Shopping Online for Taiwan ?

RahRahRand on 20/10/2024 - 03:18

Hello

A mate has just had a kid in Taiwan, and I wanted to get him a baby gift, but I’m finding the whole online shopping for Taiwan thing really difficult.

There doesn’t seem to be a Taiwanese Amazon…

I asked him about online shops, and he said a lot of people use things like Shopee, Momo etc
But these websites just don’t translate at all, or not really well enough (some translate half the page only).

I’ve heard that you might need Taiwanese govt/citizenship/address/phone details etc to register to buy things (which I clearly don’t have).

I just want to buy something from a big well known online shopping site which locals would normally use, so that I can get it delivered there easily, and affordably (rather than me shipping stuff from Australia - as that would severely limit what I can send etc).

Can anyone help me out here with some detailed advice on what to do?
I don’t want to have to ask my mate to use his account; as that will kind of spoil the surprise etc.

I had also thought of sending him credit via a gift card or something, and telling him to buy ‘this item’, but that’s even worse.

Fingers crossed you’ll have some good ideas.

Thank you for your help

General Discussion

Comments

  • AustriaBargain on 20/10/2024 - 04:53
    +2

    Why not post him something Australian. He can already purchase whatever he wants from Taiwan stores.

    • RahRahRand on 22/10/2024 - 05:00

      @AustriaBargain

      as I said…

      "I just want to buy something from a big well known online shopping site which locals would normally use, so that I can get it delivered there easily, and affordably (rather than me shipping stuff from Australia - as that would severely limit what I can send etc)."

      Surely that'd be the most expensive, slowest option possible.

      Plus, it's not going to have loads of Taiwan/Chinese/Asian themed gifts etc is it.

  • randomusername2017 on 20/10/2024 - 07:02

    Amazon US and Japan ship to Taiwan.
    Limited listings available.

    • yellowfever on 20/10/2024 - 08:23
      +1

      US already shipped to Taiwan

      • RahRahRand on 22/10/2024 - 05:04

        @yellowfever

        Thanks, see reply to @randomusername2017

    • RahRahRand on 22/10/2024 - 05:03

      @randomusername2017

      This is looking like the best option so far, thanks for that.

      Though, I'd still love to find something better; as the shipping is still horrendous.

      Even a small pack of envelopes costs $20.00 to ship ?

      You have to get over $90 for free shipping, otherwise a $25 item costs $30 to ship etc.
      I wasn't necessarily planning on spending that much as I'm not buying with others.

      I've just noticed that there seems to be no Prime options anywhere - for deliveries to Taiwan?

      At least it's in english though.

  • 87percent on 20/10/2024 - 08:44
    +6

    Give him a red pocket

    • ihbh on 20/10/2024 - 12:45

      … for him to put his red packet in.

      • RahRahRand on 22/10/2024 - 05:12

        @ihbh

        see reply to @87percent

    • RahRahRand on 22/10/2024 - 05:12

      @87percent

      I had no idea what you were talking about, until I looked it up !

  • arst on 20/10/2024 - 13:14
    +1

    I am originally from Taiwan. I tried English version of Shopee. It looks fine except items listed are not translated. But you might be able to use Google web translation? I just signed up with one of my Google accounts, added an item to cart and navigated to checkout page. Don't seem to have any problems.

    • RahRahRand on 22/10/2024 - 05:11

      As I said:

      "I asked him about online shops, and he said a lot of people use things like Shopee, Momo etc
      But these websites just don’t translate at all, or not really well enough (some translate half the page only)."

      Google Translate often half works or doesn't work at all.

      And you didn't actually try to finalised an order, I'd be curious to see what happens then?
      Will they even take Aussie cards?
      Will they want my address/phone etc etc that I've read about?

      Besides, it doesn't look very feasible even trying to register, and properly set up an account…
      As for all that part, I can't even translate that section properly/or at all.

      I imagine that was less of an issue for you, assuming you are able to read/type chinese ?

      Is there any chance you could ask some of your Taiwanese\Asian friends; what they've had friends and relatives from overseas do in this scenario (especially non chinese speakers)? You never know, they might now some better sites which we haven't discussed yet?

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