Hello there, lovely readers
I've been using Ozon for about 1.5 years now, and I wanted to share my honest thoughts on the platform.
Ozon
Before I discovered Ozon, I was an active user of Wildberries, and I still am, to be honest.If I had to compare these two marketplaces, I'd say Wildberries is like iOS, while Ozon is like Android - I've been an iPhone user for years, after all.
Now, let's talk about the Ozon app's interface.
Honestly, I want to throw my hands up in the air!
I hate this interface - it's clunky and uncomfortable to use. It feels like it was designed by a genius programmer who forgot about usability.
I thought I'd get used to it, but I've been using Ozon for over a year and a half, and I still can't stand it.
It's like I said, I used to think the AirPods app was complicated, but now it seems ridiculously simple in comparison!
But, alas, I'm still stuck with Ozon's interface.
Even when I go to pick up my packages, I still struggle to figure out how to scan the barcode to get my stuff.
PricesWhen I first started using Ozon, the prices were pretty great - they were even cheaper than in local stores on Kamchatka, and sometimes even better than on Wildberries.
I remember buying natural laundry detergent, household items, and all sorts of random stuff all the time.
Now, though, the prices are completely out of control, and I only order things that I can't find in local stores.
Most of the time, I find that other marketplaces have better prices.
Aggressive marketingI'm really annoyed by the constant push to get me to sign up for an Ozon card.
As soon as I log in and start topping up my Ozon balance, the app starts bombarding me with ads to get me to sign up for the card.Newsflash: I don't need it, and please stop asking me!
The one good thing about Ozon, though...
The app is actually really good at finding stuff I need from other sellers.
Check out this screenshot ⌘
For example, I had this vase in my favorites, but it suddenly went out of stock. Ozon's app found me an identical vase from a different seller - genius!
ShippingI live in a remote part of Russia, on Kamchatka, so shipping times are already pretty long (over a week, sometimes even longer) - and they often get delayed, too ⌘
I've gotta say, the app does a great job of keeping me informed about my order's status, even sending me a notification with the expected delivery date.
As far as I can tell, I've got free shipping and a hassle-free return policy.
Although, I do think there's a price markup for deliveries to Kamchatka. If you're ordering from central Russia, you might get a better deal.
Confusions I've had zero issues with my deliveries so far.
No damaged packages, broken bottles, or spilled shampoo – everything's always arrived in perfect condition.
I've even gotten the impression that Ozon's delivery guys are way more careful than those on other marketplaces.
Kudos to them for that!
Packaging I'm a big fan of Ozon's packaging – it's super affordable at just one ruble!
I've never seen anything cheaper.
I always opt for the extra packaging when I place an order.
Pickup points And the pickup points? They're always a breeze!
I've been to most of the pickup points, and they're always spotless and quiet.
No long queues or crowds – it's a much more pleasant experience than on other marketplaces.
Packaging And the packaging? It's always top-notch!
My items are always wrapped in a specialized package, plus an extra layer of cardboard or plastic – it's a bit excessive, I know, but it's nice to see they're taking care.
Although, I do wish they'd reduce the amount of waste...
My purchases Now, let me show you my purchases and give you an idea of the prices.
Maybe it's silly, but this is my most profitable purchase on Ozon so far!
I've got a soft spot for Zewa Just toilet paper - 1. At our local shop 'Shamsha', four rolls of this toilet paper cost almost 700 rubles.
I managed to snag a deal on Ozon where an eight-roll pack was just 350 rubles.
I took the opportunity to order a few extra packs for backup.
It was back in the spring, and as of now, the toilet paper is still going strong.
I have a feeling that prices like these won't be around for long.
Natural cosmetics
I always buy my favorite natural cosmetics from PuroBio on Ozon. As a rule, they're always in stock and priced reasonably.
I buy tonics, natural deodorants, and similar products on Ozon all the time.
For some reason, there's no delivery on these categories of products in our region on VTB. That's one of the things I love about Ozon - they deliver almost everything to our remote region, and we only have air delivery available.
They've got some great deals on shampoos.
The discounts are pretty slim right now, but sometimes you can snag a great deal. For example, a shampoo and balm combo costs around 300 rubles.
In our local shop, a similar set would cost a thousand rubles!
Maslovka
It's just 500 rubles. In our local shop, Kamchatka, a similar oil costs over 1,000 rubles.
Of course, that shop is closed now, and you can't find oil like this for that price.
I used to order all sorts of PP stuff on Ozon all the time.
My husband even ordered some wheels for his roller skates on Ozon - I never would have thought you could find something like that on Ozon. Unfortunately, the wheels turned out to be pretty terrible - they're super hard, and it's a real pain to ride on them!
I would have paid 5,000 rubles for a carrier like this in a pet store! But on Ozon, I got it for less than 2,000 rubles.
It's a great carrier for big cats - perfect for my Meikuns.
Esthetic pleasure
This vase and bouquet of dried flowers is a real eye-catcher, it's a mood-booster, and it's a great addition to my home decor and Instagram photos. And this is just the icing on the cake! I recently bought two tubes of natural SPF creams from the brand Levarna on Ozon.
The price was cheaper than on the official Levarna website, which was a nice surprise!
The same story goes for the Sokolov brand - their jewelry on Ozon is significantly cheaper than on their official website!
Of course, there are also some disappointments. This gel for intimate hygiene smells like men's perfume, and its composition is worse than liquid soap.
It feels like they're just trying to scam me and fill the bottle with a mixture of silicones and fragrances.
Discounts on Ozon.
If I used to find some decent deals on Ozon, now I'm having a hard time finding anything worth buying.
There are some milk suction machines, school uniforms, and grain coffee that I hate, plus some home appliances that don't inspire confidence... and the prices aren't exactly discounted!
Premium points on Ozon.
For me, this is a whole different story - it's like navigating a dark forest, and I don't even want to waste my time trying to figure it out.
Sellers on Ozon.
I've never had any issues with them, and I've never fallen for any scams.
Returns.
There was a time when I had to return a few items.
In this regard, everything went smoothly - I returned them without any issues, and they were accepted without a problem.
Unpleasant situation.
Ozon doesn't always calculate the availability of their products correctly.
One time, I ordered a product, and on the second try, Ozon cancelled the delivery and refunded my money, saying that the product was out of stock.
It was annoying!
Second unpleasant situation.
I once ordered some protein dessert, and after reading the reviews, I saw that many people had issues with the product being past its expiration date, spoiled, or even moldy.
Logically, after all those complaints, Ozon should have removed the product from sale... but no, they just reduced the price from 299 rubles to 99 rubles!
What a joke!
Luckily, I decided not to buy it.
Unfair pricing policy.
Recently, I encountered a situation where I really liked a silver ring on Ozon.
The 19mm size cost 500 rubles, but my 17mm size cost 1,700 rubles!
It's the same product, from the same seller!
Why is this happening? What's the logic behind Ozon's pricing?
Now, let me show you a crazy thing that Ozon did.
I'm not impressed. I think not! Getting ripped off for a cheap bag from China for 15K with delivery to Kamchatka... and the same bag for 150 rubles with delivery to Ivanovo.
I'm being taken for a fool?
Or does Ozon think that people on Kamchatka make enough money to buy cheap junk for a lot?
It's a real shame...
Search for similar products ⌘
Ozon, are you joking?Do you really think these two pillowcases are similar?
My strategy now.
I rarely buy on this marketplace.
I sometimes log into my account, open "Favorites", and check the prices.
If what I need is reasonably priced, I'll buy it. If not, I close the app.
As a rule, there's no real advantage... it just disappears.
I've even thought about deleting my profile on Ozon and getting rid of the app
Let's sum it up:
Pros Ozon
Big selection of productsGood product packagingRelatively fast deliveryNo paid returns
Cons Ozon
ExpensiveDelays in deliveryAggressive, they're always trying to sell you a Ozon card
If I had to rate this service... my verdict is three stars!
I just can't bring myself to give more.
Would I recommend this service?
I guess so, because sometimes you can only find something on Ozon.
Will I continue to buy here? I don't know, if yes, then very rarely.
Thanks to everyone for your attention
Read also ⌘
My review of Wildberries
My review of AliExpress
My review of MegaMarket
My negative experience with the SberSpasibo program
My review of Yandex Toloka
My review of VKontakte