Amazon Is Copping Online Heat After Its Initial Offering Fails To Deliver The Bargains We Crave
In the early hours of the morning, just after midnight, Amazon Australia sneakily launched and as buyers hit up the website today the vibe is already not great.
While the international retail giant now has a home base in Oz, many expected the prices to stay as low as they are on the US site. Despite the company’s big launch overnight, many buyers found the site’s offerings to be nothing spesh.
OMG OMG OMG OMG AMAZON HAS LAUNCHED IN AUSTRALIA…
Checks prices….
Meh…
— Trevor Long (@trevorlong) December 4, 2017
Some electronic items offer some serious competition for Aussie retailers. A pair of Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones will set you back only $421.99 on Amazon compared to $499 at JB Hi-Fi and $426 at Harvey Norman. You can even save yourself $70 on a Nintendo Switch which is listed at $399 compared to EB Games‘ and JB-Hi-Fi‘s $469.
But apart from these diamonds in the rough, the site seems to (so far) fall overwhelmingly short of the hype. Buyers have noted that some of the prices are even higher than what you can find in any ol’ department store.
The consensus is that the prices are not just more expensive compared to Amazon US, but even the US prices combined with international shipping in some cases works out cheaper. Calling into question the whole point of the local version. Yikes! Let us pray for a sweeping load of discounts heading our way soon.
Many have taken to Twitter to express their disappointment:
Amazon is, after months of alarm bells & media frenzy, finally here in Australia and it's… wait… you can buy thongs… with FREE returns? STOKED! TOTAL GAME CHANGER.#amazonaustralia #AmazonAU pic.twitter.com/2LJu8SEPl6
— Shallow Culture (@ShallowCulture) December 4, 2017
Oh Australia. You try and try. And fail and fail. #AmazonAustralia a perfect example. How is it still cheaper for me to buy from the US store INCLUDING shipping than locally?
— Benji Strikes Again (@thebenjireturns) December 4, 2017
The more i look through the Amazon site more underwhelmed i get.
– Best price? No.
– Best delivery? No.
– Best range? No.
– They do have an excellent range of books on how to reduce tax using lower tax territories though!— Charlie (@charlietech) December 4, 2017
Nothing on #AmazonAustralia is cheaper than we’re used to. NOTHING.
— Josh Byrnes (@_yngbld) December 4, 2017
Amazon has launched in Australia. And Lifehacker says the prices aren’t…the best pic.twitter.com/30tdaYkQGL
— Adam Baidawi (@ads_b) December 4, 2017
Yet another international retailer launches in ????????, slaps on the Australia tax and then wonders why it’s not going well? Do they think we are stupid? Ffs we get screwed by everyone. #amazonaustralia #meh
— Deb (@9inchheels) December 5, 2017
So far Amazon AU = Netflix AU. Anemic range compared with its US equivalent. #amazonaustralia
— Dan Craddock (@slowburnweb) December 4, 2017
The #amazonaustralia noticable price difference in stores. I wonder how they do their pricing model!!! pic.twitter.com/HKLfL8VvIF
— Prabhu Govindaraj (@prabssyd) December 4, 2017
On first looks, Amazon Australia's prices appear to be as escalated as those at the local rip-off stores like Harvey Norman, Myer etc. Dissappointed! Not worth the hype. #amazonaustralia
— Mehreen r (@RizviMehreen) December 4, 2017
This is my issue with #AmazonAustralia so far: same seller, higher price listed on Amazon. pic.twitter.com/8gdwsthCRN
— Jen Dudley-Nicholson (@jendudley) December 4, 2017
What's the point of #AmazonAustralia when you can buy the same product off US Amazon, get smashed on shipping fees and a rubbish exchange rate, and still be better off?
— James Raynes (@jimmyraynes) December 5, 2017
#amazonaustralia is going to find out that without 'genuine' discounts Australians will stay away in droves. Every item I cross checked on other sites including AmazonUS were cheaper even w/crap exchange rate & postage … ????
— Dutch Milner™️ (@dutch_milner) December 5, 2017
Same, tbh.
I sincerely hope #AmazonAustralia has a crapload more stuff coming and the prices are about to drop dramatically because right now I am spectacularly unimpressed.
— Royce Wilson (@RoyceWilsonAU) December 4, 2017