Amazon has been the top online retailer since its founding in 1994, and it remains one of the most-used and visited sites on the internet. After all, it’s difficult to beat an online shopping site with such an enormous selection of products available at unbeatable prices.
But nowadays, online shopping has become easier and more enjoyable than ever before, and it also comes with its own set of problems. While major sites like Amazon make it simple to buy anything you want without leaving your home, you may find yourself frustrated by the lengthy delivery times, lack of product selection, or other customer service issues that may arise on these huge websites. Thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives to Amazon out there that can provide an improved shopping experience when you’re ready to give them a try.
If you’re looking for the best online shopping experience, here are the top alternatives to Amazon, so you have more options to choose from when it comes time to buy the perfect product.
1. eBay
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If you’re looking for a place that offers similar features as Amazon but with more flexibility, eBay is a great choice. You can buy new and used items here, as well as from individual sellers and shop owners. The site has an advanced search engine that will help you find what you need, and if you want to avoid buying from China or other countries outside of your country’s borders, eBay’s seller requirements make it possible.
Moreover, eBay is one of the few sites that accept PayPal as a form of payment. With free shipping on many items and easy returns, it’s a good alternative to try out.
And if you like bargain hunting and second-hand items then eBay might be the website for you. You can find just about anything there, new or old, at a fraction of the cost as long as you don’t mind waiting for shipping. The products are often in brand-new condition with limited or no cosmetic damage such as scuffs or scratches. With so many sellers on eBay, there are always deals available at rock-bottom prices!
2. Overstock
If you’re looking for a place to shop online, but you think Amazon is not for you, then Overstock is the place to be. This website offers an array of products that are perfect for any occasion, from fashion items to home furnishings. You can find anything from apparel and jewelry to electronics and furniture on this site.
Another reason Overstock is an excellent choice is that it offers competitive product prices. The website also has a convenient rewards program called Club O Rewards. It’s free to join, and members will get 5% rewards with every purchase they make on their accounts.
The rewards never expire, so customers can use them whenever they please, even years after they have joined Club O Rewards. The best part about these rewards is that there are no limits on how much customers can earn. So, if you make many purchases throughout the year, you’ll end up getting more money back than what was initially spent!
3. Target
If you’re looking for a better online shopping experience, Target won’t disappoint. The website offers competitive prices and more customer-friendly policies. You can return items at any time in person or by mail, with its generous return policy.
Target also guarantees free two-day shipping on orders of $35 or more. And there are no surprises with this store: Shipping costs are already built into the price of each item on the site, so you know exactly what you’re going to spend before checkout! Plus, Target’s selection is expansive enough that it’s guaranteed to have something for everyone.
Overall, Target is a solid alternative to Amazon because it offers features that other retailers don’t – like those flexible returns – without sacrificing the convenience factor of an easy purchase process.
4. Kohl’s
Another popular alternative to Amazon is Kohl’s. Unlike Target, Kohl’s doesn’t offer unlimited free returns in stores or by mail; but they do offer full refunds as long as your return meets their requirements within 90 days of purchase.
For an even better shopping experience, you can download the Kohl’s app. You can use it to store all your Kohl’s coupons and even your Kohl’s Cash. And when you use it in the physical store, you can get 10 free reward points!
Plus, customers love that they get 10% off every day with their Kohl’s Charge card! For more information about the product offerings at Kohl’s, feel free to explore the website.
5. Macy’s
If you’re looking for a place to buy clothing, then Macy’s is another good alternative to Amazon. You’ll find affordable prices and a wide range of clothing at this store. Plus, there are deals all year round!
There is also free shipping on orders over $99, which can be combined with in-store discounts or rewards card incentives.
Macy’s offers high-quality products that anyone would feel comfortable buying as gifts for others or yourself.
6. Costco
Costco is one of the largest retailers in the United States, with more than 500 locations and $116 billion in revenue. Not only can you buy groceries there, but you can also find a variety of clothing and home items.
The best part is that Costco has a Gold Star Membership program that offers savings on almost everything they sell, including some items up to 23% off.
With a membership, you’ll be able to get your shopping done without any worry about going over budget because all memberships come with an annual renewal payment of just $60.
Costco is hands down one of many shopper’s favorite alternatives to Amazon because it’s easy to navigate and full of great deals!
7. Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace that lets you buy and sell handmade or vintage items. Sellers can post as many items as they want, and buyers can search by keyword. You can also find products from local boutiques and artisans.
Also, Etsy offers a more personal experience because each seller has their own profile page with photos of themselves and their workspace where they produce their goods.
People love Etsy because it’s a great place to find unique gifts that are not mass-produced, like shoes made out of recycled materials or handmade bracelets created with beads from all over the world. You’ll never know what you’ll find on Etsy!
There are even shops selling craft supplies, so if you’re looking for something specific and don’t have time to look around in other stores, this could be your best bet. It’s also really easy to get feedback about your order: after buying something on Etsy, you can review it on the site, so other shoppers will know if your experience was good or bad.
8. Alibaba
Alibaba is a Chinese eCommerce company founded in 1999 by Jack Ma and 16 other people. It is one of the largest online shopping sites in the world, which offers more than 550 million products from 240,000 businesses. Alibaba has also been valued at over $100 billion making it one of the most valuable privately owned companies in the world.
Alibaba’s website is operated as a desktop site and as an app for Android devices. The interface is available in several languages, including English, Spanish, Russian and German. With a mission to create opportunities for small and medium enterprises, Alibaba has set up trading hubs that provide business-to-business (B2B) platforms with international trade data, such as import duties.
Here, you can purchase a vast range of items in bulk, which makes it ideal for entrepreneurs who want to put up physical stores or start their own online stores.
9. Wish
Wish is an online shopping site with plenty of great deals on electronics, clothing, and home goods. It’s similar to other sites like eBay or Etsy, where sellers list the items that they want to sell.
But Wish is different in that buyers can make offers on these items, which gives them some negotiating power. The downside of this site is the shipping costs are higher than some of the other sites we mentioned, and there are often reports of counterfeit products from unscrupulous sellers.
For most people, it may not be worth paying a little more for free 2-day shipping from another site if you’re going to buy something small. For example, you’re likely better off ordering something worth less than $20 on Amazon because you’ll get free 2-day shipping instead of paying $6+ in additional cost with Wish.
However, if you’re looking for something bigger, like furniture or clothes, then Wish might be your best bet since they offer faster delivery times and lower prices compared to many other retailers (including Amazon). Plus, the option to negotiate prices means you have more control over your spending.
10. Gilt
Gilt is one of the biggest players in the online shopping space, and with new deals every day, it’s easy to see why. The site offers everything from clothes and shoes to furniture and décor, all at up to 60% off.
If you’re looking for something in particular, Gilt has a search functionality that will help you find it. One downside: there are no big discounts on beauty products or household items (though you can still buy them at full price).
Still, it’s one alternative to Amazon that you shouldn’t miss!
11. Zappos
Zappos is one of the best alternatives to Amazon because it provides excellent customer service and even has its own return and exchange policy. The website also offers free returns on all orders, which is an excellent deal. You can find everything from clothes, shoes, home goods, jewelry, and more at Zappos.
They have nearly any product that you could want. And you know, if they don’t have what you’re looking for, they will order it for you and ship it right away. What’s not to love about that?
There are many other online shopping sites that offer great deals, but none compare to how good Zappos is.
12. AliExpress
AliExpress is a shopping site that’s popular with people in China and offers a vast selection of products, be it the latest Nike shoe design or a book about computer threats, such as vzwpix. It’s similar to eBay, but the main difference is that you can buy items from other countries, not just items made in China. You can also find some higher-end brands at AliExpress that are cheaper than they would be on other sites.
In addition, AliExpress will often have deals or discounts on certain products, which makes it good for finding bargains. It also has an English interface, so it’s easy to navigate if you don’t speak Chinese. The drawback with AliExpress is that there isn’t always customer service available, so if you want to return an item, then make sure to keep the packaging and receipts.
The basic version of AliExpress is free, but some premium features are only available to paying members who can use their PayPal account or credit card to make payments through Alipay.
AliExpress offers free shipping with no minimum order size on eligible items sold by US sellers and 4-day free shipping on all orders placed within China if you are using Standard Shipping. Customers can find out about the seller’s feedback score before buying their goods, too, so they know if they are getting what they paid for!
Shop with Confidence on These Amazon Alternatives!
Amazon might be the first thing you think of when you want to buy something online, but it shouldn’t be the only one. While Amazon has been hugely successful over the years, it’s not the only option out there – and many of them offer features and conveniences that Amazon simply can’t match. If you’re looking for something different from your standard online shopping experience, consider these alternatives to Amazon as possible options! They all have free trial offers, so you can try them before you buy!
