[this_ol_patriot]

I will miss Borders and their classical and jazz cd selections, I built my collections on their stuff. They are the only ones that sold SACD's that I could find. I also liked their history and math/physics book sections, you could find lots of stuff you didn't know existed.

So what is the Amazon model, do they sell direct or are they a collection of small retailers doing business from who knows where like Ebay? I never bought from Ebay because I was always afraid to give my CC# to a place like that and also wasn't sure if I would get the real thing or some knockoff. Also don't relish waiting for something I bought and paid for to come in the mail.

[L.N. Smithee]

I have bought from eBay a couple of dozen times over the years and have had absolutely zero problems that weren't resolved with a week. The only trouble was when an electronic item I won with a bid less than two dollars had a $80 shipping charge FOB from Hong Kong. I fought that and the seller backed down. No probs since then.

I wouldn't worry about eBay if I were you. It ain't Craigslist, with pervs, scammers, and killers just a click away.

[OldMissileer]

Ebay because I was always afraid to give my CC# to a place like that and also wasn't sure if I would get the real thing or some knockoff

I am going on about 400 purchases from EBay and have only been ripped off once.

I ordered a spare Sony battery & charger for my camera (the add and picture showed a real Sony battery) and received a bad Chinese knock off.

I only use PayPal and will never buy unless they use PayPal (go ahead and flame me but I have NEVER had a problem with them). PayPal gave me my money back and I turned the seller in to the FBI for selling fake crap.

Most EBay sellers understand that they MUST ship the items really fast and most of my purchases get to my door in less than a week. I had one item that was shipped to the wrong address and it took me three weeks to get it but other than that I have always been stunned at the rapid shipping of most EBay sellers.

I still buy locally if I weigh the benefits of going to a store and having a product on the same day, like when my autos die and I need parts NOW, but if I perceive the wait to be worth the discount I will buy from EBay. Just make sure to be a skeptic and look carefully at the seller ratings.

[Rastus]

So what is the Amazon model, do they sell direct or are they a collection of small retailers doing business from who knows where like Ebay?

Yes. In-print items are sold directly from Amazon, but you can also buy them (new and/or used) from marketplace dealers. It's sort of like eBay, with you having to trust in the feedback, but there is no bidding and you pay Amazon and they pay the sellers. Also, Amazon lists out-of-print items that are only available through the marketplace dealers. The marketplace side is more similar to eBay's half.com than the main auction site.

[reformedliberal]

Pick and choose what you buy on eBay. You _can_ use a cc on Paypal, but a Paypal account has a guarantee and will refund your money from a bad seller. I just had an item I paid for from another website become unavailable. The seller refunded my Paypal account instantly once they knew they could not get the item. The only potentially weak aspect of Paypal is it must link to a bank account. The solution is set up a checking account just for that and always keep the balance as low as possible. You can set up that account with a debit card attached, fund the account when you need to make a purchase on the net and be assured that only that amount is even available. The debit card works online just like a credit card.

I buy and sell on eBay. Just last week, I looked at an item on Amazon and balked at the postage and price. Went to eBay, found a better version, more for less and free shipping. It shipped at the package rate and I got it in a week instead of 3 days with USPS Priority. I usually avoid foreign sellers and don't ship out of the US, but that is just me and my dislike of paperwork. I have many friends who do both and are happy with their transaction.

A note on postage: on eBay and my own website, the postage is set at a flat rate above the cost of the postage. Reason 1) it takes time and materials to pack an item. Packing tape, for example, has become quite expensive. Reason 2) while shipment within a few hundred miles may be under $4, the same package from the center of the country to either coast can be $9+ for the 2-pound rate. I would rather lose a sale than show a loss on the time and materials, but that's just me. I never understood the concept of making up a loss with volume.

I have bought on eBay for over 10 years and never had a rip-off. I buy Amazon all the time, but I check all aspects of the sale and compare around the net, first. Often, with books, I get free shipping and with genre fiction and some other items, I often get 4 for the price of 3. Saves time, saves gas, usually saves money. You have a choice on Amazon, usually. Either you buy from them or you can choose to buy from an individual who has an Amazon store.

I have sold on eBay, off and on, for 3 years or so. You must make sure as a seller, to account for fees and packaging or you are wasting your time.

My husband won't use Paypal because of the checking account requirement. So what does he do? He asks me to buy the item for him or he uses a credit card through Paypal. I have to add that while I signed up for Paypal in 2000, I did not have the account verified until last year when eBay mandated Paypal. I have a Premier account, so I can sell as well as buy. I prefer it to using a credit card. As a merchant, I pay 1.69% for a Paypal transaction and 5% if the customer uses a credit card. But I have no statement fee, no other fees, no security requirement fees and no cancellation or inactivity fees. I no longer have a merchant credit account and I am saving money.

[OregonRancher]

I buy books from Amazon. Two weeks ago I purchased a book and last week we got our CC statement with three un-authorized charges totaling over $800 from the vendor.
Chase immediately credited out account. Be careful out
there.