Amazon vs. eBay: Which Is Better to Sell On?

Amazon and eBay are both huge online marketplaces, with one main difference: eBay offers auctions in addition to the classic “buy now.”

But let’s look at data to help make a determination.

Traffic

Amazon takes the trophy.

Between January 2021 to January 2022, Amazon earned 2 billion visits in the US, while eBay generated 632 million.

Age

Amazon attracts slightly more millennials and Gen Zers, while eBay is more popular among those 65+.

This is perhaps because eBay was one of the OG popular websites on the internet in its early stages (i.e., the late-1990s).

So, for older adults, it’s one of the first websites they knew and keep coming back to.

Traffic channels

• Direct traffic is the main source for both marketplaces.
• eBay invested heavily in paid search last year, which ended up driving 7.0% of their traffic.
• Amazon relies on paid referrals and traffic from social networks, as well as top news and media websites.

Let’s talk about trust

Which one do customers trust more?

Well, Amazon is undisputed when it comes to customer satisfaction. They have a fast return process and a flexible refund policy.

eBay’s return policy is a bit more complicated.

Choose your fighter

Who should you pick?

The main things to consider are:

• eBay is preferable when you want to sell used goods.
• Amazon is trusted more by shoppers.
• Amazon has high fees, but on eBay you don’t pay anything until you start selling.
• Amazon lets you use their advanced fulfillment centers.
• On Amazon, you’ll compete against Amazon-owned labels, whereas eBay only hosts third-party sellers.

Bottom line: Amazon vs. eBay

It’s a tough call… and it mostly depends on what you sell. Generally speaking, Amazon for selling new goods; eBay for used goods, with some nuances in between.