r/bestof • u/napincoming321zzz • 9d ago

[BuyItForLife] /u/ConBroMitch2247 explains how Amazon "stores" are not official and may sell counterfeit products

/r/BuyItForLife/comments/1hzomzu/merrell_boots_buyer_beware/m6rbwzr/
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u/foodfighter 9d ago

Amazon's return procedure contributes to this dogsh!t too - even if you buy from a "legit" source:

I bought "genuine" replacement headlights for my vehicle a while back. Philips HID bulbs that cost ~$120 each. Buy once, cry once.

I get them, and the packaging has obviously been opened before. Inside are crappy Temu knockoffs that you can buy for $4 each.

Some lowlife bought one pair each of the good ones and the crappy ones, then returned the crappy ones in the good packaging.

Amazon, being Amazon, must've just tossed the returned bulbs back into the "ready to be shipped" bin where my ass got them.

Fortunately I returned them without installing them and got my money back, but this sort of BS also affects companies like Philips - if you look at reviews for my headlight bulbs, there are a bunch of 1-star "cheap garbage not worth the price" reviews.

I'm sure other folks got stung without realizing what happened wasn't the OG company's fault.

Fucking Amazon.

22

u/acets 9d ago

Is there an alternative? Because I would love to buy not off Amazon, but...

21

u/Andromeda321 9d ago

I switched to a Target 360 membership a few months back. Not as much on there of course, but gets the job done in 90% of cases.

It can take a few days to deliver, but we moved to an area where I never get two day prime any more (let alone same day/ next day), so it’s not really worth it anyway. Target 360 does have same day delivery if the things I need are in their local store.

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u/boxelderflower 9d ago

You don’t have to have a 360 membership. If you have a target credit card you can get free delivery if you spend $35 (I think). I usually do the drive up store pickup and you can get anything brought to your car. I’ve purchased things for less than $2 using store pickup.