What Items Should You Never Buy on Amazon?

There is a large segment of products that are not worth buying on Amazon because of the overpriced or poor quality. MSN.

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Amazing Amazon: The world's largest online retailer has made it possible for everything to be delivered to our door at lightning speed, often cheaper than other sellers.

But just because you can order almost anything on Amazon doesn't necessarily mean you should. From things that are cheaper offline to dubious medicines and fake brands, here are some things you shouldn't order there.

Products with suspicious reviews

Not sure about the product? Amazon recently banned 600 Chinese brands, including big names like Aukey, Mpow and TaoTronics, from selling their products on the site, mostly for posting fake or paid reviews. Fake reviews are big business on Amazon and you need to learn how to recognize them right away. Extremely positive reviews based on meaningless superlatives—"great" or "amazing"—are unreliable, as are reviews that repeat features without commenting on performance. Other red flags: weird syntax or lots of reviews published in a short amount of time. Use Fakespot, which analyzes reviews for signs of fraud.

Questionable drugs

Whether you're looking to lose weight or fight a serious illness, one thing's for sure: if a claimed product is described too well to be true, it's most likely a substandard product. Amazon recently banned 1 million products that unsubstantiated claims to help cure or prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and Vox has documented many questionable supplements, questionable "immunity boosters" and other questionable items on Amazon. More recently, Amazon has come under fire for heavily marketing and advertising ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug used primarily on animals. The drug was promoted as a treatment for COVID-19 despite not being approved for such use. "Never use drugs intended for animals on yourself," the FDA's warning about the drug says.

Exorbitantly expensive masks and other goods

The COVID-19 crisis has shown the world many selfless people, but it has also exposed others who have used people's fear to make money. Amazon is among the platforms that have not done enough to stop price gouging on masks, hand sanitizer and other essentials, according to 33 state attorneys general. Amazon has promised to root out unscrupulous sellers, but buyers can always do their part by refusing to buy items with insane markups.

Items with dubious discounts

Many items on Amazon are constantly sold out - at least Amazon wants you to think so. Before succumbing to a lucrative discount, check the price history of an item with a tracker such as Camel. Since prices on Amazon often fluctuate, sometimes in a significant range.

Competitors' devices

Amazon Echo and Echo Dot have become indispensable. So are their main competitors, Google Home and Google Home Mini, but if you think you can get a good deal on competing products on Amazon, think again. Amazon is relentless in pushing its own technology on the cheap, so look elsewhere for rock-bottom deals from rivals Google and Apple. For example, the Apple Watch could be purchased for $129 at Walmart on the recent Black Friday. And the lowest price for them on Amazon was $170.

Pet food

It's hard to carry a heavy bag of pet food from the store. However, Amazon is probably not the best choice for such purchases. According to Consumers' Checkbook analysis, the top place to shop for pet food online is Chewy.com, which beat Amazon by 18%. Even cheaper for shoppers at Sam's Club, BJ's and Walmart.

Toilet paper and other household items

Paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, dishwashing liquid, detergents - this is what is always needed in any household. And while it's tempting to turn to Amazon to fill those needs without running to the store, Cheapism has found that the online retailer still can't compete with Costco. Savings in the club on household items averaged more than 25%.

Birkenstock Sandals

Some well-known companies have parted ways with Amazon, preferring not to dilute their brands with sales through the online giant. One of them is Birkenstock, which in 2018 announced the termination of its contract with Amazon. This means there is a much higher risk that any "Birkenstock" you buy through Amazon now is not original.

Nike products

Like Birkenstock, Nike said "thank you but no" to Amazon by refusing to sell its merchandise directly after deciding Amazon wasn't doing enough to curb resellers and counterfeiters. This means that shoppers cannot be sure that they will receive genuine Nike products when they purchase from Amazon.

Unidentified phone chargers

You can save on a phone case or a smart watch strap, but a phone charger is one accessory you need to be sure of.

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A fake charger may not protect your smartphone from power surges that can fry its very expensive innards - probably not worth the few bucks you could save. As Vice notes, the cheaper they are, the less secure they are. Look for chargers that are certified by your phone manufacturer (or even safer, made by the manufacturer).

Mattresses

Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, when buying from Amazon, you only have a 30-day window to decide if your mattress is right for you. Since it's not hard to find longer trial periods for a mattress these days, consider looking elsewhere or see if the mattress manufacturer directly gives you a longer trial period.

Products with reviews of other products

Have you ever found a product with a lot of positive reviews, but it turned out that most of the praise is for a completely different product? This is because an unscrupulous seller hijacked an existing product page and updated it to feature a new product using the good reviews of an old product. The seller expects that the majority of buyers will see a high rating and will not delve too deeply into the reviews themselves. While this is clearly against the rules, BuzzFeed reports that this is still a widespread issue on Amazon.

School supplies

Online price comparisons show that Amazon has become more competitive compared to its big brethren in the category, but there's still a reason why brick-and-mortar retailers should be considered instead of Amazon: it's price stability. A price check by ValuePenguin shows that the amount you pay on Amazon can vary greatly depending on when you shop. And if Amazon has a better deal than your local store, you can ask the store to match the price.

Large home appliances

Amazon's selection of large appliances doesn't match what you'll find at Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, and local hardware stores. What's available on Amazon is often sold by a third party, usually for more than what you'd pay locally (especially during big sales). Buying from the store can also help you get the features you want, the right size, and hassle-free shipping. Bonus: you can bargain in person.

Gift cards

Yes, you can buy all sorts of gift cards on Amazon, which are good in many places other than Amazon itself. It is possible to get gift cards for less than face value by buying from reputable resale sites such as Gift Card. You can also earn rewards or bonuses for offline purchases. For example, buy gift cards from grocery stores like Kroger, which give you fuel points when you buy with gift cards. And take advantage of holiday deals that give you cash bonuses at restaurants or stores when you purchase a gift card.

"New" books from third-party sellers

If you buy a book directly from Amazon, you can be sure that it is really new. But if you buy that same “new” book from a third-party seller who might offer it at a suspiciously low price—perhaps cheaper than Amazon itself—you could end up with a used book passing off as new. While you're still getting a readable book that looks very good, this purchase raises some embarrassing ethical questions, as the book's author and publisher likely won't make any money from the sale.

Ikea products

If you're one of those unfortunate people who doesn't live near Ikea, you've probably noticed that Ikea shipping costs can be astronomical. While Ikea did try to sell individual items directly on Amazon, the program failed and the company stopped trying. You can still find Ikea items from third party sellers, but they usually cost much more than what you would pay in a store and sometimes double that.

Trader Joe's products

Again, crafty third-party sellers are counting on customers who don't have Trader Joe's nearby to pay more for some of the store's branded merchandise. For example, jars of Everything But the Bagel that sell for at least $6 each when they are only $2 in the store.

Costco Kirkland Branded Products

Costco's store brand, Kirkland Signature, gets rave reviews for amazing quality at less cost. Another surprise: Amazon sells for more than Costco when it comes to Kirkland. As tempting as it is to purchase Kirkland items on Amazon, you're better off paying for a Costco membership and heading there. This is due to the fact that prices on Amazon are inflated, and Costco offers better conditions for goods.

Food from third party vendors

While Amazon can be a convenient place to shop for groceries, it can be a good idea to avoid third-party sellers as much as possible. CNBC has documented that expired products are regularly shipped to buyers, mostly from third-party sellers who snap up questionable items at discounted prices during sales and liquidations. Although sellers must prove that the goods have a shelf life of at least 90 days, it seems that many ignore this rule, counting on the inattention of buyers.

cheap batteries

Batteries power all the important devices in our lives, from laptops and smartphones to cordless vacuum cleaners. And there are a lot of cheap devices on Amazon that promise to power devices just as well as big name brands for less money. However, it's probably not worth the risk - How-To Geek warns that these cheap items can "catch fire, explode, and even burn down your house or cause you physical harm." In a less extreme and far more likely scenario, a cheap battery won't hold a charge as well as one supplied by your device manufacturer.

Car Seats Sold by Third Party Resellers

Fake or substandard car seats have become a particular concern at Amazon. But because Amazon doesn't require third-party sellers to provide prior proof that the car seats they sell meet federal regulations, chances are parents will end up with fakes or dubious brands that simply won't survive a crash. The Car Seat Lady gives advice on a few trusted third-party retailers, but recommends that parents trust brick-and-mortar retailers.

Jewelry

Of course, there are plenty of jewelry on Amazon, but will you get the same quality as after personally inspecting a potential purchase? Experts say this is unlikely - for example, you need to see the stone in person to make sure it really sparkles like in the photo. More troublingly, some of Amazon's best "deals" simply cut prices down to fair market value. If you still want to make a purchase, pay attention to one more thing: make sure the product is returnable - Amazon says that "certain jewelry" is not returnable.

Designer brands

Traditionally, luxury brands have shunned Amazon, saying selling through the giant online retailer would undermine the exclusivity that helps sustain their labels. Even though Amazon launched its own luxury platform last year, shoppers still need to be wary of the fact that most luxury items on Amazon almost certainly come from a reseller that may be providing knockoffs.

cheap cosmetics

There's nothing better than buying big-name cosmetics or skincare products, but if the price seems too good to be true, beware. Amazon has a documented problem with scammers in this category. Even more worrisome, fake cosmetics can contain dangerous ingredients (hello, arsenic) and can lead to rashes or infections, according to the FBI.

Perishable Products

Sure, you can deliver groceries to your home via AmazonFresh, but you risk not getting exactly what you want. Products may be underripe, overripe, rotten at the bottom, or otherwise less than ideal. In a recent survey, the service ranked last among online delivery services, with average scores for quality and freshness and poor scores for value. For example, one DollarSprout columnist reported paying more than double the price per gallon of milk through AmazonFresh compared to the local grocery store.

Cameras and photographic equipment

If you're more than just a casual photographer, you might want to change your mind when considering whether to buy a camera or other photography gear from Amazon. One analysis found that Amazon often doesn't have the lowest price in this category, probably because specialty retailers are putting in a lot of effort to stay competitive. We quickly found a couple of examples: electronics retailer Walmart beat Amazon by about $40 for a Canon EOS 4000D kit, and B&H offered a Sony mirrorless camera for the same price as Amazon, while adding a free accessory kit.

Furniture

Amazon has taken a big step forward in this category with its own brands Rivet and Stone & Beam. Reviews are mostly positive, but it's more of a choice issue - specialist sites like Wayfair still have a lot more to offer if you're shopping online, across a wider range of prices.

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There is also the issue of buying furniture online in general: It can be difficult to visualize items in your space without seeing them in person, you have to be very precise in measuring your space, and upholstery that looks comfortable can be uncomfortable. A recent pricing analysis by Clark.com also found that while Amazon often makes good deals on furniture from time to time, Walmart has excelled in this category.

Party Supplies

You can find a lot of party supplies on Amazon, but plates, tablecloths, balloons, and other disposables are almost always cheaper at your local store. For example, the cheapest blue paper plates we found on Amazon cost $3 for a pack of 16, but you can buy 24 of these from Dollar Tree for $1.

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