can pay a lower price.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
13 Mar 11
That's too bad, Scheng. Does this also apply to both Amazon.com purchases and Amazon UK? Does the government tax all shipments from outside the country?
@yugasini (12836)
• Anantapur, India
12 Mar 11
hi scheng,
do you believe or not,till now i have not purcahsed any item online,that too from Amazaon site,but once i have placed an order for my brother from his account on online to buy a Olympus camera,the deal was with credit card,my brother does have credit card,but i does not have any credit card,have a nice day
@yugasini (12836)
• Anantapur, India
13 Mar 11
hi scheng,
thanks for the response,you are right,they will charge lot of amount as shipping charges,if the item is broken in the shipping time,once again we have sent back it to them lot of process will be there,if the site belongs to your city/country,the company people will give delivery the goods to your home,have a nice day
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
13 Mar 11
Hi Yugasini, I have not bought anything from Amazon either.
I think the price of goods, plus the shipping cost, means it is cheaper to buy from my own place.
If I were to live in US, I would probably buy from Amazon.
Actually Amazon has many websites for different countries, the similarity is that most merchants do not ship overseas.
Even if they ship overseas, the cost of shipping is too high.
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
12 Mar 11
I've bought a couple of things from Amazon and some are more expensive than others. It actually depends on what you're buying.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
12 Mar 11
Hi Frontvisions, I think it depends on which Amazon websites we buy the products as well.
I like the way Amazon screens its third party vendors.
Hardly hear of any scam in Amazon, unlike Ebay which is a website that allows everyone to sell things.
I think for books and textbooks, nothing beats Amazon.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
15 Mar 11
I have not bought any thing from this site, i am from india, the postal expenses will be too high if i buy from this site, but i know it is trustworthy site, one can rely and buy..
Thanks for sharing
Cheers.
God bless you, have a nice day ahead.
Professor ‘Bhuwan’. .
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
15 Mar 11
Hi Professor, since most of the products selling in Amazon are produced in Asia, it really does not make sense for us to buy from Amazon dot com.
It is the same for me. The shops are selling items at cheaper price, since the currency is lower than US dollar.
Added the shipping cost, I think I may end up paying double or more.
@MichaelNil (143)
• United States
12 Mar 11
Hey scheng,
I do not often buy from amazon.com. However, whenever I do, the products seem to be cheap.
In my opinion, the products are cheap because the sellers just want to get rid of them, but that's just me.
It's also possible that they are selling them cheap just because they are used.
I order books from barnes and nobles. Everything else is from either ebay or amazon. =P
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
12 Mar 11
Hi MichaelNil, I think Amazon in-house products are much cheaper than third party vendors.
If all the products in Amazon are expensive, I doubt they can survive for so long in internet marketing.
The other day, I manage to earn a commission of eight dollars, just because someone bought a book which cost more than two hundred dollars.
if only every day is like that, I can get rich very fast.
@kwylima (451)
• United States
13 Mar 11
hummm...Amazon.com is a very good website. Maybe is not that good for some kind of products that you are looking for..the products like, books, accessories for computers,makeup etc. Are cheaper than in store. Anybody can buy and sale in amazon.com so sometimes is better becareful and make sure that you are buying from somebody honest. I use to get great deals when I buy there and I never had problems with.
Maybe for those people who live out for USA could be a little more expensive. however this website is has great deals for people who live inside of USA.
GOOD LUCK
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
13 Mar 11
Hi Kwylima, you are right about price and the kind of products I want to buy in Amazon.
Those gold and silver bars are from third party vendors.
That is why the price is really ridiculous.
I think for products sold directly by Amazon, the price is much lower than other websites.
For me in Asia, buying from Amazon dot com is not worth, since most of the products are produced in Asia.
We can definitely get it cheaper here.
@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
12 Mar 11
I like the way Amazon lines up different suppliers for the same product, so you can compare prices against postage etc. I find Amazon great for things like carpet treads for my stairs and out-of-print books and wallpaper. I find a lot of suppliers are based in the UK, where I live, which is a plus.
In general, I think Amazon is better than ebay for new goods - more trustworthy, lower postage charges and faster delivery. For me, peace of mind is worth paying a few extra bucks for!
For electrical goods though, I switch to Comet Auctions. A fab site for cheap kitchen appliances.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
12 Mar 11
Hi jazzsue, I think you are fortunate to have Amazon in your country.
For me in Singapore, it is too small a market for Amazon.
I have checked out the Amazon in China, and the items are great. The branded shoes look very nice and trendy.
I agree that Amazon is better than ebay in many ways.
They select the vendors very carefully. There is little risk of low quality or fake products.
@francismalz (520)
• Philippines
12 Mar 11
I haven't tried online shopping.
But I think
Not all products in Amazon.com are expensive. Some people just want to raise the prices so high.
Well, for me, brand new products are still the better option :)
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
12 Mar 11
Hi Francismalz, I believe Amazon has many great products as well, otherwise it will not survive so long in cut throat online market.
I think the price difference is due to the third party vendors who can set their own price.
However, buying online from oversea market is not my cup of tea.
I still prefer to shop in shopping mall, touch and see the items before I pay for them.
