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0 pointsbhouston1mo ago0 comments

> They’ve made an interesting proposal around using 1600 GameStop locations for fulfilment.

Is that really an advantage? Fulfilment is always handled by a lot of places for the big e-retailers for returns, which is similar to what eBay needs for sellers.

How much does Staples charge for its Amazon return fulfillment where you don't even need to wrap up the item?

I question whether it is advantageous to use GameStop stores for this or just to piggy back on what Staples is already offering to Amazon and others for their returns? Fulfilling returns for Amazon isn't significantly different to shipping eBay orders.

0 comments

7 comments · 2 top-level

noitpmeder1mo ago· 5 in thread

My kneejerk is that most consumers these days expect delivery for items purchased online, and allowing them to pick up their items at a brick and mortar probably isn't the issue.

Now, dropping off items you're selling? That probably removes a decent hurdle for many first-time/one-time users who aren't familiar with shipping (what box/label/insurance/padding/...).

bhoustonOP1mo ago

> My kneejerk is that most consumers these days expect delivery for items purchased online

100%.

> Now, dropping off items you're selling?

This is what Staples is offering to Amazon but for returns - quite similar. And they could offer them to eBay as well I am sure. You do not need your own chain of brick and mortar stores to do this and I am sure the cost per drop off would be cheaper with Staples than your own chain that only serves you.

GameStop is a game of constant pivots that sound good to its meme-believers that do not really work in the real-world.

happyopossum1mo ago

> This is what Staples is offering to Amazon but for returns

Yes, and usps stores and Whole Foods do that for Amazon in the US as well. The difference is that each of those items don’t need to be individually packaged and shipped to unique locations. My local USPS put all the returns for the day in a giant bin and an Amazon driver picks them up.

I think the cost of labor and liability involved in having a local retail worker wrap, label, and ship every package would be an order of magnitude higher than shipping alone and destroy any value in offering it.

2 more replies

SkyeCA1mo ago

> Now, dropping off items you're selling?

A place that you could take items and have them packed and shipped for you would remove an enormous hurdle for new eBay sellers. It's easily the most annoying part of the entire process.

Hell, maybe they could even list items for people? Like a massive digital pawn shop.

I could see this really working out for them if they do it right.

c221mo ago

Actual pawn shops already do this, though.

1 more reply

Pikamander21mo ago

Can confirm. The main reason why I don't sell stuff on eBay more is because of the high shipping costs and frequent scams.

Facebook Markerplace has issues of its own, but if you agree to meet up at a safe public location to buy/sell the item in person, then it mostly alleviates those two issues aside from the small chance of receiving counterfeit bills.

If Gamestop and eBay merge, then they could (potentially) offer a better deal to buyers/sellers by either buying certain items directly, shipping them at lower costs, or having an employee "verify" the item before it ships so that the seller receives better protections.

That's assuming that this is truly an ambitious merger rather than just being some kind of exit liquidity scam that gives Ryan Cohen a golden parachute right before he peaces out.

colechristensen1mo ago

>Is that really an advantage? Fulfilment is always handled by a lot of places for the big e-retailers for returns, which is similar to what eBay needs for sellers.

I think the advantage is going to be "bring your junk to GameStop and an employee will put it up for sale and handle shipping"

You'd get considerably more trust buying something on ebay that at least some teenager looked at and verified was real and powered on, etc.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

7 comments · 2 top-level

noitpmeder1mo ago· 5 in thread

My kneejerk is that most consumers these days expect delivery for items purchased online, and allowing them to pick up their items at a brick and mortar probably isn't the issue.

Now, dropping off items you're selling? That probably removes a decent hurdle for many first-time/one-time users who aren't familiar with shipping (what box/label/insurance/padding/...).

bhoustonOP1mo ago

> My kneejerk is that most consumers these days expect delivery for items purchased online

100%.

> Now, dropping off items you're selling?

GameStop is a game of constant pivots that sound good to its meme-believers that do not really work in the real-world.

happyopossum1mo ago

> This is what Staples is offering to Amazon but for returns

2 more replies

SkyeCA1mo ago

> Now, dropping off items you're selling?

A place that you could take items and have them packed and shipped for you would remove an enormous hurdle for new eBay sellers. It's easily the most annoying part of the entire process.

Hell, maybe they could even list items for people? Like a massive digital pawn shop.

I could see this really working out for them if they do it right.

c221mo ago

Actual pawn shops already do this, though.

1 more reply

Pikamander21mo ago

Can confirm. The main reason why I don't sell stuff on eBay more is because of the high shipping costs and frequent scams.

That's assuming that this is truly an ambitious merger rather than just being some kind of exit liquidity scam that gives Ryan Cohen a golden parachute right before he peaces out.

colechristensen1mo ago

>Is that really an advantage? Fulfilment is always handled by a lot of places for the big e-retailers for returns, which is similar to what eBay needs for sellers.

I think the advantage is going to be "bring your junk to GameStop and an employee will put it up for sale and handle shipping"

You'd get considerably more trust buying something on ebay that at least some teenager looked at and verified was real and powered on, etc.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse