How trustworthy are sites like Ebay, Amazon etc?

**The Stranger** · 12-24-2009, 23:31

Originally Posted by Husar

Heh, I didn't want to insult you, it just surprised me because you're young and post a lot, so I expected you to be more....at home on the internet.

And yes, it's important information, or why exactly did you ask?

im not insulted :) dont worry.

most of my posts are from a few years back... lot of spamming. i never really bought anything online, enough shops where i live.

nvrmind. its allright

ps based on what beskar says my questions about ebay are pretty valid

ty anyway for the tips

**Forward Observer** · 12-26-2009, 06:36

I have been buying a wide variety of items on EBay for over 3 years and many of them games for
the PC and the PS 3. I have never had a problem and have always beat any price I could find elsewhere
on line.

All one has to do is look at the seller's feedback. If they have 200 or more sales with 98% or better positive feedback, one is just about as safe as with any on-line vendor.

I have bought 1 or 2 used PS 3 games, but all of the rest have been brand new factory sealed games. Some of the same seller associates you find at Amazon also sell on EBay, but many time at a better price.

I just got Resistance 2 for the PS 3 brand new for $24 delivered. The best I found with one of the Amazon associates at the same time was $27 plus $4 to ship.

If one uses Paypal they have a buyer protection program with Ebay since Paypal is owned by EBay anyway.

**The Stranger** · 12-26-2009, 15:15

so if i would buy the game from this link http://www.amazon.com/Napoleon-Total...1425695&sr=1-4

i would get the full NTW game for just 40 dollars?

**Forward Observer** · 12-26-2009, 17:58

Your link doesn't work, but I checked Amazon and the best price I found was $39.92 with free shipping from Amazon. Looking at their associate listings, the best I found was $38 including shipping, but the customer satisfaction ratings were varied--some low as 94%

However, on EBay I found it, also factory sealed new, for $27.69 plus $3.99 shipping. This seller specializes in game sales and has a sales history of 6700 transactions with 100% positive feedback--far better than most of the Amazon associate sellers.

EBay on line game store

One just has to look at all the particulars and simply use a little common sense.

**Beskar** · 12-26-2009, 18:12

Originally Posted by Forward Observer

Your link doesn't work, but I checked Amazon and the best price I found was $39.92 with free shipping from Amazon. Looking at their associate listings, the best I found was $38 including shipping, but the customer satisfaction ratings were varied--some low as 94%

However, on EBay I found it, also factory sealed new, for $27.69 plus $3.99 shipping. This seller specializes in game sales and has a sales history of 6700 transactions with 100% positive feedback--far better than most of the Amazon associate sellers.

EBay on line game store

One just has to look at all the particulars and simply use a little common sense.

Sounds great if the fact Empire:Total War is currently on Steam for $15 at the moment with no need to wait for shipping.

**Forward Observer** · 12-26-2009, 20:53

Beskar,

I do realize that one can download it much cheaper, but many still like to have a disk---plus a manual and the other paper ephemera (as crappy as it is!)----and even though one still has to activate the game through Steam, a 12 gig footprint game like Empire can be installed on your hard drive with a disk in a mere fraction of the time it would take to download---unless one has a really super broadband service. If one were on dial-up--forget it.

Cheers

**Husar** · 12-26-2009, 21:18

Originally Posted by The Stranger

so if i would buy the game from this link http://www.amazon.com/Napoleon-Total...1425695&sr=1-4

i would get the full NTW game for just 40 dollars?

No, you wouldn't. Because that is the US amazon(though the link says invalid page) and the shipping, tax etc. would be added to it, if you're really unlucky you'd pay 1.5 times as much or so. Better look at the UK sites(www.amazon.co.uk in case of amazon), you might pay shipping as well, but it should be a lot less.
If you want to be sure, create and amazon account(my .de account works on .com and .co.uk as well) and go ahead until you get to the final summary before sending the order, there it will show you the shipping costs for the address you entered.

Alternatively, play.com has the normal version with some exclusive unlock as well: http://www.play.com/Games/PC/4-/1155...r/Product.html
That delivery would be free to Europe and cost just the amount of Euros it says on the page.

Well, if you want everything, you'll probably have to pay extra for the Imperial Edition: http://www.play.com/Games/PC/4-/1276...n/Product.html

Whether you want to pay Sega and CA 15EUR more for a few units and some nice papers is up to you I guess.

**The Stranger** · 12-26-2009, 23:34

nah... the normal version is good enough. ty husar for the tips. it almost seems to good to be true :P just 25 euros for the game... ive been paying waaaaay to much over all these years.

**Husar** · 12-27-2009, 07:22

You know I bought Little big Planet from dvd.co.uk for a grand total of 22€(I think) while it cost 70€ in the big electronics and games stores here. And yes, they sent me the full game.
The moral of the story is if you shop around a bit you might just get two or three games for the price of one.

Be aware that my copy of ETW from play.com took a whole month to arrive though, the Band of Brothers Blu-Ray took only one and a half week though, just don't expect delivery times of two or three days from the UK.

**The Stranger** · 12-27-2009, 13:11

oke youve got me convinced :P im buying the game!

**lars573** · 12-31-2009, 19:33

Originally Posted by The Stranger

so if i would buy the game from this link http://www.amazon.com/Napoleon-Total...1425695&sr=1-4

i would get the full NTW game for just 40 dollars?

You realize that you have to make an account right? Ebay or Amazon you've gotta make an account. And with Amazon it will direct you to buy from the one in your region. For example I can't buy anything from Amazon.com that Amazon.ca doesn't sell too. In other words Amazon is

Ebay is your best bet. If you've got half a clue you can sniff out the scammers. And with PC games if it's open keep on walking. Especailly a steam game like NTW is going to be. I've bought many toys via Ebay, and recieved all of them. But I was also very careful if the seller is from a scam heavy region. They being eastern europe, China, or southeast asia. I might roll the dice on a seller from Hong Kong though. If I didn't get a bad feeling that is.

**rory_20_uk** · 01-01-2010, 18:36

I've purchased items from all over the place, from second hand things in the UK to some Hong Kong imports. My X-box 360 games tend to be at least 1 year behind the cutting edge but hence a lot less than when they're first released. Delivery times obviously vary depending where they came from.

ebay when purchased through paypal will refund (i.e. take money from the seller) if you go through the grievance process, although after purchasing over 100 items I've not had to use this.

**lars573** · 01-02-2010, 00:44

But if someone is going to scam you they won't have money in their paypal account. And ebay can't take what isn't there. The best protection is using a credit card through paypal. There-by if you have a problem you cancel the payment with your CC company.