Five reasons to ditch Amazon and eBay and switch to Wholee Prime this Christmas

Here are five reasons to abandon Amazon and eBay and switch to Wholee Prime, the ethical, low price online retail disruptor that’s storming the global online retail market this Christmas.

1. The Lowest Price

Ignore the marketing hype surrounding  ‘Black Friday’ sales and ‘Prime Day’ exclusives on Amazon and eBay. Instead, new entrants to the online retail market, such as Wholee Prime, are starting to challenge the dominance of these e-commerce giants. Wholee Prime, for example, is unique in its model. It works directly with the manufacturer cutting out unnecessary mark-up costs from marketing and commission fees, which, in some instances, are equivalent to as much as 50 to 100 per cent of the production cost. This unique business model also shields consumers from so-called ‘price gouging’. The phenomenon has swept across Amazon and eBay this year, and has seen goods soar during peaks in demand. At the height of the pandemic, price gouging on Amazon and eBay led to essential items, such as hand sanitiser and toilet roll, to be priced at ten times its pre-COVID price. The Sun newspaper recently reported on the criticism eBay’s faced following the re-selling of Aldi’s Christmas toys at ten times their original price. Ultimately, these pricing strategies come at the expense of you the consumer. 

2. Safety from scams

This year’s seen a dramatic rise in the number of fraudulent scams Amazon and eBay users have fallen victim to. Hackers have exploited the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in a 400 per cent increase in online scams since April this year. In October, The Guardian reported that scammers have used the pandemic to take advantage of thousands of anxious consumers. Many Amazon users have faced bogus calls from ‘Amazon staff’ to discuss new deals and promotions, only to have private information stolen. eBay frequently fails to protect its users and is regularly accused of avoiding the responsibility of fake listings that they permit to be posted on their site. Consumer safety on Amazon and eBay is regularly under threat with the online retail giants often doing little to protect their users. It should not be the consumer’s responsibility to avoid these scams. Instead, they need an online retailer that has appropriate measures in place to protect their customers. 

3. Effective Customer Service

Consumers regularly complain about a poor standard of customer service when shopping online. eBay faced recent criticism following a fraudulent case in which they were caught shifting the blame to PayPal and the Royal Mail after a customer received a faulty item from the site in spite of their online policies that guarantee customer support and protection. The Guardian reported that eBay adopts a ‘money back guarantee’ policy for customers should their purchase be damaged or flawed, which they often fail to uphold. In the example above, eBay claimed they could no longer honour the agreement as the customer had also opened a claim with PayPal. Wholee Prime, in contrast, is committed to honouring its customer service agreements.

4. The Safety and Treatment of Workers

Amazon’s poor treatment of their staff, especially in light of the pandemic, has also attracted significant negative publicity. The retailer has faced criticism for their poor response to the pandemic, their failure to provide enough PPE for their staff, offering irregular staff temperature checks, and not ensuring adequate social distancing. The Verge reported that Amazon warehouse workers are often not notified when a co-worker has tested positive for COVID-19. Their inability to enforce minimal safety measures for their staff and apparent disregard for moral responsibility is alarming. Whole Prime puts staff welfare front and centre, particularly during the pandemic, which has put an unprecedented toll on people’s lives.

5. Consumer Choice

Amazon has faced widespread criticism following its alleged exploitation of EU competition rules. The BBC recently reported that the European Commission has charged Amazon with abusing its dominant market position in the online retail market. The retail giant has been accused of retaining sensitive data from SMEs to aid in their own sales, the cost of which is around £15 billion. Wholee Prime is committed to being an ethical online retail alternative to challenge the dominance of eBay and Amazon. It’s committed to free competition and ensuring customers get the best products at the best price. 
Sadly, Coronavirus means there’s little doubt this Christmas will be like no other. Online retail will be an essential way for us to ensure we have presents to put under the Christmas tree to be shared with our loved ones, but it’s important we don’t sacrifice our principles for the sake of convenience. Who will you turn to for your shopping needs this Christmas…?