Why Is OnBuy So Cheap? Is OnBuy Legit? (Honest Review)

Fed up with eBay and looking for somewhere new to buy and sell?

You may have come across OnBuy.

At first glance, the prices can look surprisingly low — sometimes even cheaper than Amazon or eBay. That naturally makes people wonder if the site is actually trustworthy.

So is OnBuy legit? And why are the prices sometimes so cheap?

I’ve taken a proper look at how the marketplace works so you can decide whether it’s worth using.

Quick answer

Yes — OnBuy is a legitimate UK online marketplace that launched in 2016 and is based in Dorset.

It works in a similar way to eBay or Amazon Marketplace. OnBuy itself doesn’t sell the products. Instead, third-party sellers list items and OnBuy connects them with buyers.

Because sellers compete with each other and OnBuy often charges lower fees than some competitors, prices can sometimes be very competitive.

However, just like any marketplace, your experience can depend heavily on the seller you’re buying from.

OnBuy vs Amazon vs eBay

Why is OnBuy so cheap?

One of the biggest questions people ask is why items on OnBuy can sometimes look cheaper than other online shops.

There are a few reasons for this.

Sellers compete with each other

Multiple sellers can list the same product on the same page.

That means sellers often lower their prices slightly to win the sale. When several sellers are competing, prices can drop quickly.

You see the same behaviour on Amazon Marketplace and eBay.

OnBuy doesn’t compete with sellers

Unlike Amazon, OnBuy doesn’t sell its own products.

Amazon sometimes competes directly with sellers through its own branded products and warehouses. OnBuy simply runs the marketplace and leaves selling to third-party retailers.

Because of this, many sellers see OnBuy as a fairer platform.

Lower seller costs

OnBuy charges sellers commission and a monthly subscription rather than high listing fees.

Typical seller costs include:

• monthly seller subscriptions starting around £25
• commission fees that vary by category (usually around 7%–15%)
• transaction processing fees

Because fees can be lower than Amazon in some categories, sellers may be able to offer lower prices.

Smaller marketplace

OnBuy is still much smaller than Amazon or eBay.

To attract buyers, many sellers use competitive pricing strategies to stand out.

This can create genuine bargains if you compare prices carefully.

Some products ship from overseas

Some sellers operate from outside the UK.

Lower operating costs in other countries can allow sellers to offer cheaper prices, although delivery times may sometimes be longer.

Always check the delivery estimate and seller location before ordering.

Cashback incentives

Another reason people use OnBuy is its cashback programme.

Most purchases earn at least 1% cashback, which can be used on future orders.

Sometimes promotions offer significantly higher cashback rates, which can make the overall price even cheaper.

What is OnBuy?

OnBuy is an online marketplace where independent sellers list products for buyers.

The platform launched in 2016 in Dorset, UK and has grown quickly since then.

Millions of products are listed across categories such as:

• electronics
• home and garden
• toys
• fitness equipment
• beauty products
• tools and DIY

Unlike eBay, there are no auctions. Everything is sold at a fixed price.

Is OnBuy legit?

Yes — OnBuy is a legitimate and established online marketplace.

Payments are processed through OnBuy’s secure payment system and purchases are covered by OnBuy Protection, which can protect eligible orders for up to 180 days.

However, just like eBay or Amazon Marketplace, you are usually buying from independent sellers rather than the platform itself.

That means it’s important to check seller ratings before buying.

How to check if an OnBuy seller is genuine

Before buying anything on a marketplace, I always check a few quick things.

Seller rating

Sellers are rated out of five stars based on buyer feedback.

If a seller has lots of positive reviews and a high rating, it’s usually a good sign.

Customer reviews

Read a few recent reviews to see if other buyers had issues with delivery, refunds or faulty items.

A few negative reviews are normal, but consistent complaints can be a warning sign.

Delivery times

Some sellers ship from overseas.

This isn’t necessarily a problem, but delivery may take longer than ordering from a UK retailer.

Selling on OnBuy

OnBuy is mainly designed for business sellers rather than individuals.

To sell products on the platform you must:

• pass their seller verification checks
• pay a monthly seller subscription
• pay commission when items sell

Seller subscription plans typically include:

• Standard – from around £25 per month
• Partner – around £69 per month
• Professional – around £249 per month

These plans are mainly aimed at businesses selling larger volumes.

Because of the monthly fee, OnBuy usually isn’t ideal if you only want to sell the occasional item.

Downsides of using OnBuy

Although OnBuy is legitimate, there are a few potential downsides.

Customer service depends on the seller

Because you’re buying from individual sellers, the quality of customer service can vary.

If there’s an issue, you’ll normally need to contact the seller first.

Delivery can be slower than Amazon

Amazon’s huge warehouse network allows extremely fast delivery.

OnBuy doesn’t operate warehouses itself, so delivery speeds depend on the seller.

Most orders arrive within 2–5 days, but some can take longer.

Not ideal for casual sellers

Because of the monthly subscription fee, OnBuy is generally better suited to businesses rather than individuals selling occasional items.

What other people say about OnBuy

OnBuy has built a strong reputation with online shoppers.

On Trustpilot, the platform currently holds an excellent rating of around 4.4–4.6 out of 5 from over 100,000 reviews.

Positive reviews often mention:

• competitive prices
• wide range of products
• easy ordering process

Negative reviews usually involve issues with individual sellers, delivery delays or returns.

This is fairly typical for large marketplaces where sellers manage their own orders.

Is OnBuy worth using?

If you find something for a good price, there’s usually no reason not to use OnBuy.

It’s a legitimate platform and many people use it regularly without problems.

Just remember that you’re usually buying from third-party sellers, so it’s always worth checking ratings and reviews before purchasing.

If you’re thinking about selling the occasional item though, the monthly seller subscription means that it will probably be too expensive. Take a look at these eBay alternatives instead.

FAQ