Can we purchase goods on Ebay or Amazon?
Yes, but it is not recommended. Presently, there is no policy that prohibits purchases from EBay or Amazon that are legitimate, prudent, and otherwise not in violation of any existing University purchasing, P-Card, or other policy. Generally, while purchases of under $5,000 do not need competitive bidding, it is in a department’s best interest to conduct due diligence in all cases to ensure that the lowest total cost of ownership is achieved. This would include salary dollars spent shopping for items; the risks of purchasing from unknown suppliers;, including buying “gray market” products that seem new, but are actually being repurchased and do not have warranties; receiving damaged goods and the difficulty in getting replacements or refunds. Also, Purchasing may not be able to provide any assistance if a problem develops with a non-contracted supplier. The ultimate costs can far outweigh any immediate perceived savings. From a departmental policy standpoint, Purchasing strongly recomm
