It's been a long time coming, but Amazon has finally launched in Australia. The world's largest e-tailer launched the full-fledged version of its Australian retail site on Monday (Dec 4), giving customers Down Under the opportunity to buy everything from gadgets to clothing at Amazon.com.au. (The site has hosted a Kindle store since 2013, but Aussies haven't been able to buy anything more than ebooks).
For shoppers used to next-day delivery and Amazon Prime, Amazon's arrival in Australia may seem pretty late. After all, the company has been operating in the US for more than two decades. And it already has a well-established overseas presence; it began selling books in the UK and Germany in 1998, just three years after launching in the US. The Australian store launched with 23 categories, including electronics, DVDs, PCs and software. It also stocked general merchandise, like clothing, baby and beauty products.
Aussies will still have to wait for is Amazon Prime. The subscription service offers unlimited free delivery for $99 a year as well as perks like two-hour delivery, free TV streaming and deals delivered through Alexa. Amazon says it will bring Prime shipping benefits to Aussies from mid-2018, though there's no word yet on price or perks.
