Amazon US Not Wanting to Sell to Australia Anymore?

icecream on 26/10/2015 - 12:58
Last edited 31/10/2015 - 11:48 by 1 other user

I am regular shopper on Amazon US. I am aware there are certain brands or product they will only sell to US & Canada local resident only. There are products those I was able to buy from Amazon but they do not ship Australia anymore!

When I say "buy from Amazon", I mean the product was "Sold by: Amazon Export Sales LLC". It does not refer to other sellers recognized or listed in Amazon.

A friend of mine told me a funny rumor. It was because of our ex-PM Tony wants to tax overseas seller with Australian GST. Therefore Amazon does not want to mock around with Aussie anymore. Having that said, there is Amazon.com.au but product range on it is small and price is bad.

Despite AUD to USD is not as good as before, there are reasons you might still consider buying from US. I guess currency talk is off topic.

Has anyone noticed the same?

What have you heard on this?

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Comments

scotty on 26/10/2015 - 13:16

+9

I am aware there are certain brands or product they will only sell to US & Canada…

Most likely the Australian distributors of those brands or products don't want Amazon to sell to Australians. If Amazon is having problem with our ex-PM and not wanting to sell to Australia anymore, then wouldn't it be site-wide rather than restricted to specific products? Still plenty of deals from Amazon got posted here.

On the other hand there are many other countries that apply GST/VAT for goods from overseas merchants. Amazon hasn't stopped selling to them.
- dasher86 on 26/10/2015 - 14:18
  
  I agree with scotty. It's most likely to do with geographical licensing.
  - ilikeradiohead on 28/10/2015 - 16:46
    
    Yeah me too. I've tried buying Levi's from Amazon and also Macy's and they don't allow shipping to Australia.
twocsies on 26/10/2015 - 13:26

+1

A distributor of a product will sign a distribution contract. Maybe Amazon signed a distribution contract for some products that can only be sold in the US and Canada.

As far as the GST, I believe that larger companies like Amazon will not have a problem adding it. It's smaller companies, which only send a few orders to Australia each year, that will find selling to Aussies to be more trouble than it's worth.

When I search for items on Amazon, There is often a check box on the left side that says: "International Shipping - Ship to Australia".
- icecream on 26/10/2015 - 21:48
  
  Have you selected Amazon as preferred seller? (not any seller that will ship internationally)
  
  Try that, I bet most item sold by Amazon ship domestically only at the moment.
  
  I do always click "International Shipping - Ship to Australia", and also list out all sellers of that item, then select Amazon.
  
  If you have have done sold, in your order history, you should see item "Sold by: Amazon Export Sales LLC".
  
  Apparently, Amazon Export Sales LLC doesn't like shipping to Australia anymore.
  - twocsies on 26/10/2015 - 23:19
    
    Maybe they are not selling all the same items as before. But I do see this item that is still in my cart, which will be sent by Amazon Export Sales LLC if I pay the shipping. It says "Sold by:Amazon Export Sales LLC".
    
    http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L8DOL3-Pre-Seasoned-Cast-Iron-Ha…
    - icecream on 27/10/2015 - 09:32
      
      I had the same thought before. I had some item in my cart, very sure it can be shipped to Australia. However, when I check out, it wouldn't let me.
      
      Double check your item in cart, both 5-quart and 7-quart sold by Amazon no longer ship to Australia. Again, I refer to the seller "Amazon Export Sales LLC"
      
      5-quart
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00063RWYI/ref=dp_olp…
      
      7-quart
      http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000SOM5XS/ref=dp_olp…
      
      I am keen to know if you are able to check out properly.
    - twocsies on 27/10/2015 - 14:37
      
      @icecream: It says "This item ships to Australia."
      
      My default address is in the US, but I can't see any other reason it wouldn't work. It says "$32.83 + $48.23 Shipping & Import Fees Deposit to Australia".
      
      Using the Australian address, I can get through the checkout to every part except where I click 'buy'. The shipping is just too much because it's 7 kg, so I don't want to buy it.
      
      How about this laptop bag? I can see that it's from Amazon Export Sales LLC and the price is shown in AUD. AUD $23.62 for the bag plus AUD $13.36 Shipping and Handling. I can get through to the button "Place your order in AUD".
      
      http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-15-6-Inch-Laptop-Tablet-B…
    - icecream on 28/10/2015 - 23:37
      
      +1
      
      Pretty much everything from "AmazonBasics" can be sold and ship directly by Amazon Export Sales LLC. I have not yet got any luck on other products, including books. Sigh….
  - [Deactivated] on 27/10/2015 - 11:57
    
    Selecting Amazon as the preferred seller doesn't work 2/3 of the time anyway. I click it, then click on only those items, and they often say: "This item does not ship to your location."
    - icecream on 27/10/2015 - 12:42
      
      It was not this bad previously. Like I said, I can't even "buy again" on item that I previously purchased and sold by Amazon. It is now like 9/10 or 10/10 for me. Something has changed and I wonder why.
try2bhelpful on 26/10/2015 - 13:47

I think places like Amazon should have to collect the GST for goods they sell here. Why should places that make a commitment to Australia by selling onshore, particularly employers like Bricks and Mortar stores be disadvantaged? I do know that Levis jeans do not allow overseas places to sell directly to Australia; I used to order my petite Levis directly from the States. You can't buy them out here but it didn't stop Levis telling me I still couldn't order them directly.
- airzone on 26/10/2015 - 14:33
  
  +3
  
  Why should a foreign company, transacting in a foreign country, in a foreign currency be subject to our own local laws? If the govt wants to collect GST, then it's their problem, not a foreign company's.
  - try2bhelpful on 26/10/2015 - 14:47
    
    -1
    
    If they want to sell to us, and ship to us, then our Government should have the right to get them to collect the tax. If not then every shipment will be held up whilst the tax is collected. I don't think that is preferable.
    - djones145 on 26/10/2015 - 14:58
      
      with such a small market, they prolly just give up and try selling elsewhere, like india/china, where id they can get 1% of the market interested that's already bigger than our market lol
    - try2bhelpful on 26/10/2015 - 15:02
      
      @djones145: You honestly think they would go away; I don't think so. We are a country that actually is willing to buy stuff. In those other countries they will just find alternate sellers who will do it cheaper. If we get nothing out of the free trade agreement it should be that these international countries have to pay the relevant taxes.
    - djones145 on 26/10/2015 - 15:23
      
      @try2bhelpful:
      Yeah but we are quite small, they don't have physical stores, they havent invested anything in australia, they can turn it off and on when ever they want.
    - mskeggs on 26/10/2015 - 15:37
      
      +2
      
      @djones145:
      But why would they? They can raise prices to account for the GST, and GST registered enterprises here can count it. They already collect US state taxes and all sorts of different EU country VATs so why not Australia too?
      Do you think Amazon is willing to collect VAT for the 2m people in Slovenia, as they currently do, but not the 22m in Australia? Why?
    - try2bhelpful on 26/10/2015 - 15:40
      
      @djones145: I think we should call their bluff. They can already do this for their own local State taxes, it would be really easy for our Government to say - Add Australia to that list and give us the money. You really think they are going to walk away from Australia because they have to make a small change to their programming and hand over the money. They will just put the GST into the cost of the goods when they calculate for us.
      
      https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=…
    - djones145 on 26/10/2015 - 15:49
      
      @try2bhelpful:
      true
      but like with most big companies they barely listen to our governments
      look at all those senate inquiries around digital products and how things like Photoshop can be 10 times more expensive than America, nothing happen there
      
      and also all those big companies not having to pay any taxes when operating in aus, we cant do nothing!
      
      we complaint, have inquiries but end of the day cant do nothing, don't think we hold the power here, its more like amazon agreeing to collect if cause they can and can be bothered
    - try2bhelpful on 26/10/2015 - 16:23
      
      @djones145: We don't get what we don't ask for. If the Government actually said "If you don't collect the taxes we won't let you ship to Australia" they would soon do something. Also these free trade agreements we keep having should be a good forum for this.
    - airzone on 26/10/2015 - 16:24
      
      @try2bhelpful: I think you're confusing a foreign retailer who is will ship stuff here and not pay local taxes vs multinationals that use tricks to shift profits and minimise taxes that their local operations should justifiably pay. I'm sure Amazon pays it's relevant taxes in the place that it's incorporated - probably Delaware in the US, because they have no company tax.
    - try2bhelpful on 26/10/2015 - 16:28
      
      @airzone: The problem will never be resolved if people say "it is all too hard". They only do this sort of stuff because we let them get away with it. If they pay the 10% GST on everything they ship then we let them claim money back, if we think they have a legitimate claim; just like any other person profiting off Australia.
    - airzone on 26/10/2015 - 16:58
      
      @try2bhelpful: What problem is this? That local business can't compete on a level playing field as foreign companies? And the solution is to make a foreign company collect tax to pay to our government?
      
      Sorry, "too hard" isn't the way to describe it.. "ridiculous" perhaps is more close..
      
      To begin with, GST is our own problem. If the government wants to collect GST on every single import, let them do it. If it introduces a weeks delay in shipments, then so be it. To impose a ruling that foreign entities will develop a process to collect local tax, (a) the australian government doesn't have any power over a foreign company and (b) they will probably stop trading with us if pushed. Amazon may be in a position that they can build it into their systems (even if just as a courtesy to their customers), but smaller companies? Not a chance. The end result is less choice for us, less competition for business and higher prices..
      
      Secondly, the price difference between something like Levi jeans in the US and Australia isn't the 10% GST.. Quite often companies will have regional pricing according to local conditions - Levi as a company sells to the Australian distributors at a higher price because they know that we will always pay more. Unfortunately this is then passed onto the local retailers (Levi outlets for example) who have a higher cost price on top of higher rent and wage costs. This is an oversimplification, but you just have more bodies taking larger bites out of the cherry before it's your turn.
      
      Thirdly, specifically for Levi, they are known to fiercely protect their regional pricing. Parallel import is legal in Australia to ensure that there is enough competition to keep the local players honest. However just because you can legally import your Levi jeans, doesn't mean that you can find someone to sell them to you. Which leads you onto the other problem - Levi as a company recognise that the local market is a lot smaller than the US, and therefore don't want to saturate it with too many options. Unfortunately for you, the tiny jeans aren't part of the local catalog. So price aside, you as a consumer now no longer have the choice of Levi's full range of products, only just the ones they decide are suitable for us. You will put up with your size 8 - 16 blue Levi Jeans in a bootleg cut, because that's all they will sell. And this will become more common if foreign companies find it too hard to sell to Australia…
      
      Profit shifting and tax evasion is a different problem, and hardly relates to paying GST or not.
    - airzone on 26/10/2015 - 17:03
      
      @mskeggs: Amazon is incorporated in the US, and they have European subsidiaries incorporated in the EU. The US company is obligated to collect tax for sales in the US, and the EU company is obligated to collect tax for sales in the EU.
      
      Similar, Australian companies are obligated to collect GST for domestic sales, but not obligated to collect it for foreign. Neither are we obligated to collect foreign taxes for foreign governments.
    - try2bhelpful on 26/10/2015 - 17:04
      
      -3
      
      @airzone: As far as I am concerned Amazon, and anyone who buys from Amazon, is currently tax evading. GST is what we impose so that we can have the things that the Government provides us with, like the Universal Health system, unemployment benefits, etc. If people want to trade into Australia then they can play by our rules. I can guarantee you that Amazon will not stop trading if we make them collect the tax for us; they will bitch and moan but they will do it. They certainly won't do it if we don't ask them to. Frankly I've got around the Levis thing by rolling up the legs on my pants.
    - airzone on 26/10/2015 - 17:18
      
      @try2bhelpful: That's also ridiculous…
      
      1) Local law dictates import duties for imports of a value over $1000. And the government collects it. Sales less than this are exempt, therefore you're not evading tax if there is no tax to pay.
      
      2) Universal health care i.e. medicare comes from income tax. If you're not paying your income tax, then that's illegal. As both individuals and incorporated entities, we have our fair share of taxes to pay. GST is only one.
      
      3) They already do play by our rules, but not in the way that you expect. a) Imports of over $1000 get taxed by customs. You must declare the customs value on all shipments. b) Alcohol and tobacco are subject to additional tax. c) Import / export trade rules for particular items (especially for military items) are heavily regulated and additional licenses / permits apply. d) Other items have additional regulations… Such as 2nd hand cars.
      
      4) Amazon may bitch and moan, and they can probably do it. They have the resources to do so, and enough market share to make it worth their while. But how about ozpcgames? or B&H Photo? Or many of the other small foreign companies who feature on this community? At the end of the day, we, the consumers will lose out if foreign companies won't trade with us.
      
      5) Re your Levi's, necessity is the mother of all invention.
    - mskeggs on 26/10/2015 - 17:45
      
      +1
      
      @airzone:
      Why do you think Amazon would rather not make sales in Australia, than agree to collect GST for our government?
      Note that the government is not requiring GST for sales to non-Australians, just for items destined here.
      You seem to think the AU government can't make laws applying to foreign companies.
      Of course they can.
      The only question is whether they can be enforced, and as the goods must pass through customs it seems very enforceable.
    - airzone on 26/10/2015 - 18:13
      
      @mskeggs: Refer above:
      
      4) Amazon may bitch and moan, and they can probably do it. They have the resources to do so, and enough market share to make it worth their while. But how about ozpcgames? or B&H Photo? Or many of the other small foreign companies who feature on this community? At the end of the day, we, the consumers will lose out if foreign companies won't trade with us.
      
      Here's a more pertinent example.. After watching a series on car stuff, these guys have engaged a US company to custom make adapter plates to mate up a VB Beetle gearbox to a Subaru engine. They do this already for the US market, but there's only market for one or 2 sales in Australia. The kit is a couple of grand, and today Customs collects GST. Fast forward in your delorian: Now, foreign companies can only sell to Australia if they 1) Register for GST; 2) Collect GST; 3) Pay GST to Australian government; 4) Devise some way to account of the revenue so they they aren't taxed by their local government.. For one or 2 sales ever. So now they don't sell to Australia because it's too hard. And a local engineering company won't tool up for one or two sales (for anything less than 20k anyway). You as a consumer have lost.
      
      Then consider the UK - their tax free threshold is GBP 15. How do they do it? Same as us today - customs collects it (and I think they charge through their post office). The only difference is our threshold is $1000 and theirs is £15. Why is ours so much higher? Mainly costs of collection. But there's no reason why we can't lower the threshold and collect GST on lower cost items as a matter of policy.
      
      So what the government is wanting to do in essence is outsource the collection of GST to foreign companies because they're too cheap to collect it themselves. Do you see the idiocy here? Have we no shame? So we look like a bunch of idiots implementing laws that we cannot enforce and all that happens at the end of the day is the consumer loses choice because the smaller players simply cannot be bothered dealing with our crap.
    - mskeggs on 26/10/2015 - 19:57
      
      @airzone:
      As I understand it, the proposal is the same as for local stores, they need to collect GST is they are exceeding AUD$75,000.
      I would suggest any company selling more than $75,000 a year in Australia via the Internet is large enough that registering for GST won't be a huge burden.
      In your car part example they would have no GST collection obligation.
      Similarly, as you point out, they can choose not to sell to Australia. Obviously, a seller dealing in small volumes is unlikely to even hit the government's radar. And I suspect they won't bother enforcing it except against the large retailers.
      Even so, it adds a useful revenue source for our country if it doesn't change a single person's buying habits, and could conceivably level the playing field for local retailers. That said, I see such a disparity between local and O/S pricing that 10% in GST won't make much difference.
      
      If you are suggesting a customs collected levy above $25 or similar is preferable, then I think you are mad ;-)
      The costs of collection, and inconvenience to all concerned makes it ridiculous - a point everybody in the UK and Canada (who operate that way too) agree with. I suggest the idiocy would be trying to collect small amounts via customs.
- eug on 28/10/2015 - 16:00
  
  Why should places that make a commitment to Australia by selling onshore, particularly employers like Bricks and Mortar stores be disadvantaged?
  
  Because they only sell a limited range of goods.
  
  There are plenty of things that you simply cannot buy locally.
  
  If I want to buy a particular item and nobody in Australia is disadvantaged by me buying it from an overseas seller, why should the seller have to collect GST?
  
  Vastly improve the range available locally and don't price gouge, and it won't be as big a deal.
  - try2bhelpful on 28/10/2015 - 18:25
    
    Because you are currently avoiding the GST component. That is how we gather the revenue to provide the social support services that make this a great country to live in; as opposed to the USA where you go broke from minor injuries. The person who is disadvantaged in this process is every Australian as we need the money to provide the services.
    - eug on 28/10/2015 - 18:52
      
      Because you are currently avoiding the GST component.
      
      There is no GST component.
      
      That is how we gather the revenue to provide the social support services that make this a great country to live in;
      
      OK, so what is my income tax for?
    - try2bhelpful on 28/10/2015 - 20:35
      
      @eug: GST is part of how the Government gathers revenue, it is a trade off for the reductions that were given in income taxes. The argument we are currently having is the fact that the GST should apply to purchases that are made overseas and shipped here. Have you missed that?
    - eug on 28/10/2015 - 23:23
      
      @try2bhelpful:
      
      The argument we are currently having is the fact that the GST should apply to purchases that are made overseas and shipped here. Have you missed that?
      
      The main argument everywhere is that there should be a level playing field for overseas retailers. Did you miss that?
    - try2bhelpful on 29/10/2015 - 10:05
      
      @eug: My argument was around GST. Amazon is a large company. We should be playing hard ball with all these type of companies to get the taxes we need for our services. They should not be getting a free ride. I think it is more important that companies that trade in Australia, and pay their taxes, get a level playing field with goods imported from overseas that don't pay taxes.
    - eug on 29/10/2015 - 19:21
      
      @try2bhelpful:
      
      I think it is more important that companies that trade in Australia, and pay their taxes, get a level playing field with goods imported from overseas that don't pay taxes.
      
      How is it a level playing field if the local companies do not provide the same variety of items as overseas sellers?
      
      Retailers cry foul that people are buying from overseas, without acknowledging that the selection that local retailers carry is often very poor. Some items are absolutely ridiculously priced, and that has nothing to do with GST or local costs.
      
      How is it a level playing field if some local prices are inexplicably far higher what you'd expect (GST + a reasonable markup for higher local costs)?
      
      I realize it's pointless to enter into a debate with you, so I'll leave it at that.
djones145 on 26/10/2015 - 15:21

The thing is its all internet, not like they have invested into shops and stores like a masters for woolies. They can turn it on and off when ever they want
- mskeggs on 26/10/2015 - 15:38
  
  True, but why would you stop making sales if it was making you money?
  - icecream on 26/10/2015 - 21:39
    
    Exactly!!
[Deactivated] on 27/10/2015 - 07:56

Off topic slightly, I also notice that postage is through the roof as well. I wanted to buy a micro SD card but it was going to cost about $60 for postage.
- scotty on 27/10/2015 - 08:37
  
  +2
  
  It's likely not sold or fulfilled by Amazon. If the product is sold by Amazon directly the postage is usually quite reasonable.
[Deactivated] on 27/10/2015 - 12:07

I don't know if that is the reason (OP). But Amazon used to 'run out' of items before, then other sellers would be linked to that same URL instead. Then a few weeks later, it would be Amazon back selling it again.

There's several items I've been watching for years, because we buy them as gifts when a wedding comes up. They often disappear from Amazon like above, but eventually come back. Well I've been waiting MONTHS now for that to happen with those items, and it hasn't. So I contacted them about it. Explained it runs out of stock from Amazon who DO ship here, is then sold by other sellers who DON'T ship here, a few weeks later comes back in stock directly from Amazon - but hasn't for months now - someone has forgotten - can you order it in again?

And they basically gave no sensible answer, just to fob me off.
- icecream on 27/10/2015 - 15:46
  
  What you described is sensibly possible and actually happened to me previously.
  
  But now, Amazon does not ship to Australia even the item is currently in stock and they shipped to Australia in the past.
  
  A fellow just told me he found Amazon willing to ship to Australian on their own brand, like Amazon basic USB cable.
  
  e.g. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NH12YN0/ref=ox_sc_act_ti…
[Deactivated] on 27/10/2015 - 12:10

+1

You can still buy from Amazon by using an address provider such as MyUS.com
I have an AMEX Centurion card and they offer a similar service.
- icecream on 27/10/2015 - 12:46
  
  I wished I can afford that AMEX Centurion card. I recalled they invited me back then, but when I looked at the annual fees, wow $2000+, no thank you.
  
  Does AMEX Centurion card give freight forwarder service as "complimentary"? If not how much do they charge you?
  
  Sorry, slightly drove off topic.
  - [Deactivated] on 27/10/2015 - 16:27
    
    No it is not complimentary unfortunately.Their charges are very reasonable though.
    Annual fees are a bit steep, but it is the fastest way to collect air miles, which gives me about 4 first class return trips each year.
- [Deactivated] on 27/10/2015 - 17:58
  
  Yes, but, I've placed several orders with Amazon - and they have an option that basically says, do you want to hold the entire order until everything is available and send it all together? Or do you want us to ship what we have in stock right away - but shipping won't cost you any more?
  
  I always select "I'll wait" - and they go ahead and ship separate packages anyway!? This means the place that receives your package now has two or more packages to send instead of one. Double/tripling the cost to send here. Some will repackage them into one, but others don't, and others again will charge for that, and/or to hold the first package until the second/third one arrives.
addict on 28/10/2015 - 22:35

Here is my prediction…
Today amazon.com.au = digital books & apps
2016 amazon.com.au = books, dvds, prime, fire & limited range of others maybe private sellers. Maybe for Christmas 2015.
2017/18 amazon.com.au = scaled down version of Amazon.com incl private sellers

Living in Canada when amazon.ca evolved amazon had a similar strategy. Starting with Books and DVD's. Started shipping from Canada before the actual Amazon.ca fully launched.

Reasons I believe this…
More targeted offers for Australians. Amex, $200+ clothing, etc.
Rumors of Distribution Center here in Aus
Amazon pickup locations already identified and in place http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=2…

I think they are going figure out how to get things here cheaper from the US with their distribution center, then they will work on their private seller business to compete with Ebay, Greys,Fishpond etc.

I doubt the tax would prevent them from coming here. Even with charging tax their model seems to be efficient to create savings vs what we can get today in Aus. Look at the other global retailers like Costco, ALDI, etc. They are finding ways to disrupt the trade, and succeed. No doubt if Amazon tries and invests, they should be able to do the same.

fingers crossed this becomes reality!
- icecream on 28/10/2015 - 23:35
  
  I like your thinking. Just that I am guessing when Amazon localized everything in Aussie, the price will no longer be competitive. All foreign businesses wants to rip us Australian off by suggesting operation cost in AU is higher than everywhere else.
panko on 29/10/2015 - 04:31

I guess Amazon isn't finding it profitable to do the business in Australia. The 'Australian' costs are too high as compared to the rest of the world. At the same time, small population doesn't help in economies of scale. These are major deterrents for Amazon's model of business.
NotJustChickenDinner on 30/10/2015 - 22:33

seems to me to it is easier, with one seller i get this on the checkout page

Or ship to an Amazon Pickup location
20 locations near this address

and there is quite a few newsagencys/chemists near me that it can be delivered too…
- icecream on 30/10/2015 - 23:19
  
  Cool, how to check Amazon pickup location in Australia?
NotJustChickenDinner on 31/10/2015 - 10:15

Eg this and then add to cart and then on shipping page it gives the option for local Australian pickup and let's you choose a place near you.
- icecream on 31/10/2015 - 10:33
  
  Thanks, but this seller is "fullfillment by Amazon". Amazon does not seems selling it directly to Australia.
  - NotJustChickenDinner on 31/10/2015 - 10:38
    
    this
    also gives me the option to pickup local in Perth sold by amazon directly it seems
    Crucial MX200 500GB SATA 2.5 Inch Internal Solid State Drive - CT500MX200SSD1
    $169.99
    Quantity: 1 Change quantity of Crucial MX200 500GB SATA 2.5 Inch Internal Solid State Drive - CT500MX200SSD1 from 1
    Sold by: Amazon Export Sales LLC
    - icecream on 31/10/2015 - 11:46
      
      deleted -

Amazon US Not Wanting to Sell to Australia Anymore?

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