What is the difference between Amazon and Amazon Marketplace?

The main difference between Amazon (first-party) and Amazon Marketplace (third-party) comes down to who owns the inventory and sells the product to you.

• Amazon (First-Party / 1P): Amazon acts as a traditional retailer. They buy inventory directly from brands and manufacturers, stock it in their fulfillment centers, and sell it directly to you. On a product page, these items display: "Ships from Amazon, Sold by Amazon.com."
• Amazon Marketplace (Third-Party / 3P): Amazon acts as a digital shopping mall. Independent, third-party merchants list and sell their own products on Amazon's platform. On a product page, these items display: "Sold by [Seller Name]" and may be shipped by Amazon or directly by the seller.

Understanding this distinction helps you know who you are buying from, who handles customer service, and how returns are processed.