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Corporate Sector => What are Amazon doing now? [Public] => Topic started by: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on May 09, 2024, 12:50:11 AM

Title: Amazon launches in South Africa
Post by: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on May 09, 2024, 12:50:11 AM
There was a 'soft' launch on Tuesday. Didn't see any media coverage, but got a pop-up to ask if I wanted to change from Amazon.com to Amazon.za. Declined as I don't know the implications. But this link explains that it is missing a lot of Amazon perks. 

https://techcentral.co.za/amazon-south-africa-no-amazon-products/244179/
Title: Re: Amazon launches in South Africa
Post by: TimothyEllis on May 09, 2024, 12:59:03 AM
Australia doesn't get everything either, although some things have been added over the years.

But we still don't get Music.
Title: Re: Amazon launches in South Africa
Post by: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on May 09, 2024, 02:18:41 AM
Australia doesn't get everything either, although some things have been added over the years.

But we still don't get Music.

I am concerned about what it means to selling on Amazon.co.za.  :icon_rolleyes:
Title: Re: Amazon launches in South Africa
Post by: TimothyEllis on May 09, 2024, 02:23:49 AM
I am concerned about what it means to selling on Amazon.co.za.  :icon_rolleyes:

Give them time to get it going.

The lack of Amazon products may simply be someone goofed on the delivery of them to whatever warehouse is being used there. Could be stuck on a ship and delayed for some reason. Amazon would never admit something like that.
Title: Re: Amazon launches in South Africa
Post by: Jan Hurst-Nicholson on May 09, 2024, 02:29:53 AM
I am concerned about what it means to selling on Amazon.co.za.  :icon_rolleyes:

Give them time to get it going.

The lack of Amazon products may simply be someone goofed on the delivery of them to whatever warehouse is being used there. Could be stuck on a ship and delayed for some reason. Amazon would never admit something like that.

They haven't had time to process any orders yet. :icon_rolleyes:

But many South Africans who have been eagerly awaiting the megaretailer’s launch will be disappointed to learn that none of the Amazon-specific products and services that accompany its retail operations in other markets is available locally.

There are no listings for the Kindle e-reader, Fire TV smart TV device, Ring video doorbell or Alexa voice assistant-capable Amazon smart speakers. Ironically, a quick search on South African e-commerce site takealot.com, which is seen as Amazon’s most formidable rival in South Africa, shows multiple listings of Amazon products including the Echo Dot smart speakers as well as an assortment of Fire TV sticks, Fire tablets and more.

None of Amazon’s digital services is available either, including Amazon Music or the much-anticipated Amazon Prime, which bundles its e-commerce offering and various digital services into a single subscription plan. Only Amazon Prime Video is available to South African consumers, though that was launched here years ago.

A like-for-like comparison shows that Amazon’s South African offering is similar to Takealot’s. But the large number of listed products on amazon.co.za labelled as out of stock – this includes most smartphones including the Samsung Galaxy S24 range and the iPhone 15 range, for example – suggests that Takealot leads, for now, in terms of its product offering.

Nothing about Amazon’s offering screams Amazon, especially given its own products are not available.
Title: Re: Amazon launches in South Africa
Post by: alhawke on May 09, 2024, 05:26:56 AM
It's exciting that Amazon's delving into another market. Thanks for letting us know.