Amazon Australia Comes to New Zealand
A top headline this week is Amazon’s big news: Amazon Australia is now shipping to New Zealand. Prime shipping isn’t available, but cheaper, faster shipping is. This headline was so exciting to see because even though Amazon US has gotten faster about shipping products here, it isn’t even close to a US Amazon experience. And if you’ve read much of this blog, you know that breaking my Amazon addiction was one of my top fears about moving to New Zealand.
So naturally, I dove into Amazon.com.au to see what I could get.
And then the reality set in.
Arm & Hammer Toothpaste - not available
Ivory Soap - Available on the site, but doesn’t ship to New Zealand
Costumes - None of the recommended or top sellers on the landing page are available to ship to New Zealand. I finally found a unicorn tutu that ships to New Zealand, and the shipping cost was only AU$3.38 for one week delivery - which is amazing. There is also an option for expedited shipping for AU$7.26 which was four day delivery.
Caticorn party supplies - All of the caticorn themed party supplies I bought off of the US site for my daughter’s birthday party are unavailable to ship to New Zealand from the Australian site.
California King bedsheets - Unfortunately, our bedsheets are reaching the end of their life, and since California King is one of the many bed sizes that are different dimensions here, it’s important to find US-sized sheets. There are a handful of sheets available for shipping to New Zealand with low shipping costs, but no white California King sets.
To sum it up: very little is available for shipping to New Zealand, but when something you like is available, the shipping rates are very good.
There are a few things to note when shopping on the Australian site. First, GST is included in the pricing unlike in the US when tax is added at the end. However, prices are in Australian dollars, so it is important to do the math to figure out the real cost and add in any costs your credit card might charge for purchases in a different currency. I know if I use my New Zealand card, there is an extra 2% tacked on, but if I use my American card, there are no foreign transaction fees.
There are a lot of opinions floating around about whether or not this is a good thing. There is a loud “shop local! Don’t make Bezos richer!” contingent, which is understandable. There is also a “thank god we can get more variety of things at lower prices now!” contingent, which is also understandable. The Amazon alternatives that are already here are ok, but not great, and if you’ve read any Where is It More Expensive posts, you know that Amazon is often cheaper even with expensive shipping from the US. There’s no way to undo this, so I’m going to try to be judicious in my use of Amazon Australia and try to find things here first. But am I above placing Amazon orders? No, I am not.
