NOT-SO-PRIME BUYS
Ah, amazing Amazon: The world's largest e-retailer has made it possible to get everything shipped to our door with blistering speed, often for less than the other guys. But just because you can order almost anything from Amazon doesn't necessarily mean you should. From things that are cheaper offline to products it's best to see in person, steer clear of these 15 things on Amazon.
GROCERIES
'NEW' BOOKS FROM THIRD-PARTY SELLERS
NO-NAME ELECTRONICS
CHEAP COSMETICS
SMALLER ITEMS
PRODUCTS WITH SUSPICIOUS REVIEWS
NAME-BRAND CLOTHING
GIFT CARDS
MATTRESSES
LARGE APPLIANCES
IKEA PRODUCTS
COSTCO KIRKLAND SIGNATURE PRODUCTS
JEWELRY
Sure, Amazon has tons of jewelry for would-be buyers to browse, but will you be getting the same quality you'd find after inspecting a potential purchase in person? Experts tell Gizmodo that it's unlikely -- for instance, you have to see a stone in person to make sure it really sparkles like it does in the photo. Even more concerning, some of Amazon's best "deals" were simply dropping prices to fair market value. If you do take the plunge, one more thing to note: Make sure the item is returnable -- Amazon says "some jewelry" doesn't make the cut.