Amazon.com no longer available to Australians?

Discussion in 'Living Room' started by Simon Hampel, 31st May, 2018.

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  1. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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    Just received this email from Amazon:

    Dear Simon Hampel,

    As a result of changes to Australian GST law, on 1 July 2018 Amazon’s international shopping options for Australian customers will change.

    While we regret any inconvenience this may cause, from 1 July we will be redirecting Australian customers from our international Amazon sites to amazon.com.au where you can shop for products sold by Amazon US on the new Amazon Global Store, available today. We have taken this step to provide our customers with continued access to international selection and allow us to remain compliant with the law which requires us to collect and remit GST on products sold on Amazon sites that are shipped from overseas.

    Amazon Global Store will allow Australian customers to shop on amazon.com.au for over four million items that were previously only accessible on amazon.com. This selection is in addition to the more than 60 million products that are already available on amazon.com.au across 23 categories, including books, fashion, toys, and electronics.

    To welcome you to amazon.com.au, and thank you for choosing to shop with us, we are offering you a $20 voucher to redeem against your next purchase on amazon.com.au of items sold and shipped by Amazon AU. Just include your unique promotional code below at checkout when purchasing eligible items (see full terms and conditions below).

    Thank you for choosing to shop with Amazon.
    ​
    This sucks - for starters, Amazon.com.au has almost nothing worth buying on it and prices are ridiculously high for just about everything except packaged computer games! There are plenty of things that we just can't source locally and adding "over 4 million items" from amazon.com to "Global store" on amazon.com.au isn't going to fix that.

    I wonder how this is going to be policed and how easy it will be to get around it.

    It's all Gerry Harvey's fault.
     
    Simon Hampel, 31st May, 2018
    #1
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  2. chylld

    chylld Well-Known Member

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    My comGateway account might see some action again after a long hibernation...
     
    chylld, 31st May, 2018
    #2
  3. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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    But if amazon.com block you from even purchasing on their site (ie won't accept AU credit cards), then even that won't be an option - unless you use a US based purchasing service (they purchase for you and then freight forward).
     
    Simon Hampel, 31st May, 2018
    #3
  4. chylld

    chylld Well-Known Member

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    Looks like you can use a service like Purse to convert Bitcoin to Amazon gift card balance...
     
    chylld, 31st May, 2018
    #4
  5. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    Not sure if using paypal will hide the purchasing details or is it transparent?

    I have used a US delivery address before (a service that forwards here). Could be an option?

    I suspect when they see the drop in sales they'll come up with their own alternative options.
     
    D.T., 31st May, 2018
    #5
  6. bunkai

    bunkai Well-Known Member

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    I think this is deliberately opportunistic by Amazon - and we should have seen this coming - it is cunning. It is also exactly why we haven't seen good pricing on Amazon.com.au.

    It also couldn't be that hard to implement GST provisions on their .com site given they have on their "com.au" site. They are basically the same thing.

    There will be a way pay with a foreign credit card (e.g. virtual credit card) if they go as far as to ban Australian credit cards but I think that is less likely. GST from reshippers will be captured on import.
     
    bunkai, 31st May, 2018
    #6
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  7. Tonibell

    Tonibell Well-Known Member

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    The usunlocked card has worked well for us - we used it mainly to get around ebook restrictions.
     
    Tonibell, 31st May, 2018
    #7
  8. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    There's the post of eBay following suit. That would hurt.
     
    geoffw, 31st May, 2018
    #8
  9. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    geoffw, 31st May, 2018
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  10. Wukong

    Wukong Well-Known Member

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    There are some opportunities here. What are some things that were cheaper prior to this happening?
     
    Wukong, 31st May, 2018
    #10
  11. gman65

    gman65 Well-Known Member

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    ^ Everything

    This issue probably affects a greater number of Australians in a direct way than many other recent legislation changes that have made big news.. It's a policy pushed through big business at the expense of nearly every Australian. It highlights more than any many other recent events, how little politicians actually represent, nor give a damn about their constituents. Of course, media coverage of this is low, as nearly all media relies on advertising revenue from Australian retailers. This is the country in which we now live, where large corporations have such complete control over our Governance.

    I don't think many out there fully realise the impact of this after 1st July, how much of a nightmare it will be to buy absolutely anything from overseas.. anything right down to a $1 mobile phone screen protector.
     
    Last edited: 31st May, 2018
    gman65, 31st May, 2018
    #11
  12. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    Media coverage is not low. The matter of the GST on all goods has been raised in the press before. Amazon withdrawing was raised on Fairfax press, ABC News Online and nine news.
     
    geoffw, 31st May, 2018
    #12
  13. Anthony416

    Anthony416 Well-Known Member

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    I am going through my amazon.com wish list now ready for a final splurge.........some items have been waiting patiently for a year or two :)
     
    Anthony416, 31st May, 2018
    #13
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  14. Terry_w

    Terry_w Lawyer, Tax Adviser and Mortgage broker in Sydney Business Member

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    Terry_w, 31st May, 2018
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  15. bunkai

    bunkai Well-Known Member

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    The do seem good and are owned by Amazon ;p
     
    bunkai, 31st May, 2018
    #15
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  16. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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    I started doing some analysis yesterday comparing prices of products available through both amazon.com and amazon.com.au, but ran out of time to post it.

    These are products I've bought in the past few years. Note that shipping from amazon.com can be cheaper for multiple items - I rarely buy a single item at a time, so the delivered prices for items from amazon.com below are actually overstated, making the price increases locally even worse!

    GLS Audio 20 Foot Guitar Instrument Cable ... amazon.com AU$27.68 delivered to Australia
    https://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Gu...pID=514YW6mAnUL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

    amazon.com.au AU$44.70 sold by BuyGlobal ... 61% markup
    https://www.amazon.com.au/Audio-Foo...id=1527740153&sr=8-1&keywords=GLS+Audio+tweed

    Wigwam Men's Cool-Lite Mid Hiker Pro Quarter Length Sock ... amazon.com AU$35.25 delivered to Australia
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043U36WM/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=A1JM9QYIP9JCGO&th=1&psc=1

    amazon.com.au $53.32 sold by BuyGlobal ... 51% markup
    https://www.amazon.com.au/Wigwam-Cool-Lite-Hiker-Quarter-X-Large/dp/B003F6141U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527739928&sr=8-1&keywords=Wigwam+Men's+Cool-Lite+Hiker+Pro+Quarter+Socks,+Khaki,+X-Large

    SanDisk 64GB Extreme Go USB 3.1 Flash Drive - SDCZ800-064G-G46 ... amazon.com AU$52.45 delivered to Australia
    https://www.amazon.com/Sandisk-Extreme-Type-Flash-Drive/dp/B01NARBPI7/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

    amazon.com.au AU$73.39 sold by langton distribution ... 40% markup
    https://www.amazon.com.au/SanDisk-6...d=1527805211&sr=1-1&keywords=SDCZ800-064G-G46

    Note that the company I usually buy my IT gear from sells these for $55 (and Kogan sell them for $48 + $7.02 delivery)

    Ironically, my most recent purchase was a watch (for my son) which sells in stores locally for around $130, but we paid AU$46.16 on amazon.com to have it delivered to a forwarding company and a further $33.33 to have it sent to Australia, total cost AU$79.49
    https://www.amazon.com/Timex-Expedi...pID=51tWcJpKTzL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

    ... and now I discover that you can buy it from amazon.com.au for AU$43.97 + $7.52 delivery = AU$51.49
    https://www.amazon.com.au/Timex-T49...8&qid=1527803188&sr=8-1&keywords=timex+T49660

    ... the difference is that this is "Ships from and sold by Amazon US"

    So there are some products that will be cheaper to purchase locally - it really depends on who is actually doing the selling, Amazon sold stuff is usually a lot cheaper than stuff sold by 3rd parties using Amazon's platform.
     
    Simon Hampel, 1st Jun, 2018
    #16
  17. chylld

    chylld Well-Known Member

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    On average those amazon.com prices are even cheaper than the cheapest international sellers on eBay. Only the Sandisk is cheaper @ $44.89 (aud, shipped)

    But more importantly: $35 socks!!?? What have I been missing out on...
     
    chylld, 1st Jun, 2018
    #17
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  18. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Founder Staff Member

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    Some more examples:

    Teva Women's W Tirra Sport Sandal ... amazon.com AU$100.08 delivered
    https://www.amazon.com/Teva-Womens-Tirra-Sport-Sandal/dp/B07212MKCD/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527806024&sr=8-1&keywords=Teva+Women's+Tirra+Sandal&dpID=41nl6feS1aL&preST=_SX395_QL70_&dpSrc=srch&th=1&psc=1

    amazon.com.au AU$157.00 sold by BuyGlobal ... 57% markup
    https://www.amazon.com.au/Teva-Womens-Tirra-Sandal-Chocolate/dp/B00H45T0BY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527741246&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Teva+Women's+Tirra+Sandal+chocolate+chip&th=1&psc=1

    This sandal has a RRP in Australia of AU$149.95

    Also found some stuff that's now available cheaper locally!

    AGPTEK A20 8GB MP3 Player ... amazon.com AU$46.14 delivered
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9RVZ9...bf16-1fbae0d61c00&ie=UTF8&qid=1527806651&sr=1

    amazon.com.au AU$43.99 sold by Linking Port AU (local stock?)
    https://www.amazon.com.au/AGPTEK-Re...TF8&qid=1527806630&sr=1-2&keywords=agptek+a20

    Headsweats Super Duty Shorty Beanie and Helmet Liner ... amazon.com AU$28.72 delivered
    https://www.amazon.com/Headsweats-Super-Shorty-Beanie-Helmet/dp/B00H3FSV4M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527806986&sr=8-1&keywords=headsweats+super+short&th=1&psc=1

    amazon.com.au AU$26.19 sold by Amazon US
    https://www.amazon.com.au/Headsweat...=1527740514&sr=8-3&keywords=headsweats+shorty

    ExOfficio Men's Give-N-Go Boxer ... amazon.com AU$35.17 delivered
    https://www.amazon.com/ExOfficio-Give-N-Go-Boxer-Black-X-Large/dp/B0036ZA02Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1527807148&sr=1-3&keywords=exofficio+boxer+brief&dpID=31-BMxClfIL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch&th=1&psc=1

    amazon.com.au AU$31.06 delivered ... sold by Amazon US
    https://www.amazon.com.au/ExOfficio...id=1527807187&sr=8-8&keywords=exofficio+boxer

    ... so it's not all bad news - unless you want stuff that's not sold by Amazon themselves or not sold by a local company who doesn't
     
    Simon Hampel, 1st Jun, 2018
    #18
  19. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    Those international prices would be rising anyway, with 10% GST due to be imposed on everything (previously GST free on items below $1000) with possibly a collection fee on top of that. Still not a dint on most OS prices.
     
    geoffw, 1st Jun, 2018
    #19
  20. KinG3o0o

    KinG3o0o Well-Known Member

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    book depository is legit good.. been using for many years,

    i never seem to buy anything from amazon (us) living in australia.. fleabay or local retailer always seems cheaper.

    i guess it depends what kind of "stuff" your hunting.. anything i want never seem to be able to deliever to aus when hunting in amazon (us).


    VPN seem to be a good idea if they geo block aus IP.

    i wonder if they will "block" delivery from US retailer/amazon warehouse to australian address..
    if they do this paypal seem to be an issue too..


    if anyone is Desperate to buy from amazon us. a shipping forwarder that do the purchase for you might the way to get around it (but the charge you a fee usually aound 5-10% of purchase price.)
     
    KinG3o0o, 1st Jun, 2018
    #20
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