Hanno Labuschagne

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Amazon's disappointing South African launch

Amazon's long-awaited South African marketplace launch finally came on 7 May 2024, but it has left many shoppers in the country wanting with the lack of its famous Prime subscription and a fairly limited catalogue.

Indications of a potential Amazon marketplace launch in South Africa began to surface in January 2022, when MyBroadband reported that the e-commerce giant was shopping for warehouse space in the country.
 
I don't even think to look at Amazon honestly. I don't see ads for it (on the sites I allow ads) and I'm not hearing from anyone that they bought this and that from Amazon. The only company names I hear are Takealot, Shein and Temu.
They will have to up their game and drop their prices to start making any impact on most SA consumers who are just not used to even giving them a thought.
 
Sorry do not use them at all, it would be tantamount to supporting slavery due to their extremely bad H.R. practices. Got to put people before your own gains.
 
I don't even think to look at Amazon honestly. I don't see ads for it (on the sites I allow ads) and I'm not hearing from anyone that they bought this and that from Amazon. The only company names I hear are Takealot, Shein and Temu.
They will have to up their game and drop their prices to start making any impact on most SA consumers who are just not used to even giving them a thought.
You should get out more then. Many local reviews of products on there so people are clearly buying there.
 
It’s interesting to see the differences in the SA vs UK market.

Amazon here has been amazing - we order regularly and gotten a lot of Christmas gifts from there too.

Hoping Amazon SA ups their game. Start by offering the kindle in the SA catalog.
 
It’s interesting to see the differences in the SA vs UK market.

Amazon here has been amazing - we order regularly and gotten a lot of Christmas gifts from there too.

Hoping Amazon SA ups their game. Start by offering the kindle in the SA catalog.
Just start by not being takealot would be start
 
Ordered a Weber off Amazon ZA for Black Friday. Overseas they consistently deliver early, which I can handle, but AZA dropped the ball and delivered late. The unopened box is still in my entry hall while I determine if I really want to keep it now.
 
every now and then you'll see something going pretty cheap. around prime day i got my airpods pro 2 for R3300 and black kfriday i got the 128gb appletv for R2000. most of the time everything is the same price as on takealot or more.

a big difference now is that takealot wants R650 minimum spend for free delivery while amazon is R500 (loot is R450, but i think people hardly ever look there for stuff)
 
I will use them if they make US / UK Amazon items available here and handle the shipping and taxes
I just want to place order and get US delivery at my door - even if it cost more
Not going to happen.


What is happening though is some of the us/UK products are available locally with Amazon, but it's a bit hit and miss in terms of what you can get.
 
It’s interesting to see the differences in the SA vs UK market.

Amazon here has been amazing - we order regularly and gotten a lot of Christmas gifts from there too.

Hoping Amazon SA ups their game. Start by offering the kindle in the SA catalog.
When I bought my first Kindle (2nd generation) Amazon US shipped it directly to SA. My 3rd Kindle I bought in SA, and I've just received my 3rd Kindle (12th gen) from the US via Aramex.

Even with shipping, duties & VAT it was still slightly cheaper than the previous generation sold in SA.

Buying directly from Amazon.co.za would probably have been cheaper still as well as being more hassle free.
 
I don't even think to look at Amazon honestly. I don't see ads for it (on the sites I allow ads) and I'm not hearing from anyone that they bought this and that from Amazon.
I now look on amazon before using takealot. Their deals are usually much better and I've had free shipping in every order. Service has been great so far.
 
You should then pretty much be boycotting thousands of other products/brands too....
I am always confused by this type of response. Is making a small stand wrong? Should people not condemn an organisation for what is tantamount to slavery just because other companies also do it? There is no hypocrisy in calling out one company and not another - hypocrisy would be "Amazon bad. Takealot good."


I don't like Amazon for the same reasons as the OP - consumers are part of the Amazon problem. Do I still buy Nestle products. Yeah. Don't like it but not much choice. At least with Amazon the villian is clearly labelled with a smile.
 
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