What are the pros and cons buying from Newegg vs. from Amzon?

modeonoff · Apr 10, 2018

Hello, when buying components to build a computer, what are the pros and cons buying from these two sites? Any other better site?

Lutfij · Apr 10, 2018

A lot of people mix and match the purchases. Often times when listing a build off of PCPartPicker there are instances where you have more than just Newegg, Amazon and the like offering better pricing.

JalYt_Justin · Apr 10, 2018

If you have prime, Amazon is usually faster to ship to US customers. That's about the only difference I've been able to see. Pricing is only marginally different between the two sites and most people will mix and match components from both sites.

ArchitSahu · Apr 10, 2018

Both are essentially the same. If you are looking for lowest prices, use pcpartpicker.com because it compares which site has the lowest price for the component and gives the lowest price.

Otherwise, both are good. I would Amazon imo due to some good RMA and Return support but I have rare experience with Newegg so I can't comment there.

feelinfroggy777 · Apr 10, 2018

I don't pay sales tax on items from Newegg. It depends on where you live if you do, but the savings can be enough to go with Newegg.. Although somewhere on the east coast, I think Connecticut, the state government went after customers who did not pay sales tax.

BFG-9000 · Apr 10, 2018

Amazon is easier if you need service, but now charges sales tax to all states that have it.

Newegg only collects sales tax for 6 states, but was recently sold to a Chinese company: Hangzhao Liaison Interactive Information Technology Co., Ltd. It is a lot easier to search for and find what you are looking for on Newegg. I don't think their prices have been that low since the days they were competing with former archrival Googlegear/ZipZoomFly. Their eBay store often has better prices at the cost of no returns.

John Usa · Apr 10, 2018

I stopped buying from both of these bad companies as they have started to charge me full sales tax which I hate to pay. They both can go to hell. I now buy only from dealers who do not charge any sales tax and also offer free delivery.
Watch out for sneaky merchants and do your homework before buying anything.
Buyer beware.

modeonoff · Apr 10, 2018

I have bought other things from Amazon and no issue. However, I have heard that in Amazon, there are lots of SanDisk counterfeits. Do I have to worry about such possibility in regard to buying components to build the workstation?

Barty1884 · Apr 10, 2018

feelinfroggy777 :

From what I understand (after the requests for customer lists from State governments), in actuality, you *should* be paying sales tax - just on your returns, not via Newegg.
Now, most states (at least until recently) haven't really pushed for this ..... but the "not paying tax" argument isn't strictly correct. Technically, it's tax evasion.

As for Amazon vs NewEgg (or any other legit site), ther'es pro's and con's.
Amazon, for the most part, has the better customer service - AND, if you have prime, the difference in shipping times can be substantial.

Newegg can have a greater selection.

As others have stated, a combination of sites, using PCPP or other similar site, is usually the best idea for the best "deal" overall.

feelinfroggy777 · Apr 10, 2018

From what I understand (after the requests for customer lists from State governments), in actuality, you *should* be paying sales tax - just on your returns, not via Newegg.
Now, most states (at least until recently) haven't really pushed for this ..... but the "not paying tax" argument isn't strictly correct. Technically, it's tax evasion.

I live in Texas. We don't have state income tax, therefore there is no return to report the taxes too.

mjslakeridge · Apr 10, 2018

feelinfroggy777 :

That's a good point Froggy! If you were a business registered in Texas, then you would file a Texas Sales and Use Tax Report, but I know of no such requirement for individuals.

Barty1884 · Apr 10, 2018

feelinfroggy777 :

And yet, the onus is actually still on you to report it:

The Customer’s Responsibility

In cases where the online retailer does not have to collect sales tax, it is the customer’s responsibility to pay the tax—in which case it is known not as a sales tax but, rather, a use tax. The TCPA states on its use tax FAQ page that one of the most common reasons for a purchaser being subject to use tax is purchasing a taxable item from an out-of-state retailer without paying Texas tax and using the property in Texas. The FAQ page goes on to state that if a purchaser purchases merchandise "through a catalog or the Internet from a seller located outside of Texas and uses the taxable item in Texas," then the purchaser owes use tax on the purchase. You can find more formal guidance about the use tax in Rule 3.346 if the Texas Administrative Code.

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/texas-internet-sales-tax.html

When an out-of-state retailer doesn't add Texas sales and use taxes to your bill, it's not because no taxes are owed — and it's not because the retailer is doing something illegal. Texas consumers fail to pay almost $1.8 billion annually.

https://www.texastribune.org/2014/12/19/analysis-dont-blame-retailers/

Now, today, it doesn't sound like there's much they can do about it, and they don't. BUT, if the government decide to pursue (influenced by CT perhaps, depending on how successful their recoup mission is), you're going to owe back taxes.

Almost every state (AFAIK) has some form of requirement to pay the appropriate tax if the retailer doesn't collect it at point of sale. I believe I heard some even require monthly (might be quarterly) returns.

Amazon:
Con: They charge tax at point of sale
Potentially a pro, depending on future developments: They charge tax at point of sale

NewEgg:
Pro: No tax at point of sale for most States and (currently), there's no real follow-up for you to pay it.
Con: No tax at point of sale (for most states) and a potentially sizeable tax-bill in future.

Zerk2012 · Apr 10, 2018

modeonoff :

When you buy from Amazon make sure it is sold and shipped from them not a 3rd party.
Newegg the same thing. The only exception from newegg is the Cryorig coolers.

I perfer Newegg for RMA's.
I buy a lot from Newegg because I get it in 2 days if it's in the Memphis warehouse.

feelinfroggy777 · Apr 10, 2018

And yet, the onus is actually still on you to report it

Actually, it is not. There is no vehicle in Texas to report the tax. As I said, there is not state tax return.

BFG-9000 · Apr 10, 2018

Texas provides four methods to report and file your sales taxes. Note that the ways to report taxable purchases are the same methods used to also report taxable sales that you have collected.

Magnus Thunderson · Apr 16, 2018

modeonoff :

new egg vs amazon
both have scams from 3rd party sellers
new egg price as they price match amazon when there higher
availability new egg wins here as they new products in stock faster
customer service Amazon hands down especially if there a problem such as not getting it new egg took over a month and blacklisted me from there site for a month due to a missing package of an SSD got it fixed after that
tax new egg no tax amazon tax and I prefer no tax as Florida is a crooked state as we started a lottery to supplement property tax money for our schools but now they run off the lottery so were do our school property tax's go who knows?
and we 2 years ago passed a law to start buying environmental land and so far there a lot that come but not one square inch has be bought so were is all that money going and it we can toss people out of there houses to build new condos by eminent domain the we should be able to do it for undeveloped environmentally sensitive land

Tinstaafl · Apr 17, 2018

Have had good experiences with both.

Newegg for the search and selection. But return shipping and restock fees can be a PITA.
Amazon for the return policy. Their product search is still a mess, but if you can find what you are looking for, can't beat Prime shipping!

Always make sure the product is fulfilled directly by them, and not a 3rd party.

And a 3rd option is buying new product from top rated sellers on eBay, as some will offer 'buy it now' prices with 'fast and free' shipping. Some are actual retailers using a store front on eBay (including Newegg). Just watch out for overseas shipments. Some have extended handling times and shipping can sometimes be expensive.

pol814 · Apr 17, 2018

Since you'll be buying brand name unless you're an idiot, you shouldn't run into this problem, but Amazon has been more destroyed by the Chinese than Newegg.

What are the pros and cons buying from Newegg vs. from Amzon?

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