Many online commerce sites sell millions of product references under their own name. These platforms also host a marketplace, an exclusive space that allows independent resellers, professionals or individuals, to put their products on sale.
However, when buying your Christmas gifts from these types of merchants, you do not benefit from the guarantees offered by the American delivery platform. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to who you buy your products from, to ensure that Amazon actually markets and fulfills the desired product. Objective: minimize certain risks linked to third-party sellers, such as their reliability or the risk of counterfeiting. And, above all, take advantage of Amazon’s return conditions, which are very favorable for the customer.
There are three possible ways to sell and ship a product on Amazon. The products marketed directly by the platform are easy to identify. To spot them, simply examine the product listing and look for the words “Dispatched from Amazon” and “Sold by Amazon,” which are located below the “Add to Cart” and “Buy this item” buttons.
According to Amazon, products sold through this channel are covered by several warranties. You will also benefit from the reliability of the delivery platform’s French customer service in case of damaged or counterfeit product, delayed delivery or even order error. Delivery is also faster than with a third-party seller and the return policy is more flexible.
Third Party Resellers: Major Risks
Another scenario: Your product is shipped by Amazon but sold by a third-party reseller. Therefore, these items are owned by an independent third-party company and are shipped in advance to Amazon warehouses, which ship them to you when you order them. In this case, “Amazon is in charge of customer service and manages resources,” indicates the platform. Which provides protection comparable to that of products sold and shipped by Amazon.
Finally, items presented as sold and shipped by a third-party seller are those that carry their share of risks. In this situation, the platform disclaims any responsibility: a dispute related to the purchase of a product from a third-party reseller must be resolved directly between the latter and the customer, the platform specifies.
Additionally, some third-party resellers ship their products from abroad. With the disadvantage of the risk of lack of French-speaking contact in the event of a dispute and the return of defective products at your expense.
Which can be costly, as Amazon requires a return with a “tracking” option to enforce their warranty. In case of return without tracking and loss of the package, the customer will not be able to obtain compensation. Possible taxes as well as customs duties may also increase the bill during delivery.
Source: BFM TV
