Amazon
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Amazon is viewed with significant skepticism on Reddit, primarily due to concerns over counterfeit goods, 'dropshipped junk,' and the risks associated with commingled inventory. While users frequently acknowledge the platform's convenience and generally lenient return policies, there is a strong consensus against purchasing 'high-risk' items—specifically skincare, supplements, or expensive electronics—due to authenticity issues. The platform is increasingly seen as a marketplace for low-quality goods, though it remains a go-to for niche accessories and low-stakes household items.
Pros
- Generally lenient and responsive return policy and customer service.
- Convenient for finding niche replacement parts, cables, and craft supplies.
- Fast resolution for shipping issues or missing items in many cases.
- Useful for low-stakes household organization and decor.
Cons
- High prevalence of counterfeit or fake products, even when buying from 'official' storefronts.
- Commingled inventory practices make it difficult to verify product authenticity.
- Significant amount of low-quality 'dropshipped' items and 'pot metal' tools.
- Risk of receiving used or returned items sold as 'new' condition.
- Presence of AI-generated content, such as books and reviews, that can be misleading.
- Ethical concerns regarding labor practices and the platform's impact on smaller authors and creators.
Caveats
- Purchasing from an official brand store on Amazon does not guarantee the item didn't come from a third-party seller's stock due to inventory pooling.
- Digital content like Kindle books can be automatically updated or edited by the publisher after purchase.
- Product specifications and search filters (e.g., dimensions) are frequently reported as inaccurate or misleading.
Best for
- Low-stakes household goods and craft supplies.
- Niche replacement parts or cables that are hard to find locally.
- Shoppers who prioritize easy returns over guaranteed item authenticity.
Avoid if
- Buying skincare, vitamins, or anything ingested or applied to the body.
- Purchasing high-end electronics, camera lenses, or critical PC components.
- You want to ensure you are receiving a factory-sealed, never-returned item.
- You prefer to avoid supporting companies with controversial labor or market practices.
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 18-month half-life. The evidence is drawn from a high volume of mentions across diverse subreddits, with a median source age of approximately 167 days.
Sentiment
146 positive (34%) · 43 mixed (10%) · 244 negative (56%)
Trust + time weighted score: -18% · raw score -23%
What redditors said (10 of 433)
I've bought from official brand amazon store fronts and still got fake items. Vitamins and makeup. Don't buy anything you put on or inside your body from Amazon.
I have absolutely no problem with them advertising products, or linking to websites like Viator, Amazon, etc. you can read the reviews of those places yourself.
too bad amazon has become increasingly dropshipped junk or overpriced
I know they're widely disliked now but a huge part of the reason they survived the dotcom bubble and gained their market share was an extreme focus on customer service.
People who buy stuff on Amazon: look at the seller's info!! You can find out where it comes from. PC has an Amazon store. Amazon is just a web hosting site for small stores. You can buy PC from the original PC store or you might end up purchasing product from a mini beauty store in Bangladesh.
I personally don’t trust amazons seller requirements, many individuals receive inaccurate or counterfeit products (outside of the skincare category) and I don’t see the advantage of purchasing from them over an in-person or ship-to-home (ulta, Sephora, cvs) store.
Amazon is the worst, loads of fake stuff because they comingle stock in their warehouses and their couriers tend to just abandon your post in your bin or other stupid stuff
Amazon especially will send people returns as "new", I've seen it plenty of times. A year or so ago my friend bought a gaming mouse "new", sold by amazon themselves and it had some suspicious white-ish semi-transparent goo on it, you probably get what I'm referring to there. He sent it back to say the least.
Ordered a 50€ stick from Amazon but the seller told me they were out of stock and I was refunded. Another look at Amazon and ordered a 55€ stick. When I opened the package, all I got was an L shaped metal part. Mistake or scam, didn't matter, I contacted Amazon support and they were great. Refunded me the same day.
I used to have Amazon until my student price ran out, then I canceled it.