TulipTools Internet Business Owners and Online Sellers Community

I'm trying to move away from buying anything on eBay at all. In the past I've found it convenient for most things and excellent for rare things, but with all the BS, shipping gouging, etc., and crud, I've been trying to buy most everything off-eBay these days.

Don't get me wrong--there's about two dozen private sites I've regularly bought from over the past few years (some as long as 7 or 8 years), and probably another 30 or so that I buy from once in a while. eBay was never my sole source of online shopping.

After eBay became a cheap-for-all, I found myself using it more and more. Contributing to the bargain hunting we all know so well, I suppose.

I'd like to avoid buying anything on eBay again, if I can help it. Only on occasions where I can't find something elsewhere ( refuse to use the word "it"). LOL.

What I'd like to get going here is a discussion of where YOU guys are buying stuff now. And I don't just mean places where you're "friendship" buying from other sellers, for the sake of building a new auction site.

Which places are you buying at, off eBay? Is there anyone else out there who is hoping to quit buying on eBay altogether?

I can't tell you where I'm buying because right now I am buying NOWHERE. (Thanks, Ebay, for making my finances take a hit!  )

But the last place I will buy any more is Ebay. I'm done. There is nothing there that I need badly enough to buy on that site. I will not support them in any way. And I will not subsidize the fee increases by paying the ridiculous shipping charges that are becoming the norm. Handling fees are fine but what I see on Ebay today is ridiculous.

After my last few purchases, it won't be hard to go cold turkey either. 3 out of 4 items were definitely not as described. The sellers had good feedback, too. I think many are getting sloppy because of all of the sh.it that Ebay puts them through. But they won't get my business.  I didn't gouge on shipping or get sloppy. I walked away. Let 'em buy from each other.

END OF RANT.  And back to the regularly scheduled program. 

Well... I'm "ashamed" to admit, that I do buy on ebay... FOR RESALE!  Ebay prices, for most things are bargain basement, but honestly, the seller pool leaves much to be desired.  I never expect too much... if the description states "excellent, no damage", I prepare for the worst and pay accordingly.  In the vintage textiles categories, I can GUARANTEE that if you buy 10 things from 10 different sellers, 6 will be sub-par and 2-3 out of that 6 will be downright awful and in need of some reconciliation from the seller.  Feedback doesn't mean shit.  In the vintage paper/ephemera categories... not quite so bad, but nobody knows how to describe magazines and ephemera, or if they do, they don't take the time to... they take a crappy photo and say "pretty good shape".  Assume the worst in what you can't see in the photos. 

OK... end rant. 

Now, where do I ENJOY shopping online? 

My two biggest vendors are:

Computer Discount Warehouse
http://cdw.com

J&R Music World
http://jr.com
(been doing business with them since the 1980's PRE-internet... catalog mail order)

Here's some others I frequent:

Bulk Foods
http://bulkfoods.com

Drs Foster and Smith (Pet Supplies)
http://drsfosterandsmith.com

ULINE
http://uline.com

Midwest Box
http://midwestbox.com
Local (for me) Shipping Supplies (local means cheap freight!)

Office Depot
http://officedepot.com
I don't buy from them as much as I used to...

Barnes & Noble
http://bn.com
(OK... I admit it... I FIND books at B/N then go buy at Amazon!)

Amazon
http://amazon.com


I don't frequent any other auction sites any longer... I used to have about 30 saved searches at Yahoo auctions, but nothing ever panned out.

As far as quitting buying on ebay... Here's the deal... when I can supply the company with the inventory that we need on relatively short notice at good prices... I'll never shop ebay again.  We're estate sale/auction buyers, so there's no guarantee what we'll find at the auctions.  When inventory starts coming up short, ebay is the only place to turn unless gas gets back down to $1.10/gallon where I can drive a good distance farther.

To sum it up... I buy on ebay for business... the rest is business AND pleasure.

There 'ya have my take! 

Amazon.com and Yahoo Shopping are my 2 most frequent starting points.  I hate the online auction buying 'experience' and avoid all auction sites--and that includes storefronts on auction sites.

Quote:Barnes & Noble
http://bn.com
(OK... I admit it... I FIND books at B/N then go buy at Amazon!)

I like B&N because they offer same day delivery in Manhattan for the same price that the rest of you pay for standard delivery from them.

Quote:J&R Music World
http://jr.com
(been doing business with them since the 1980's PRE-internet... catalog mail order)

I've never shopped their website but their store is about 1 mile from us.  I've made many purchases there since the late 1970's

I'm sorry to say that I don't do much internet shopping.  I don't do brick&mortar shopping much, either.  I'm just NOT a shopper hardly at all except to the grocery store most every day.

However, Xmas is coming up.  The relatives all expect their favorites this year, that I send from these two. 

Collin Street Bakery for luscious pecan cakes and their world-famous fruitcake.

Pittman & Davis for scrumptious rubyred grapefruit and other fruits.

I receive from:

Harry & David  for fabulous pears and other fruits.

cranky_hippy, I couldn't agree more... Blehhh. It's getting so that what you buy, if you risk buying, is crap on eBay... Not everything, but it's a gamble.

Thanks, FiberGuy. I'm bookmarking some of those. Here's some I buy from frequently.

I use Amazon for all of my used books, video games, and music--or I shop locally. I don't touch Half anymore. I've also been trying Amazon's Gourmet food area.

I also use http://www.ebworld.com for video games at times.

I also like:

DeepDiscountDVD:
http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com
Great prices, moderatly slow shipping. Trustworthy.

Art Supplies:
http://www.dickblick.com
http://www.artmolds.com/index.cfm

Soap Supplies / Natural Embeds:
http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com

Vitamins/Holistic:
http://www.puritansale.com
http://www.pennherbcompany.com
http://www.drugstore.com
http://www.mothernature.com

Chinese Medicine:
http://www.eastearthherb.com
(If I can't get it locally.Costs a bit more on the site, but if you can't find it...)

Ten Ren Tea
http://www.tenren.com
http://www.tentea.com

Stash Tea
http://www.stashtea.com

Electronics / Equipment / Furniture
I usually use:

http://www.pricegrabber.com
http://www.dealcatcher.com
http://www.nextag.com

to drill down. Then I read the site and product reviews to avoid a ripoff. I like http://www.newegg.com, too.

Also:

http://www.chinasprout.com
Chinese Cultural Items

http://www.fengshuibestbuy.com/index.html
Feng Shui Supplies

Packing Supplies:

http://www.fast-pack.com
http://www.veripack.com
http://www.papermart.com


Cut Gemstones:
http://www.unconventionallapidarist.com

Anime Collectibles:
http://www.aaaanime.com

I still can't find a good person to buy Chinese stamps from (I collect the literary / deity stamps)...

Actually--the funny thing is, most of us are avoiding auction sites. Wonder what that says about the future of auctioning? I realize we're just one small sample, but still...

I love Collin Street's fruitcakes. They are friggin' awesome. Harry and David is also exceptional.

Stardust, check out the vintage candies at:

http://www.vermontcountrystore.com
(some of the prices seem high at first, but that's cause they usually sell several boxes for one price).

I also forgot:
http://www.tapplastics.com
Tap Plastics

http://www.firemountaingems.com
Fire Mountain Gems & Beads

Amy's post:

Quote:I hate the online auction buying 'experience' and avoid all auction sites--and that includes storefronts on auction sites.

Reminded me of an important fact about my ebay purchasing... if it wasn't for automated snipe software, I WOULD NOT BUY.... PERIOD!

The whole "auction" scene turns me off, in general... I know what I can pay... I know what I want... I want to BUY IT... not bid, wait, bid again (maybe), wait some more and MAYBE get the item.  

~ACK~

Also to Amy... I'm envious... I've always loved to visit J&R's showroom!  Not so much nowadays, but in my "stereo/electronics/gadgets" phase several years ago, I would be in the 8th level of heaven!

Cheers

If Amazon.com doesn't sell it, I don't need it.

JC Penny also.  JCP.com

I've purchased a few things from J&R Music on Amazon.  No problem with any products, but they send TONS of junk snail mail.  That makes me crazy(er).

Lately about the only thing I have been buying online is inventory and almost none of my suppliers sell through auctions.

Hubby still buys on eBay to resell but Thentavious is right, you risk buying crap and if it is not crap before it is shipped it often is when it arrives. It seems like very few of the sellers left on eBay in hubby's category know how to pack anymore.