Etsy has climbed over 54 million members. Rakuten has over 40,000 sellers. But, there are still only two big marketplace names in everyone’s mind: eBay & Amazon.
There are many differences and similarities in eBay vs Amazon selling. This blog post will discuss the broader context for the types of buyers and sellers on each platform, and the accompanying infographic will share the statistics behind each powerhouse name.
If you are only interested in the infographic, click here to jump to it.
eBay vs Amazon Market Size
In 2014, eBay earned $17.94 billion dollars, and Amazon earned a whopping $88.99 billion dollars. That’s nearly 5x more in revenue!
Keep in mind that eBay is purely a marketplace, and Amazon is much more. Amazon sells its own products, has a subscription service for streaming movies and tv, and has even branched out to video game streaming.
However, if you look at the active user-base for 2015, Amazon had 244 million active users. eBay only had 157 million. This is still around 1.5x larger, but it’s a much more usable number than the 5x revenue disparity, for comparison’s sake.
eBay vs Amazon Demographics
The exact demographics of eBay and Amazon are hard to come by. However, according to Alexa.com both Amazon & eBay are above the internet average of female users and of users browsing from school.
(Note that just because they’re above the internet average of female users, it doesn’t mean their average user is female.)
Also, according to two independent studies, the average Amazon user seems to be slightly younger than the average eBay user. See the infographic for a full breakdown of user ages.
eBay vs Amazon Products
Here is an area where the differences in eBay vs Amazon really show. On the whole, eBay is better for used items and Amazon is better for new. There aren’t any statistics out there to show you that support this, which is why it’s not included in the infographic, but it only takes basic reasoning to figure it out.
Simply take a second and think about both websites. If you want to buy a used laptop for a cheap price, would you think Amazon or eBay? If you want to buy a new keyboard and mouse for your computer–Amazon or eBay?
Most people already have it embedded in their mind that Amazon is where companies sell new products, eBay is where people sell used items.
Another reason this is supported is because Amazon requires UPC codes for every item sold. This may not be a problem for a seasoned retailer, for a mom and pop shop selling used or homemade items, it can complicate selling. (Imagine adding a UPC to hundreds of unique, used items.)
The Importance of Mobile
Whether you are selling on Amazon or eBay, one thing is clear, mobile is undeniably important. 56% of eBay shoppers are “multi-screen” shoppers, and 69% of all smartphone users have an Amazon app.
Since you’re selling on their marketplace, you luckily don’t have to worry about making a mobile app, or having a responsive website, because that work has already been done for you.
But, it should be noted, if mobile is this important for Amazon & eBay, it’s just as important for your own webstore. If you are running your own website in congruence with Amazon or eBay, make sure it’s mobile friendly.
Amazon vs eBay Overall Decision
When it comes down to it, the best marketplace to sell on depends on what you’re selling. Take a look at your inventory and simply ask yourself, “If I was looking to buy this item, what site would I go to?”
Maybe the answer is simple and you sell on both. Maybe you decide to only sell on eBay or only on Amazon. You could even sell on both for a period of time and see which one performs better.
If you’re looking for a starting point, I would say this: If it’s new, sell it on Amazon, if it’s used, sell it on eBay.
Disagree? Let me know in the comments. Also, please share the infographic below, a code has been provided below it to post to your blog or website.
Let me know in the comments if you post it anywhere, so I can check it out.
Cool fact on the countries both platforms sell in. I hadn’t even thought of that fact in any of my equations. Thanks for the infographic I am going to be passing this along! I sell on Ebay mostly. I have one of a kind, vintage/ antique items. Check it out if you want http://bit.ly/sharsbuysandbids-store-items
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Found a free shopping comparison site for mobile. They compare Amazon and eBay marketplaces around the world, so we know where to buy the cheapest in the world.
http://world-buy.net/
Thanks for this writeup.
I’ve been using http://zippooh.com for a year.
One click compare Amazon and eBay prices.
Which Is Cheaper?
I use http://buy4sell.link to compare prices… It’s amazing how much prices differ on some products!
Great infographic and I would like to see an update one since these sales numbers are from 2014.
I totally agree here. If you are selling a used item, it makes more sense to go to eBay for that Cheap Pricing. Amazon is more suited for Like New or New Condition Items. With these in mind, I have decided to implement the 2 for sales and then eBay for all my Used Items and Amazon for Like New or New.
Something else to that I discovered, eBay is also wonderful for Components or Parts, then Amazon for actual Whole Products. For example, I buy used/broken computers and fix them as a whole or in parts. I sell quicker on Amazon as a whole computer if possible, than in parts; eBay becomes effective on this.
Much higer return rate on Amazon than on ebay
[…] Haselden, J (2015). A Comparison of eBay vs. Amazon Selling. Retrieved July 27, 2015 from https://www.nchannel.com/blog/ebay-vs-amazon-selling-comparison/ […]
Amazon is probably the most dishonest invention ever made.
I was selling in amazon for a period of 1 year, new items.
Here are the facts:
1- Their dishonest algorithm detects the things sellers are selling better.
After this, they invest huge amounts of money in that item within the next weeks, making giants contracts with the manufacturers. No far from then you’ll see the Amazon bot in the buybox and you being displaced below. No matter if the Amazon bot has not sold the first unit of that item, it will be the first and you’ll be displaced.
Button line: thanks to the risk you might have took in the investment of your merchandises, Amazon knows now that that item sells good. Say bye bye to selling that item anymore because you won’t be able to compite with them. They don’t charge the 15% to themselves and probably because thry bought 10,000 units on that item you were selling so good, theu had bigger discount from the manufacturer. Also because Amazon(practically i would say owns UPS) YOU won’t be able neither to compite with your carrier rates.
2- Buyers always claim the item has defects in order to make the sellers to pay for the returns. It doesn’t matter if the item has absolutely nothing in fact you will see it has nothing wrong when is back to you. But at that point you have already paid for the return and you have nothing to do.
3- You’re forced to do business with buyers that send constantly returns and even to make business again with a buyer even if he/she gave you a negative feedback because the exclusion list doesn’t exist (in eBay you put the dishonest/liars/returns lovers in the exclusion list and they don’t bother anymore unless they change their id but few people would do that to buy again from a sellers that blocked them).
Who says all this ?
An ebay seller with 100% positive feedback, top rated, and platinum powerseller.
Get my advice which is given to you in a sincere manner. If you want to lose money and get infarcted, sell in Amazon.
http://stores.ebay.com/midwestsupplying
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