You know what stinks... going out of your way to buy a product directly from the manufacturer and paying 25% ($30) more for the product over what it would cost to buy from Amazon, only to have it show up in an Amazon package.
I get that letting Amazon handle logistics for your business might seem wise, but I'm pretty disappointed as a customer.
@IrrationalMethod This is absolutely infuriating! I only hope the manufacturer makes more of an actual profit this way from the extra I spend.
I suppose they're not actually a manufacturer but a drop-shipper?
I was considering spending more money with them, but now that I know it'll just get shipped from Amazon, I'll be taking that into consideration.
@IrrationalMethod
I tend to buy from EBay, stuff from companies that have EBay shops, and private individuals selling their own stuff.
It is really annoying when they are also just Amazon resellers doing the Amazon Prime same day delivery!
I've had that happen a few times using Walmart and Target's online marketplace - usually at a small markup, so if I'm not buying what seems to be an independent retailer or the manufacturer, I'll just skip to Amazon, assuming it's being fulfilled by them anyway.
I don't mind so much when a manufacturer makes it clear that they use Amazon to fulfill orders, but I'm not paying them a premium in those cases.
Never had it happen with eBay, but the only thing I buy there is used test equipment, which seems to escape this problem.
Oct 2, 2026, 7:30 PM@IrrationalMethod @Maker_of_Things
I've found the opposite situation here (in UK) - you can sometimes go direct to the company selling the item rather than Amazon and pay a few quid less, albeit often with a slightly longer delivery timescale (2-3 days rather than next day).
But too many small businesses do outsource all their logistics and customer service to Amazon (often after failing to do it in house), and many others are just drop shipping the same stuff from China with a mark up added..
@IrrationalMethod Amazon is a monopoly. They treat the USPS as a subsidiary now.
@IrrationalMethod i feel seen.
we've been going direct as much as possible as well and every third vendor seems to use amazon.
@IrrationalMethod I ordered something off eBay because FUUUUUUUCK AMAZON WITH A RUSTY IRON PIPE.
Came in an Amazon package. No, they were not reusing packaging, it was clear it came from Amazon.
Oct 2, 2026, 7:44 PM@kilroy_was_here @IrrationalMethod May have even been drop shipping and they just pocketed the 25%.
Just about everything I've looked for on eBay that is also on Amazon (electronics hobby stuff mostly) seems to have really inconsistent pricing on eBay, but often 2-3x what is on Amazon, and looks to be drop-shipped anyway.