topic Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules in Community Spirit

Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

zanadoo_56 — Thu, 31 May 2018 04:26:29 GMT

https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/company-news/amazon-to-block-its-us-website-for-aussie-shoppers-over-new-gst-rules/ar-AAy2SUm?li=AAgfYrC&ocid=mailsignout

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

myoclon1cjerk — Thu, 31 May 2018 06:29:33 GMT

Just use Shipping Forwarders. https://shopmate.auspost.com.au/

And a VPN if they geoblock.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

not_for_sale — Thu, 31 May 2018 06:56:35 GMT

I haven't visited Amazon.com since the Australian site opened it's doors. And I have purchased quite a few things recently from the Aussie site. All were good quality, well priced and with free shipping. Plus, there were heaps of options to choose from.

I don't think Australian buyers will be all that disadvantaged.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

kopenhagen5 — Thu, 31 May 2018 07:41:04 GMT

I don't think Australian buyers will be all that disadvantaged.

I agree and I think Amazon just wants to revert Aus buyers to their Aus site.

Plus there will probably be an increase in available products on Amazon Aus.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

lyndal1838 — Thu, 31 May 2018 07:51:49 GMT

@myoclon1cjerk wrote:
Just use Shipping Forwarders. https://shopmate.auspost.com.au/

And a VPN if they geoblock.

I have never used a shipping forwarder and it is unlikely that I ever will as I have rellies in the USA but when Australia Post announced this service several members said it was very much more expensive than other similar services.

If anyone is thinking of using such a servce it may pay you to shop around.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

myoclon1cjerk — Thu, 31 May 2018 08:02:42 GMT

I only buy music from the likes of ebay amazon etc and I can tell with some certainty that amazon won't have the music that interests me in stock locally 90% of the time,which means not only having to pay more but having to wait longer before I receive my purchase.
In the end it won't affect me because I'll simply purchase elsewhere. There's importcds,cd universe,ebay, discogs as well as the many music shops overseas that have mail order service. In a lot of cases I can order direct from the record labels as they have their own outlets.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

zanadoo_56 — Thu, 31 May 2018 08:06:27 GMT

@not_for_sale wrote:

I haven't visited Amazon.com since the Australian site opened it's doors. And I have purchased quite a few things recently from the Aussie site. All were good quality, well priced and with free shipping. Plus, there were heaps of options to choose from.

I don't think Australian buyers will be all that disadvantaged.

I haven't bought anything from Amazon US for a while after it seemed like shopping costs were bing pulled out of a hat, but I did see things I'd like to have bought.

When I looked on the AU site it seems they sell lots of stuff that is already available in Oz. I couldn't find what I wanted. When I look for items from overseas it's because they are NOT available in Oz.

I posted the info because it now makes me wonder about other overseas sites that I do buy from.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

ambercat16 — Thu, 31 May 2018 11:42:30 GMT

I'm wondering how it is going to affect my purchase of kindle books. Several years ago when they first brought in the AU Kindle version, I switched to it but found that all my purchasing history and my wish lists all disappeared. Luckily I was able to opt back to US.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

bright.ton42 — Thu, 31 May 2018 22:07:04 GMT

I'm delighted that amazon are now i n Oz.. i recently searched for new high end athletic shoes that are not listed elsewhere for such reduced prices. . I ordered a pair and they arrived 3 days later. . They seem to work in with Catch.com.au who also sell new good products.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

myoclon1cjerk — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 00:39:45 GMT

I just looked up a cd I'm thinking of buying on both sites. U.S site charges $14.99. Australian site charges $22.99. Australian site also states dispatch in 4-5 weeks. Pathetic. I might add that the stated price of $22.99 might end up being $25.99 from July 1 with the imposition of the GST. Free trade my a*se.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

lyndal1838 — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 06:28:03 GMT

Anything bought on the Australian site now will not change after 1/6.....GST has already been applied.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

crosbystills — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 06:31:25 GMT

@myoclon1cjerk wrote:
Just use Shipping Forwarders.

Australian based freight forwarders appear to be at a disadvantage under the new policy, versus their overseas counterparts like HopShopGo. One long established local firm, PriceUSA, is out of business as of today:

https://www.priceusa.com.au/

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

michellebartley — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 07:59:23 GMT

I received an email from Amazon US that "everything" listed on the Amazon US site will be available to purchase for us here after July 1. It will be through Amazon au.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

crosbystills — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 08:46:54 GMT

Number of items available on Amazon.com: 560 million

Number of items available on Amazon.com.au: 60 million

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

tcmsecretpsid — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 00:40:31 GMT

Yes, but 400 million of those items you wouldn't want anyway.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

crosbystills — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 00:42:01 GMT

True, but we want all the junk, not just some of the junk.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

tcmsecretpsid — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 00:42:16 GMT

This is good news for me, because now I can buy gift certs for family.

I do love being able to send U.S. dollars through Paypal for a nominal charge. It's so much easier than going through the bank.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

tcmsecretpsid — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 00:43:34 GMT

I don't want any more junk. Take the junk. Please.. take it all.

Hopefully on July 1, you will be able to buy every single item... all 560 million of them.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

zanadoo_56 — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 04:36:50 GMT

@crosbystills wrote:
True, but we want all the junk, not just some of the junk.

Scary thought. 🙂

Still...I am looking at craft items and a specific one interested me. I thought I'd compare prices.

On eBay (from Oz) - around $12.

On Amazon US - $20.

On Amazon AU - $57.

Good luck to Amazon AU if this is an example of the choices we are going to have.

Re: Amazon to block its US website for Aussie shoppers over new GST rules

myoclon1cjerk — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 09:38:09 GMT

Why you shouldn't buy from Amazon.

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2018/09/amazons-aggressive-anti-union-tactics-revealed-in-leaked-45-minute-video/