4 ms·

I live in Switzerland, which is also without local Amazon, and previously lived in the UK, where I was an enthusiastic Prime early-adopter. Honestly, it's bloo

by mft_ 8y ago

I live in Switzerland, which is also without local Amazon, and previously lived in the UK, where I was an enthusiastic Prime early-adopter. Honestly, it's bloody frustrating, and I'd love it if Amazon opened a significant local presence with prime delivery options. What I miss is the combination quick cheap delivery, and easy access to a wide enough range of items such that rarer things --often those related to hobbies, or rarer cooking products, for example-- are easily available. The alternatives are frustrating, often-fruitless hunts through local shops; independent Swiss e-tailers with high prices and usually very high delivery costs; or international mail order with the attendant delays and customs issues this route brings. Don't get me wrong: I'm not totally pro-Amazon, and I wish that they would improve their labour practises... but losing the sheer convenience it brings? In some ways, it's like going back in time.

wbl 8y ago
They don't sell everywhere in the common market?
- vinay427 8y ago
  Switzerland isn't in the EU or EEA, if that's what you meant by "commmon market."
  - anticensor 8y ago
    It is in an EEA-like trade regime, though.
    - vinay427 8y ago
      Yes, but packages from EU countries are often inspected and duties are levied when applicable. Given the added friction, it's no surprise that the majority of Amazon.de items/sellers in my experience don't ship to Switzerland.
chrisper 8y ago
Do you live close enough to any border? Might as well just get it delivered there and import it yourself. But I agree with your point. It is really frustrating to find certain things in Swiss shops. And even if you do it is just crazy expensive.
- mft_ 8y ago
  You're right - I do, and I often do :) But even then, you've got the added hassle of making the trip. And interestingly, amazon.de isn't always great value - it seems to vary more (with weirdly high prices for some things) than I remember from amazon.co.uk. (My impression is that maybe amazon has a smaller presence in Germany, leading them to rely more on 3rd-party, not-fulfilled-by-amazon sellers?) One positive aspect is that losing my reliance on amazon has led me to discover a couple of quite good Chinese websites - for many small items, I now use either banggood.com or gearbest.com

by mft_ 8y ago

wbl 8y ago

They don't sell everywhere in the common market?

vinay427 8y ago
Switzerland isn't in the EU or EEA, if that's what you meant by "commmon market."
- anticensor 8y ago
  It is in an EEA-like trade regime, though.
  - vinay427 8y ago
    Yes, but packages from EU countries are often inspected and duties are levied when applicable. Given the added friction, it's no surprise that the majority of Amazon.de items/sellers in my experience don't ship to Switzerland.

chrisper 8y ago

Do you live close enough to any border? Might as well just get it delivered there and import it yourself. But I agree with your point. It is really frustrating to find certain things in Swiss shops. And even if you do it is just crazy expensive.

mft_ 8y ago
You're right - I do, and I often do :) But even then, you've got the added hassle of making the trip. And interestingly, amazon.de isn't always great value - it seems to vary more (with weirdly high prices for some things) than I remember from amazon.co.uk. (My impression is that maybe amazon has a smaller presence in Germany, leading them to rely more on 3rd-party, not-fulfilled-by-amazon sellers?) One positive aspect is that losing my reliance on amazon has led me to discover a couple of quite good Chinese websites - for many small items, I now use either banggood.com or gearbest.com