Stamps1962,
It depends where the item is, where it's come from, and what margin is involved.
For instance, if I want let's say a Lighthouse Vario album I have 3 options usually availbale to me. I can get it from
eBay, I can get it from
Amazon Japan or I can get it from
Amazon US. Now one would think the best way to go would be
Amazon Japan (given that I live in Japan). BUT, there are not retail/resellers of Lighthouse in Japan. So people import them from US, and then set up an
Amazon store. Now they bought at retail (or near that), then had to pay shipping, then put it up for sale on
Amazon, then have to store it in a country where space is REALLY expensive, then have to ship it. Do you think they're going to pay $70 for it in the US and then just resell it for $70 here? No.. There's lots of new costs added, and they still want to make something off of it, like any business would. So it goes up higher. Now... if I come along and I need it URGENTLY (like tomorrow), and I can get it from
Amazon Japan, but the cost is now $120 but I MUST have it tomorrow, then I may well go ahead and buy it because now it's LOCAL. BUT, most of the time, I find I can go to
Amazon US, (I'm a prime member too), and get it for the $70 retail, and then it arrives via global shipping (if I'm in no hurry), no extra cost. If I'm in a hurry I may be able to "expedite" it and get it in 3-4 days at an increase of around $30-$40. Then it becomes much of a muchness between which way to go. My last option would be
eBay, and look in places like Hong Kong or Singapore that are "more near-by", maybe I can get one for $60 instead, and $25 shipping... and get it in 2 - 3 days.
You know, lots of people sell stuff, and they need to make money (no one will stay in business by only losing money). YOU as a consumer have something called a choice. And it's up to you. You can be savvy and look for a better deal, or maybe your time is worth more to you, and you don't want to spend then next 2 hours comparison shopping, it will arrive tomorrow, and so you just pull the trigger.
This is called capitalism.
Remember as well... One can sell anything CHEAP. It takes talent to sell value...