So Amazon.com.au launched...

[kittenshark]

...and locals are already whining it isn't as cheap as the US, while they get paid more than most people living elsewhere in minimum wage/pensions, and blame overseas businesses for competing with home-grown retailers because it's far cheaper to ship from China than from city-to-city nationwide.
Warehousing, labour costs, running costs of business here are different, but not everybody seems to know/care about that.

https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/12/amazon-australia-launch-most-of-the-prices-suck/

In other news, the new Kindle Oasis looks really cool, and a nice plus to be able to bring it into the hot tub with me. :thumbsup: Hopefully soon Prime Video will launch here too!

[billdan]

Channel 9 news yesterday did a price comparison on technology products (laptops, TV's and monitors etc) between Harvey Norman, Officeworks, JB Hifi and Amazon.
Amazon prices were 20 to 25% more than a local store, but Amazon gives free delivery.

[bobson]

Prime video is available in Australia since December 2016

[kittenshark]

I do have Prime video but a lot of content isn't actually available. :(

[Steffen]

Amazon is full of innovation.

http://www.theshovel.com.au/2017/12/07/innovative-new-amazon-service-allows-customers-to-send-christmas-gifts-directly-to-landfill/

[astroron]

I have only used Amazon once,there are plenty of cheaper options and with a good range of products to boot.
Amazons has made people lazy,they just go to Amazon without looking around.
I get my books far cheaper than Amazons,with also Free delivery.
Cheers:thumbsup:

[astroron]

:lol::rofl::lol:
Cheers:thumbsup:

[Visionary]

Amazon isn't just about price. Amazon is about availability and delivery. Amazon also owes its enviable place in the Sun to the pioneering indemnities/guarantees it offered early in the piece, helping to lay the groundwork for the rollout of E-commerce. Amazon is an interesting provider, there are however 1000's of "interesting providers on the Net, it has become a crowded marketplace.

[sil]

And thats why forever they push ads on logged in customers for products they won't sell because of where you live? or buy kindle books again because of where you live? Amazon is probably ok if you live in america but its always been crap not innovative. Yes there are plenty of alternatives with better prices, less hassle and actual customer service. if you are just plain lazy and want to buy from one place just shop on ebay and be done with it. There is no brand prestige with amazon. Maybe it'll matter to local retailers and encourage them to step up their game and provide the service they always should have but as a consumer I couldn't care less Amazon are in Australia.

[Visionary]

Sil, in saying "interesting provider" I didn't mean "good provider", though I have sourced a couple of pieces of Astro stuff from Amazon US that I was having the devil of a time finding.
I doubt our marketplace will ever be big enough for Amazon to become as ubiquitous as it is in the States as Aust will never have delivery saturation its' distribution model requires.