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Comment by heavyset_go | Hacker News Reader

Prime membership isn't worth it to me. "Free" shipping is priced into the cost each listing, and is glaringly obvious when comparing prices for the same item between Amazon and another retailer. Usually there is a few dollar difference, which is what the shipping cost would be with the other retailer. Many of the items I find on Amazon are cheaper to buy directly from the manufacturer on AliExpress, and I have no need to pay a middleman's markup.

There is also the issue of the counterfeit items I've received, and the quality of Amazon's branded products. When I went to return a knockoff product, reporting it as a counterfeit item wasn't even an option to mark as my reason for returning it. I've also had one of their branded surge protectors fail on me recently.

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I've yet to find a reliable, reputable retailer that comes close to price-matching Amazon. Much less beating them. Walmart and Best Buy come closest, and they're usually in the ballpark of 5% higher.

If you're bringing up the issue of counterfeits and knockoffs, yet also suggesting ALIEXPRESS (!) as an alternative, then I don't know what to respond with other than laughter.

> I've yet to find a reliable, reputable retailer that comes close to price-matching Amazon.

Just search for the product using your search engine of choice. Google's Shopping search isn't too bad. I often find what I'm looking for from a retailer nearby, and more often than not, that product is available for purchase on their website.

At least for the products that I purchase, it's been several years since Amazon's prices have been competitive.

> If you're bringing up the issue of counterfeits and knockoffs, yet also suggesting ALIEXPRESS (!) as an alternative, then I don't know what to respond with other than laughter.

I'm under no impression that what are listed on AliExpress are anything but products meant to be resold by white-label resellers on other sites like Amazon. I just buy the white-label products directly instead of through a middleman. When it comes to things like cables, accessories, and electronic components, it's often much cheaper.

When it comes to authentic products from high quality brands, I choose to buy from trusted retailers, or from the manufacturer's website itself.

Agree with every point including white label versions of electronic components being more cost effective from AliExpress. You just have to trade the cost savings with a little bit of time if you don't need it immediately. Also with home products, fixtures, and some furniture, AliExpress has a ton of overlap with items on wayfair.com

Best Buy in my area (Cambridge, MA) price-matches Amazon when you show them the same item on the app. It has to be sold by Amazon (not "fulfilled by Amazon"). Saved me a couple of times when I needed something urgently and couldn't wait for shipping.

Yes I did this for a Garmin Instinct watch this last week. It was 30% cheaper on Amazon (80ish dollars) and the Best Buy cashier looked at it on his phone, called over his manager and she price matched it. It was a pretty nice experience actually.

I’ve tried this a few times but big companies tend to have exclusive SKUs for each major vendor, so the HP laptop sold on Amazon might be the same hardware that Best Buy has, but they’re different SKUs so Best Buy refuses to price match.

Sometimes it works out. But not always.

You realize that's the whole point of dedicated SKUs, right?

My response is a facepalm, as i've grown tired of explaining "Amazon Marketplace" listings and the button you can push to hide all of them.

You seem to be unaware that even if you don't buy from the amazon marketplace, amazon will happily ship you something from an amazon marketplace vendor. So it really makes no difference.

Does amazon actually mix their inventory with FBA? I thought the commingling was just within FBA.

My understanding: yes.

>I've yet to find a reliable, reputable retailer that comes close to price-matching Amazon

I don't know if that's a fair comparison... do you consider Amazon reliable and reputable?

I guess 150m people value their time more highly than you :)

It takes more time out of my day to file for returns, package and ship my returns and try to figure out why my hardware failed due to poor quality Amazon branded products than it is to go with another retailer.

Trying to ascertain whether or not reviews I see on Amazon are legit, or are even for the same product as the product they're listed under, are significant time wasters, too.

And so you buy generics from AliExpress?

I'm not sure what you mean by generics. There are a lot of white label products on Amazon that use the same stock pictures as the manufacturers do on AliExpress. It's often just cheaper to order it from the manufacturer instead of through a middleman.

Branded products, that aren't just white label products, I try to buy directly from the manufacturer. For example, I buy my Apple replacement chargers directly from Apple.

I find it strange that you complain about the quality of Amazon branded products but then buy the same things from AliExpress.

I think 150m are poor at managing money. You can get Prime for free at almost any time (I've gotten it for free EVERY time I've ordered from AMZ since Prime existed) and cancelled before getting charged.

Yes, given the pooled bins for items sold from different sellers, I just don’t trust Amazon not to provide a counterfeit item.

"Price of shipping" doesn't automatically include a generous return policy, or fast shipping. I am a Prime Member, but I buy elsewhere frequently. But it still save me money overall, and Amazon Prime has mostly every movie I would ever want to see.

Same here in the UK.

I've stopped using Amazon other than for some consumables where price is equal or inferior to supermarkets. Unlike supermarkets like Waitrose, they don't have stock issues.

Plus, on those items I will never get counterfeit items or if I do it will be terribly obvious.

Else, I've given up on Amazon. So many issues it's not worth the hassle. I'd happily pay more for a premium store where they guarantee they are not sending me counterfeit or refurbished items as new.

I have the complete opposite experience, but perhaps it depends on what one buys.

By your logic, those non-prime members are paying double for their shipping.

It's the speed that's as good as the cost. Often I'll order things that arrive at my door less than 24 hours later - it's harder to find that with non-Prime items.

Re: the surge protector- did it stop transferring power, or did it fail to protect your equipment?

I've never purchased something from AliExpress. What is the customer service like?

I've only had to do one return, and they refunded my money instantly without requiring me to return the item.

It depends on the seller. Aliexpress will do something if you can't find an agreement with the seller after many days. Some sellers are just stupid.

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