Amazon Marketplace

Full review
Taking its name from the mighty river, Seattle-based online vendor Amazon.com, which first opened its virtual doors in 1995 claims to have the "Earth's Biggest Selection." Selection of what is the question; selection of everything could be the answer. The intervening years have been kind to the world’s largest on-line store that used to sell just books and music. Amazon.com now sells an almost unbelievable array of goods, from electronics, to apparel, from pots & pans to jewelry, from DVD’s to baby items, this place has it all. Amazon.com has arguably become the place to find it all at a price that will not vacate your wallet.

After Amazon.com opened I must admit I shunned the place; I, like others, could find no compelling reason to shop there. Old habits die hard; I enjoyed the look, smell, and atmosphere of the brick and mortar book stores like Barnes & Noble, and Borders. Add to that the anxiety that naturally accompanies typing your credit card numbers into a database to end up Lord knows where. But as life became more hectic for me and time no longer lent itself to the leisurely pursuit casual book and music buying, Amazon.com crept, over time, into my buying vernacular. And over time buying led to selling, and I became an Amazon Merchant.

Who are Amazon Marketplace Sellers?

Amazon Marketplace Sellers are sellers of their own merchandise, new or used. They are people like you an me; i.e. anyone can be an Amazon Marketplace Seller as long as you have something to sell that is already listed on the site. The concept is simple: each item on Amazon.com has a “Sell Yours Here” radio button associated with it through which you can sell a new or used item if you happen to own it. You set the price. Your item may or mat not be competing with other Amazon Marketplace Sellers and or partner merchants such as J&R Music World, or Office Depot.

You of course have to set up a seller account before you start selling, but one setup Amazon takes care of billing for you, collecting the money (via credit card), and crediting your account for the price of the item and a nominal shipping allowance based on the type of item sold and how it is shipped. Amazon will also subtract a small fee from each sell.

Once the buyer’s credit card clears, you will receive an email telling you that you have sold an item; you then have two business days to ship the item to the buyer, utilizing whatever method you deem necessary. I always use the U.S. Postal Service.

Amazon Marketplace Sellers can only sell what Amazon itself has to offer; the option to “Sell Yours Here” is not available from third-party merchants, like Toy’s R Us who sell through Amazon.com. You can however set up your own fully vested merchant shop on Amazon, called a Z-Shop wherein you can offer your own merchandise complete with images.

Selection

Anything Amazon.com sells under its brand will more then likely be offered by an Amazon Marketplace Sellers as well. Amazon.com began by selling books and music, but now sells and ever expanding array of goods, but books and music is where you’ll find the largest selection of Marketplace Sellers doing business.

Searching for an item is the same. If you have even a vague idea of the item you're after, Amazon.com can help you track it down. In books for example your search can be customized with any of several book-specific criteria, including author, title, subject, publication date, and/or ISBN (International Standard Book Number). Once the book is found look under the “More Buying Choices” tab to view what the various Amazon Marketplace Sellers have to offer. Items listed for sell are either New, Like New, Good, or Acceptable. If the seller is good, there will be a brief description of the item, and other comments like the shipping terms.

Ordering & Payment

Amazon.com makes ordering that must have item relatively easy and painless. Credit card numbers—Visa, MasterCard and Discover are of course accepted as is American Express and the numbers can be stored securely for later use, along with a number of shipping addresses. All are available for use during the ordering process. Credit card numbers can be entered directly, and the check out process is simple and easy to complete. Other payment methods include:

• Checks & Money Orders
• Gift Cards & Certificates
• Promotional Certificates
• Purchase Orders
• Reward Certificates
• Web Certificates

Note: Gift Cards & Certificates, Promotional Certificates, Purchase Orders, Reward Certificates, and Web Certificates, can not be used for items offered for sale by Amazon Marketplace Sellers. Once the order is placed, Amazon.com will send you a confirmation email with the name of the Amazon Merchant your choice. It is then up to the merchant to contact you further once the order is shipped.

Customer Service

The trend I do not like is the virtual (no pun intended) absence of phone numbers to call for help in case you get stuck during the process, or trying to use the site. Amazon has joined those on-line Marketplace Sellers that either shun live customer assistance, or bury the phone number so deeply, frustration takes hold before the first number is dialed, if indeed it can be found In my case I spent some 10 minutes trying to find a phone number for customer service; no luck.

To Amazon’s credit there is a rather extensive on-line help, replete with Q&A’s sections for Ordering, Shipping, Returns, Account questions, Gift & Gift Certificates, Selling at Amazon.com, Digital Downloads, etc. And if you need future help you can contact Amazon.com via email. I have had to use Customer Service twice and each time the response has come less then 48 hours. Though speaking to a live person would have been preferable, or perhaps not depending on the person’s competence level, the timely response by email was acceptable.

If you have a problem with your order from a Marketplace Seller, Amazon will act as your advocate in an effort to try and resolve the issue, but the site does not govern returns; those issues are between the Amazon Marketplace Sellers and the seller.

Shipping, Handling & Tax

One of the jewels in the Amazon.com business model crown is the free shipping—called Super Saver Shipping—on all orders $25.00 or more. Granted this is ground shipping, but if you live near a major warehousing hub like I do, your orders will arrive within three to five business days. The one caveat is Super Saver Shippingdoes not extend to Amazon Marketplace Sellers. Both Marketplace Seller and Merchant Shops shipping rates are set by Amazon.

I have never paid taxes on items I have purchased from Amazon.com, however:

From the Amazon.com corporate website: Items sold by Amazon.com LLC and shipped to destinations in the states of Washington or North Dakota are subject to tax. Effective April 1, 2004 Amazon.com LLC will be required to charge sales tax in Kansas. The new collection requirements will apply to all orders shipped and charged on or after April 1, 2004, even if the order was placed before April 1, 2004.

While Amazon Marketplace Sellers, are not required to collect taxes regardless of where the item is sent, Merchant Shops are required by law to do so, to wit:
From the Amazon.com corporate website: The following is a partial list of merchants selling items at Amazon.com which may be included in your order, and the states in which they charge sales tax.

• Amazon.com LLC: ND and WA*
• Amazon.com Baby, Inc.: ND and WA *
• Babiesrus.com, LLC: All states other than AK, DC, DE, MT, NH, OR, and WY
• Borders teamed with Amazon.com, Inc.: ND and WA* (Note: items purchased for in-store pickup at Borders stores are sold by Borders, Inc., and may be subject to tax in most states.)
• Imaginarium.com: All states other than AK, DC, DE, MT, NH, OR, and WY
• Magazine Express, Inc.: AL and WA
• Synapse Services, Inc.: WA only
• Toysrus.com, LLC: All states other than AK, DC, DE, MT, NH, OR, and WY
• target.direct: All states other than AK, HI, and VT
My Experiences

I have had a lot of success both as a Marketplace Seller and as a buyer. Most of what I have bought from Marketplace Seller have been books and the occasional CD. Because they are affiliated with Amazon.com I tend to trust the vendors unless their profile ratings tell a different story.

The packages always come on time and are always carefully packed. Most, but not all Marketplace Sellers will send a confirmation email once my order is complete and ready for shipment. Some emails are short, while others are rather lengthy detailing the Marketplace Seller’s shipping methods and return policies. In the two years I have been buying from Amazon.com Marketplace Seller’s I have yet to have to return an item, either because it was broken in shipment, or because I was shipped the wrong item, or the item was misrepresented.

Conclusion

For me Amazon offers unbeatable selection, low prices, and outstanding customer service. And the addition of the Marketplace Seller’s only enhances the sites attraction, by allowing me to purchase used quality used goods at reasonable prices. This winning combination keeps me coming back to Amazon.com time and again.