WARNING: This thread might seriously damage your wallet

Posted by: Tam on 28 July 2006

I have recently discovered the Amazon market place. Doubtless there are many here who were already aware of it and making good use of it, but for those who aren't....

I had been dimly aware of it, but paranoia always held me back. However, after the recent and wonderful series of Beethoven piano sonata concerts from Paul Lewis I headed over to Amazon to pick up his disc. I slightly balked at the price (£14) but couldn't help noticing 'more buying choices... new from £3.99' which seemed rather too good to be true but at that price worth a punt.

When one clicks on the link one gets a list of 3rd party independend sellers, you then choose which one to buy from (they have feedback a la ebay) and then pay as normal through Amazon - though I recently discovered that you can't use gift certificates. The payment all goes through Amazon so I suppose one is protected from shady dealers.

Anyway, to cut a long story short I've been buying large numbers of CDs very cheaply in hurting the wallet by a thousand cuts sort of way. And, very often, the service has been prompter and better than buying from Amazon proper.

So, well worth investigating for any who haven't (but it gets pricey - you have been warned).

regards, Tam
Posted on: 28 July 2006 by Ian G.
yep, I have bought shedloads via the marketplace from caiman in the US. Basically excellent service, quick response on the few occasions when anything has gone wrong. Not always the fastest but I've come to trust them and they are usually only a few pence dearer than outfits that look like the back of a lorry.

Only two gotchas - (i) postage is per item and ordering 5 all at once doesn't get a saving. and (ii) orders of more than about £20 attract the attention of the customs and that can wipe out the savings.

But these apart they are great!

Ian
Posted on: 28 July 2006 by Tam
quote:
Originally posted by IanGtoo:
Only two gotchas - (i) postage is per item and ordering 5 all at once doesn't get a saving. and (ii) orders of more than about £20 attract the attention of the customs and that can wipe out the savings.


Good points - though a lot of the sellers are in the UK or mainland Europe and often nearly as cheap as the US.

That said, I recently ordered a region one DVD box set (shockingly isn't available about here) and am somewhat dreading the tax I'll need to pay.

All one more reason why VAT should be scrapped and we should have real free trade, but that's a thread for the padded cell.

regards, Tam
Posted on: 28 July 2006 by J.N.
I've been using 'Amazon Marketplace' for a while too. I only ever go for discs marked 'New', and so far, they have all been as advertised - and cheap.

Caiman are excellent for CD's from the USA.

John.
Posted on: 29 July 2006 by Tam
quote:
Originally posted by J.N.:
I've been using 'Amazon Marketplace' for a while too. I only ever go for discs marked 'New', and so far, they have all been as advertised - and cheap.


Interestingly, the 'new' discs almost always seem to be available cheaper than those marked 'second hand', so quite why one would want to be tempted by the later is beyond (I haven't so far).

regards, Tam
Posted on: 29 July 2006 by Steve S1
I've used Amazon market place for some time. Probably upward of 50 discs. I've bought "new", "nearly new" and "second-hand" when the disc is more rare.

Never had a problem and as long as you modify your expectations of delivery times - it's a good option.

I did point Fredrik toward the Bruno Walter Brahms series using this service, I don't know if he followed it up. Those discs were not available new.

Steve.
Posted on: 29 July 2006 by Harry
We buy and sell through Amazon marketplace and for what it is it works very well. I've managed to get hold of a couple of real treasures that (at the time) were not for sale anywhere else and we've never been stung. For buyers and sellers it's generally a win/win - subject to the usual cynical precautions. It's a nice little earner and for books in particular, ensures we don't run out of house space.

Cheers
Posted on: 29 July 2006 by Derek Wright
I have bought quite a few books thru the Amazon market place - in some cases there are pointers to the source web site and you can see what other items the dealer has - perhaps an opportunity to reduce postage costs.
Posted on: 29 July 2006 by nicnaim
Tam,

I recently got a copy of Milcho Leviev - "The Man from Plovdiv" brand new, this way. It cost less than any of the Amazon discs, and arrived far sooner. I too had been nervous previously, but purchased it this way as it seemed the only way to get it. Because it was through Amazon, it seemed likely to be legitimate. I would definite use this umbrella method again.

Regards

Nic