Amazon Scams

[mike69440]

Twice this has happened.

Not sure where to post.

In the too good to be true category.

This set my BS meter off but I just had to ask. I saw on Amazon Amazon.com
Except "Like New, Used" for $400.

In NY, so I inquire with some pointed questions about more photo's where located, whats included, and Pick up vs. Shipping. Never heard back and post was removed.

Same thing happened with Amazon.com : Sojag 5-6158274 2 Track No.77 Messina Hard Top Sun Shelter, 12' by 16', Charcoal : Patio, Lawn & Garden Cheaper price listing was pulled in one day.

I've always dealt with honest people on Craigslist, eBay, etc., buying and selling. Not saying I can't be scammed, but it is pretty easy to get a sense of whom your dealing with.

 

[tomplum]

I have seen those as well. Log splitters, sun shelters as you noted as well. Usually by a just listed seller. And they will list several if you go to their "store". Priced 1/4- 1/3 of new. I can't think of any purpose other than harvesting data. Maybe someone more in touch than I can chime in.

 

[CCWKen]

That's why I ALWAYS look for items "Sold by" or at least shown to be "fulfilled by Amazon". This means the item is sitting in one of Amazon's distribution centers and is real. And, the item is probably a better quality and/or condition. Three times I ignored my own rule and three times I ended up sending the item back because it was DOA or missing parts. I got my money back but it's just a hassle and time wasted. I'd rather pay the few extra bucks more for Amazon sold/supplied items.

 

[TheMan419]

Interesting article in USA today (can't find link via my phone) that items having zero reviews do not get the sales traffic items having even one review do. 20 reviews seems to be the sweet point of driving sales.

If the price is too good to be true and it is a "new" seller alarm bells should be going off.

I too like items sold or fulfilled by amazon.

Also interesting some cc have their own return policy. Meaning if the original vendor won't take it back the cc company will. So check with them.

If it a complete scam meaning you pay and no item shows up dispute w cc company.

Note there is a huge difference between cc and debit card or prepaid card. All of my online purchase are via a true cc as you get much better fraud protection.

 

[rd_macgregor]

Interesting article in USA today (can't find link via my phone) that items having zero reviews do not get the sales traffic items having even one review do. 20 reviews seems to be the sweet point of driving sales.

So, does Amazon have some way to keep a vendor from creating a set of fake reviews to bolster credibility/sales?

 

[tomplum]

There is an app called "Fakespot" that will analyze the reviews, give a company grade, point out reviews they feel are fake. I uninstalled it after they wanted more permissions than I thought they should have. Back to the OP's observation, I've seen these that flat out say that they don't have the product currently, yet go though the effort to list something can't sell or even take money for. $1600 log splitter for $499. Is the point to harvest data or?? Now if you would see the same splitter offer through warehouse deals at $959, that could be a good thing.

 

[davesl708]

My experience with Amazon has been very positive with the only exception being ordering an item from an outside vendor rather than supplied by Amazon.
The item was listed as "in-stock". I placed the order and got a notice the item was back ordered and would be four weeks for deliver. I asked for a refund and got no response. I waited two days and then contacted Amazon. Within three hours the vendor contacted me and said they would get me a refund that day. No apology or anything.

I complained to the vendor and Amazon about listing items as "in-stock" when the item was not available.
The big disappointment is the vendor is a major retailer/supplier for farm and ranch.

 

[Dadnatron]

I order more than half of everything I purchase, via Amazon. It has been a life improver, no doubt.

I rarely go to the store for anything, if I can help it. Almost everything I might need, if not immediate, is available on my doorstep 2 days later, at a cheaper price.

I use Amazon Prime almost exclusively, so it is rare that they aren't the ones who is fulfilling the order. When I send things back, I get a notice of refund within a few hours of dropping it off at UPS.

I wouldn't purchase anything from a non-reviewed source nor from anything that didn't accept payment in a way that couldn't be reversed.

 

[PJSprog]

We get a lot of stuff through Amazon, too, these days. Since they opened a distribution center near us in Edwardsville, IL, we get some stuff the next day. Everything we buy we put on our Amazon credit card, so we have that as a safety net. Generally, though, everything is through a known vendor or Amazon Prime.

A BTR Pro for $400? Wouldn't THAT be nice.

 

[beowulf]

Amazon has a great business model. Whenever there has been an issue with an order - even if it has been my fault - they immediately resolve it and always in my favor. You can make contact by phone immediately with a person who will fix the issue, or can contact them by email and receive a resolution within a day or less. Additionally, you can post questions about a product you are considering buying and get multiple answers, and can read reviews (though you sometimes have to find the more reliable ones). If I can get it through Amazon that is where I will buy it.

 

[BigBlue1]

I just reported two sellers yesterday for the same thing. They were selling bandsaws as 'used but like new' and both companies had the exact price, description (down to using non-standard characters like umlauts and including the exact same e-mail address masked in the description) but different names and shipping locations. The sellers wanted you to e-mail them. The Amazon chat rep I talked to recognized them as frauds immediately and said they would be blocked. Even gave me a $5 credit for reporting them (wasn't expecting that).

Rob

 

[hawkeye08]

I was shopping some Magpul iron sights for AR-15 and read about some being counterfeit. I read about when Amazon fulfills, they can have stock from several vendors in the same bin (same sku goes into same bin, even if from multiple vendors as long as Amazon is stocking the product).. We bought what we wanted at Cabelas (paid a premium) to avoid (we hoped) getting a bad set. Amazon is a tool, not the end all answer..

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Bought some wrangler jeans on Amazon that appear to be clones. Not bad, but not wranglers.

 

[rekees4300]

Not saying I can't be scammed, but it is pretty easy to get a sense of whom your dealing with.

Amazon has what they call a....z guarantee. If seller isn't satisfactory, Amazon WILL fix the problem.

 

[mike69440]

So, does Amazon have some way to keep a vendor from creating a set of fake reviews to bolster credibility/sales?

Yes, that is what I was wondering. Those ads I mentioned smelled more than rotten.

Generally Amazon does a good job.

I do try to buy from Amazon directly, but I've never had a problem other than wait time for other items by vendors sold thru Amazon.
Some things are sold direct by the manufacturer in China thru Amazon. I'm amazed that sometmes I only wait 7-10 days or so, even on small hard to find items.

 

[BigBlue1]

Amazon has what they call a....z guarantee. If seller isn't satisfactory, Amazon WILL fix the problem.

The ones I saw I think the sellers wanted to guide buyers off of Amazon to purchase directly. That would nullify Amazon's guarantee. Too good to be true usually is...

Rob

 

[dirt ditch]

reuters.com -Tue Mar 21, 2017- Amazon to expand counterfeit removal program in overture to sellers

 

[mike69440]

reuters.com -Tue Mar 21, 2017- Amazon to expand counterfeit removal program in overture to sellers

Good info, Sending that bozo an question through Amazon hopeful will not compromise my account.

Thanks.

 

[BigBlue1]

reuters.com -Tue Mar 21, 2017- Amazon to expand counterfeit removal program in overture to sellers

If they are targeting true counterfeit goods this is a great idea. If they are going to crack down on 'unauthorized' sellers of legit products (you know, how some brands only have a few 'authorized' online retailers that qualify for warranty coverage) then this is bad. I don't like brands that limit who can sell their product. Sometimes I want to buy something where I don't care about warranty coverage and I'm fine buying 'grey market' for way less $$.

Rob

 

[Hyrb]

I know this is an old thread but it is an important one. We own a small US Based manufacturing company that both sells through and manufactures for Amazon.com. This means that we offer around 2000 items we sell as a 3rd Party Amazon Seller. We have another 700 line items we build that Amazon buys directly from us to stock in their warehouses offered as "Sold buy Amazon".

After 8 years we know how Amazon operates Most 3rd Party sellers are honest hard working merchants - BUT - 2 years ago Amazon chose to open selling to the Chinese. Unlike US Based merchants the Chinese had very little if any vetting of business credentials and history. If you see a "New Listed" seller with 500000 yes that is 500 hundred thousand new items for sale all available overnight, that is what you are dealing with. If you see an item that is 1/3 the price it should be, doesn't say where it is shipping from, from a seller with only a few or no feedbacks, you pretty much know what is happening.

TIPS TO RECOGNIZE A SCAMMER

1. Seller Profile - each seller on Amazon has a profile page that provides details about their business, Customer Service phone numbers, return policy etc. For instance - Amazon REQUIRES a 30 day return policy. But some sellers like our company offer 60 days. Good to know?

2. Seller Feedback - This can tell you a bunch. Feedback on Amazon runs about 1% of total sales. Any seller with over one thousand feedback has been there for Years. Amazon doesn't play games, screw around and they will close your account. To stay a seller long term means you take care of customers.

3, Items Listed - Does a sellers storefront consist of a few specialty areas or are they selling everything from t-shirts to car parts. Sellers who specialize tend to know more about their product lines and have long term relationships with the Brands they offer. Sellers who sell everything many times are selling knock-off or buyer returns from department stores. You don't want an item that has been returned once already.

4, Used Like New - A LOT of these are folks who have bought returned or open box goods at auction and are dumping them on Amazon. Others are scammers who will never ship.

5. Tracking # from China - Do you have a seller who advertised an item as shipped from the USA and yet you get a tracking number showing shipping from China with delivery in 5 weeks? CALL AMAZON NOW - demand order cancellation and your money back. They will try to get you to wait 5 weeks - DON'T. 95% of these items will never arrive in the USA.. Chinese companies can generate tracking numbers all day long. The tracking doesn't go anywhere...

If you see hundreds of product reviews with almost none being a verified purchase you know those reviews are fakes. There are Chinese companies that will provide 100 fake Amazon reviews for $5. BUT - they are written in broken English or all copies of the same wording over and over. Also, you will not know an item is shipping from China when you click the buy box.

Another thing mentioned in this thread is "Commingling" within an Amazon warehouse. Lets say you have 11 sellers all offering a brand name item. 8 of those sellers can send in the legitimate item and 3 from China send in the "Chinese OEM" version. What you get when you order it whatever is on the shelf. Almost no US based sellers allow commingling now because of the counterfeiting.

If you receive an item that is not legit PLEASE CALL AMAZON. Don't call the seller - call Amazon and just get your money back! Don't put up with receiving cheap Chinese knock-offs! PLEASE help all good sellers out by reporting the scam artists. Almost real is NOT the same as buying a real item. Companies spend their heart and soul to build their businesses and Brands and far too many US buyers don't seem to care they are receiving fakes when a real item is advertised. The only way to stop scam artists is to report them!