I’ve purchased thousands of items on Amazon over the last two decades. I maybe only one time got something that was used but marked as new. What kind of items are you getting that are used?
Used items: Electronics, DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, lenses (especially bad, has someone dropped them?), latest (this week) was a Gardena water splitter. I mostly by somewhere else if possible today (Bauhaus for garden stuff, Mediamarkt for electronics, cameras from my local store).
It doesn't help that too many manufacturers don't seal their packaging.
It's very weird that you've had so many used items delivered, but it's definitely not a common thing in Germany.
I've met many people in Germany who also got used stuff from Amazon and therefor left. I also know several people who buy 3 cameras/TVs/phones, use them for two weeks and then send 2 of them back and keep one.
And whenever I've bought lenses on Amazon I didn't find marketplace deals, so these cameras and lenses need to end up somewhere. Amazon is trashing returns but for sure not $3k cameras.
I didn't even bother to see if it was functional.
They did the same thing with 2 2tb nvme drives. Bubble envelope. Sent right back.
And yet, they will sell me $12 wet wipes that are double boxed.
I go direct or Ebay most of the times now.
Main feature that Amazon has - pages and pages of knock-off Chinese brands - is more elegant on Ebay.
Another complication are the 3rd party sellers.
I’ve gotten used watches, air filters, lights etc. personal health gear, books, and more. Again it’s not the rule but it certainly happens and you have to pay close attention.
Another dark pattern is that you cannot select sold and shipped by Amazon only anymore, which to my personal experience, leads to higher chances of counterfeits.
Had a wedding registry on Amazon once, got some high end knives that immediately started rusting. Realized a lot of the stuff we got was 3 rd party sellers, figured some of it might be counterfeit and I wouldn’t be able to tell until it was too late. Returned hundreds of pounds of cookware, cast iron, etc all at amazons expense.
This!