Cdiscount vs Amazon: which is the best marketplace for your online sales?

Introducing Cdiscount and Amazon

Cdiscount and Amazon are both generalist marketplaces offering a wide range of products.

Cdiscount: overview and positioning in the French market

Created in December 1998 Cdiscount is an e-commerce site offering a wide range of products including household appliances, technology products, furniture and more. It is acquired in 2011 by the Casino group .

In the same year, the company launched its marketplace, which became Cdiscount Marketplace.

Over the years, the marketplace has expanded its offering and further diversified its product catalog: cell phones (in 2016), electricity (in 207), travel (in 2018) and even used cars since 2021.

In 2016, the platform recorded 8.2 million users.

Amazon: world leader in online sales

Founded in July 1994 by Jeff Bezos Amazon started out as an online bookstore. It enjoyed rapid success in the United States, expanding rapidly to 40 countries within the first month of its launch.

Amazon is fast becoming a "everything store", in line with its founder's vision to offer every product in the world (or almost every product in the world).

In addition to books, you'll find clothing, electronics and food products.

The platform has also diversified, offering Amazon Web Services (AWS), a cloud computing service for businesses, Alexa a virtual assistant or Amazon Studios .

Amazon is one of the famous GAFAM, thus dominating the world of technology alongside other giants such as Google, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft. The platform includes 181 million users in the European Union by 2023, including 35 million French.

What the two platforms have in common

The two platforms have the following points in common:

• Marketplaces combining direct sales . Both platforms operate on a hybrid model, offering both their own products and a marketplace for third-party sellers.

Amazon offers native products such as the Alexa virtual assistant. Benefiting from its synergy with Casino, Cdiscount offers direct sales of the group's products.

• Competitive prices . Both platforms are also known for their flash sales, promotions and deep discounts designed to attract even more consumers.

• Loyalty programs with "Cdiscount à volonté" (CDAV) and "Amazon Prime", subscription services offering access to free delivery and other services.

• A wide range of products . Both platforms offer a wide range of products, enabling them to reach a diverse customer base.

The differences between Cdiscount and Amazon

Despite their similarities, the two platforms also differ in the following respects:

Market size and geographic scope

Cdiscount is a mainly active in the French market, with delivery to 9 European countries:

• Ireland

• Portugal

• Luxembourg

• Italie

• Belgium

• Germany

• Netherlands

• Spain

• Austria

We have seen, however, that Amazon is a global marketplace .

Dominant product types and sectors on each platform

Both platforms offer a diverse range of products. However, Amazon has a more pronounced bias towards digital services (streaming and ebooks) as well as fashion and healthcare.

For its part, Cdiscount focuses more on products from local French culture, such as wines and groceries (thanks to its synergy with the Casino group) . Home and DIY products are also particularly present.

Logistics management tools: Cdiscount Fulfillment vs Amazon FBA

Cdiscount and Amazon each offer their own logistics management service, enabling sellers to outsource product shipping and storage. Here's what sets them apart:

• Geographical scope . Amazon FBA has the advantage of international reach, making it ideal for companies aiming for international expansion.

Cdiscount Fulfillment is mainly concentrated in France, but can cover 9 European countries.

• The pricing system . Amazon FBA applies a rate proportional to weight, dimensions and shipping location.

Cdiscount Fulfillment applies a more affordable, subscription-based rate.

• The logistics network . Amazon FBA's logistics network is more sophisticated, enabling fast delivery worldwide.

Cdiscount Fulfillment also offers a fast delivery service within France, but shows its limitations when it comes to delivery outside the country.

Thanks to its synergy with Casino, Cdiscount Fulfillment offers in-store pick-up and local delivery options.

Which marketplace has the best returns policy?

Cdiscount has adopted a policy of free returns provided the following conditions are met:

• 14-day return policy

• In its original condition.

However, personalized products, hygienic items and digital products are excluded.

Amazon also applies the statutory 10-day cooling-off period. Therefore, for any item returned within this period, the refunds price and delivery costs .

The platform also imposes an additional delay of up to 30 days for product returns . In this case, only the price of the returned product will be refunded excluding delivery charges.

This means that Amazon's return policy is superior because it allows you to return a property until the 30th ^ème day after receipt of order.

How do I register on these two marketplaces?

Here are the respective registration processes on the two platforms:

Sur Cdiscount

The first step is to read the General Sales Conditions . The next step is to fill in a registration form and provide supporting documents such as proof of identity, company KBIS and bank details.

Then you need to create your product catalog . You can do this on a product-by-product basis, or integrate en masse via the built-in API or a third-party integrator.

On Amazon

To register with Amazon, you must create a seller account . To do this, you need to fill in :

• Your professional e-mail address or your Amazon customer account information

• A valid passport or national identity card

• A credit card

• Your telephone number

• Your company's registration details

• Your bank details .

Once you have created your seller account, you can start to market your products by creating a product offer .

A product offer must contain the following information:

• A product identifier

• A title

• Product images

• A product description with a list of bullets

• Search terms and keywords .

Fees and commissions on Cdiscount and Amazon

As an Amazon seller, you can choose between two types of plan:

• Individual plan at 0.99 euro excl. tax per item sold

• The Professional Plan at 39 euros ex VAT per month.

In addition to these subscription fees, we charge commissions for each sale made. These vary according to product category.

They range from 7 % (for electronic or computer products) to 15 % (for luggage accessories, mattresses, shoes, etc.). However, it reaches 20% for jewelry (up to a maximum of 250 euros) and 45% for Amazon devices.

For its part, Cdiscount applies a single subscription plan of 39.99 euros per month .

The platform also applies a single commission rate of 15 % except for certain product categories or non-new products (for which the commission rate is increased by 2%).

How Hero helps you maximize your cash flow by selling on Cdiscount and Amazon

Hero is a payment platform specifically designed and tailored to the needs of sellers on marketplaces, offering you a wide range of features to help you manage your cash flow.

A marketplace such as Cdiscount or Amazon only pays for sales made after a certain period of time, which varies according to the return period.

Such a delay can impact cash flow small businesses, especially if they don't have enough cash reserves.

With Hero's factoring functions, you can avoid these inconveniences:

• The platform advances payment for your sales on day D+1 shipping orders. This means you can quickly access the funds you need to continue your normal business operations.

• The platform can also advance payment for your inventory purchases and offer you the option of repaying in 3 or 4 instalments.

This makes Hero an ideal financial partner for small and medium-sized businesses wishing to sell their products on Cdiscount or Amazon.

In a nutshell, Amazon and Cdiscount are both marketplaces which are similar in terms of their broad product offering. What sets them apart, however, is their reach: Cdiscount is a French platform, while Amazon is present in 180 countries. Hero can help you optimize your cash flow despite payment delays on marketplaces such as Cdiscount et Amazon.