ONBUY is a UK-founded online marketplace with a highly competitive fee structure.
The online marketplace has seen record sales as savvy consumers seek out better deals — here we take a look at OnBuy and whether it’s a legitimate online shop.
Online marketplace OnBuy launched globally in summer 2020 but began its journey in 2016[/caption]
What is OnBuy?
OnBuy is one of the fastest-growing e-commerce marketplaces in the world.
The company boasts a range of over 35million products while offering big savings for customers.
It prides itself on being a fair and transparent business that puts buyers and sellers first.
When was OnBuy created?
The UK Dorset-based online shopping platform, OnBuy was launched by Cas Paton in November 2016.
Speaking about the founding OnBuy, Paton told the Retail Bulletin in July 2023: “I’ve been involved in web development since I was a teenager and started my first company while studying at university.
“Entrepreneurship has always been in my blood, and I set up my first business at the age of 21.
“I’ve had other ventures along the way, but in 2016 I founded OnBuy and decided to dedicate all my time, effort, and money into making it a success.
“It’s been quite a journey and recently OnBuy was recognised as “Europe’s fastest-growing ecommerce business” by the Financial Times.”
The company launched globally in the summer of 2020 after securing a £5million investment.
OnBuy’s founder and CEO Paton projected the thriving business to be turning over £2billion in sales by 2024.
Following a 1,100 per cent sales increase in 2019, OnBuy embarked on an aggressive international expansion plan into 140 new territories — including the US, Germany, France, Spain and the UAE.
To accommodate the company’s rapid growth, OnBuy tripled its workforce in 2020 to more than 50 full-time staff.
Paton said: “The injection of this additional funding not only allows us to substantially grow the operational side of the business, but it gives the OnBuy team backing from phenomenal investors who can bring an array of eCommerce experience and expertise to the table, bolstering an already strong globalisation strategy.
“2020 is a coming-of-age era for OnBuy, where we’ve seen some of the world’s largest brands and retailers come on board.
“By having products from the leading household names available, including Procter & Gamble, Unilever and Kimberly-Clark, we are driving better competition which feeds into better pricing for consumers across a huge variety of products.
“We are well on track to claim 3-5 per cent of the £84billion UK eCommerce market in the next three years, and we’re aiming for one per cent of the $3.46 trillion global e-commerce market, equating to $35bn, in the next five years.
“We’re gearing up for an enormous expansion into over 140 new countries, which will allow OnBuy to become the first global marketplace and further set ourselves apart from the competition.”
The tech firm, whose headquarters are based in Bournemouth said that they would begin its roll-out in the EU before extending into North America in 2025.
This comes after OnBuy secured a £2.5m strategic investment and partnership and Google Cloud partnership in October 2024.
Is OnBuy a legitimate website?
OnBuy is a legitimate website, but there are a great many imposter sites claiming to help OnBuy customers.
These include OnBuy Pro, OnBuy Mall, OnBuy Store, OnBuy Price Tracker, OnBuy-UK, OnBuy.bz, OnBuy Shop, OnBuy APK, OnBuy-int, OnBuy VIP, OnBuy Global.
So make sure you are using OnBuy.com to avoid scammers.
Is the OnBuy app safe?
Yes, the app is safe to use.
OnBuy sates: “All eligible items bought on OnBuy are automatically covered by OnBuy Protection for up to 180 days after purchase, no matter how you choose to pay.
“No catches. No hidden costs. Just our way of letting you know you’re in safe hands when you shop with us!”
What to do if you think you’ve been scammed
IF you’ve lost money in a scam, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or by visiting Actionfraud.police.uk.
You should also contact your bank or credit card provider immediatley to see if they can stop or trace the cash.
If you don’t think your bank has managed your complaint correctly, or if you’re unhappy with the verdict it gives on your case you can complain to the free Financial Ombudsman Service.
Also monitor your credit report in the months following the fraud to ensure crooks don’t make further attempts to steal your cash.
