Amazon vs. eBay: Which Platform Is Better for Sellers?

The debate around selling on Amazon vs eBay is ongoing, and it’s not hard to see why. Both platforms have unique strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different types of sellers. Ultimately, there isn’t a definitive right or wrong choice—if you’re making a decent income online, that’s a success in itself. However, understanding the key differences between these platforms can help you decide which one aligns better with your goals.

In this detailed Amazon vs eBay comparison, we’ll break down everything you need to know to make an informed decision. Let’s dive in.

Overview of Amazon vs eBay Platform Differences

Before diving into the nitty-gritty, it’s helpful to understand some overarching differences between Amazon and eBay. These platforms cater to distinct types of sellers and buyers, which influences everything from pricing structures to ease of use.

Product Pricing

Amazon products are typically listed with fixed prices, while eBay offers both fixed-price listings (“Buy It Now”) and auction-style listings where buyers bid for products. This flexibility on eBay appeals to sellers with niche or collectible items.

Customer vs. Seller Support

Amazon leans heavily in favor of customers, offering a seamless return process and excellent buyer protection. On the other hand, eBay is more seller-friendly. However, this comes with drawbacks, as sellers on eBay can sometimes fail to address customer issues, leaving buyers without recourse.

For example, I personally had an experience on eBay where my complaint window closed after six months and my order never arrived. The seller ignored me, and eBay offered no further support. It was frustrating but highlights the customer-service difference between the two platforms.

Fulfillment Type

eBay sellers handle their own fulfillment, storing, packing, and shipping products themselves. Amazon provides two options: fulfillment by merchant (FBM), where sellers manage fulfillment independently, or fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), where Amazon stores, picks, packs, and ships products for sellers.

Seller Performance

Both platforms have performance standards for sellers. On eBay, failing to meet minimum performance requirements results in an extra 6% fee on top of regular selling fees. Amazon also monitors seller performance but doesn’t impose a similar penalty.

Product Types

Both platforms allow you to sell a wide range of products, including apparel, groceries, books, and electronics. However, eBay supports unique categories like motor vehicles and real estate. Amazon recently launched its Vehicle Showroom for car dealers but does not allow used car sales

Ease of Use

Launching a store on eBay is generally easier and more straightforward than on Amazon, which requires sellers to complete a more rigorous registration process.

Market Share

Amazon dominates the e-commerce world, with annual revenue exceeding $570 billion compared to eBay’s $10 billion. This massive difference underscores Amazon’s vast market reach.

Now that we’ve covered the broader distinctions, let’s explore the finer details.

Fees to Sell on Amazon vs eBay

Amazon Fees

Amazon’s fees depend on the selling plan and fulfillment method. Sellers can choose between two plans:

The Individual Selling Plan: Free but incurs a flat $0.99 fee per sale.
The Professional Selling Plan: Costs $39.99 per month but waives the $0.99 per-sale fee.

In addition to these fees, Amazon charges a “referral fee,” which ranges from 8% to 17% of the sale price, depending on the product category. Sellers using Amazon’s FBA service must also account for inventory storage fees.

Amazon Fee Summary

$0.99 per sale on the Individual Selling Plan
8%-17% referral fees per sale
$39.99/month for the Professional Selling Plan (waives per-sale fee)
Additional costs for FBA storage

To estimate your selling fees and profitability on Amazon, you can use the Amazon FBA Profitability Calculator for detailed insights.

eBay Fees

Without a store subscription, eBay allows up to 250 free product listings. Sellers then pay a “Final Value Fee” on each sale, which is about 13.25% of the total sale price, including shipping. Additionally, sales incur a $0.30 fee for items under $10 or $0.40 for items above $10.

eBay store subscriptions start at $7.95 per month for the Starter plan, which provides benefits like more free listings and reduced selling fees. Sellers can also pay extra for optional listing upgrades, such as bold titles or enhanced photos.

eBay Fee Summary

250 free listings
13.25% average Final Value Fee per sale
$0.30-$0.40 per-sale fee
Store subscriptions start at $7.95/month
Optional listing upgrades available at extra cost

International Marketplaces

Both platforms offer sellers access to global marketplaces. Amazon operates in 22 countries and allows sellers to list products internationally, even if they don’t live in the country where they sell. Sellers can use third-party fulfillment centers or Amazon FBA for international sales.

eBay boasts a wider reach, with 48 international sites. Similar to Amazon, sellers can list products in countries they don’t reside in by partnering with fulfillment centers.

Fulfillment Methods

eBay sellers must manage all aspects of fulfillment, including inventory storage, packing, and shipping. Once a business scales, outsourcing to a third-party fulfillment center can be a practical option, albeit at an additional cost.

Amazon’s FBA program sets it apart. By sending inventory to Amazon’s global warehouses, sellers let Amazon handle everything from storage and shipping to customer service and returns. While FBA incurs extra fees, it’s a game-changer for scaling businesses.

Which Platform Is Better?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—it depends on your goals and products. Both platforms can be lucrative, but each has strengths:

Choose Amazon: If you want access to a massive market share, streamlined fulfillment via FBA, and a customer-centric platform.
Choose eBay: If you sell unique or collectible items and want lower upfront costs for starting your store.

For me, Amazon comes out on top due to its unmatched market share, FBA convenience, and customer trust. However, eBay’s flexibility makes it ideal for sellers with niche products.

Final Thoughts

In the Amazon vs eBay debate, the best choice ultimately depends on your business model and priorities. Both platforms have proven success stories, and either can work if approached strategically.

What’s your opinion? I’d love to hear your thoughts, especially if you’re an eBay advocate! I’m all for supporting online sellers, no matter the platform.

Happy selling!