Love play dot com and found them really good - but have never used their market place items
Also use amazon a lot but don't use their market place if I can help it!
I think the only thing is returns - with play or amazon they will refund anything that's damaged and reimburse return postage whereas individual sellers don't have to offer either of those things? Depends on the item - if it's worth it then you should have protection from play for non-delivery or similar, especially if payment goes through them?
We are about £80 out of pocket for a damaged computer part from china - returned it but conveniently they didn't receive it
ebay don't give two hoots as a certain time had lapsed ("ask for advice from the government or your local police" wtf?!) - so that I
don't recommend
xx