Amazon introduces free shipping

puzzled

Amazon has announced that it is to introduce a free delivery service for customers in Ireland.
Can see this putting a lot of pressure on irish shops struggling to compete with shoppers going north.
You can buy practically anything at amazon. It will effect every shop here.

Ludo

Where did you see this? I just went to order a book and it said £5 for delivery.

*EDIT* Ah i found info about it..orders over £25 only. Fair enough.

ccosgrave

Jaysus, that's a good deal. I always do my best to support Irish shops rather than go online if there's only a few euro in the difference in the price between them, but it's pretty hard to turn the same item for less than 50% the price of buying it in Ireland. I imagine most others would be the same, so I can certainly see how this will put extra pressure on Irish shops.

StealthRolex

puzzled wrote: »

Amazon has announced that it is to introduce a free delivery service for customers in Ireland.
Can see this putting a lot of pressure on irish shops struggling to compete with shoppers going north.
You can buy practically anything at amazon. It will effect every shop here.

No point moaning about Irish shops being affected - they dig their own graves by keeping prices high. They have to learn to compete and stop mugging their own customers.

For example, there is a book I want to get and in Dublin it is €30. In amazon it is £14. Add shipping and it is still cheaper than buying in a high street Dublin bookstore, bus fare included. As there are other items I can get for the Christmas shopping list I can easily get to £25 and save on the shipping.

Another eau de toilette product on sale in Dublin for €89 is available from the producer for £45

The internet has changed the way commerce and retail is performed now, however the damage it can do to Irish shops might be why we have pitiful broadband access

Of course it's nice to have high street shops where you can browse, have a feel or a read and then note the price. If it's available on-line for cheaper including shipping you takes your choice.

I wouldn't worry too much about hurting Irish jobs as Amazon have a warehouse in Cork and Irish retail operations can utilise the amazon shopfronts. Bit silly if they insist on charging twice as much as their UK or EU counterparts but that's the nature of Irish business.

Additionally, as this is a politics\economics forum, if the governement wants to keep more of our money we have an obligation to choose where we spend our money wisely and if that means buying from the cheapest supplier regardless of their location or who collects the VAT so be it.
The EU allows us to do this in the interests of competition.

leninbenjamin

StealthRolex wrote: »

No point moaning about Irish shops being affected - they dig their own graves by keeping prices high. They have to learn to compete and stop mugging their own customers.

that's not entirely fair to say. higher minimum wage, council rates, and rent all contribute, not to mention VAT and suppliers charging an arm and a leg for 'foreign exchange.'

BOHSBOHS

anyone know when this free shipping is kicking in ?

im ordering a load of books so would save a good bit!

StealthRolex

leninbenjamin wrote: »

that's not entirely fair to say. higher minimum wage, council rates, and rent all contribute, not to mention VAT and suppliers charging an arm and a leg for 'foreign exchange.'

We're not talking McDonalds here and I doubt if there are many in major bookshops, Brown Thomas analogs or other high quality, high price shops that will have a majority of staff on the minimum. In many cases the staff are on basic + commission so again they shoot themselves in the foot by charging over the odds.

Council rates, and rent, well, I know shop owners who moved to different areas to reduce costs so they could retain customers.

If your supplier is charging an arm and a leg for "foreign exchange" then buy from the EU or Australia where the attitude is more competitive, or don't stock that product.

BTW I have hear that "foreign exchange" argument from major Irish retailers before and most of the time it's b*ll*cks.

StealthRolex

I forgot to mention, and this is bookshop specific, there are two bookshops in Dublin that I know of - one general, the other specialist, where I queried a book they didn't have in stock they offered to order it in.

Funny thing is, they were going to use the Amazon website to place the order.

Now if the bookshops in Dublin are ordering their stock from Amazon why shouldn't we avail of the Amazon service direct?

And if the bookshops are ordering from Amazon how many other retail outlets are ordering their stock from online suppliers we can go to direct?

donglen

BOHSBOHS wrote: »

anyone know when this free shipping is kicking in ?

im ordering a load of books so would save a good bit!

I believe it is in place as we speak...re from the website.....

How do I get FREE Super Saver Delivery?

1. Place over £25 of eligible items in your Shopping Basket.*
2. Proceed to checkout.
3. Make sure your items are being delivered to a single delivery address in the Republic of Ireland.
4. Select Super Saver Delivery as your delivery method. The delivery time for Super Saver Delivery orders is 3 to 5 business days after dispatch.

5. Select "Group my items into as few deliveries as possible" as your delivery preference.
6. Place your order.**
* Eligible items are those purchased directly from Amazon.co.uk, excluding gift certificates and certain electrical items (where this is stated on the item's product information page). If your order qualifies for FREE Super Saver Delivery, you will still be charged a delivery fee for any ineligible items in the order.
**Cancelling items, combining orders, or changing your delivery address, speed, or preference might affect your order's eligibility for Super Saver Delivery.

leninbenjamin

StealthRolex wrote: »

BTW I have hear that "foreign exchange" argument from major Irish retailers before and most of the time it's b*ll*cks.

it is bollocks, but it's not the retailers who do it, it's the middlemen suppliers.

depending on the product, sometimes Irish retailers will have no choice but to buy off British based suppliers, and that's where the excessive charging comes in. It's been long known that some British suppliers with exclusive rights to the Irish market have been marking up excessively since the days of the punt, and despite the transparency of the euro reducing it, that practice is long from gone.

as for the Amazon thing though, that is a bit daft.

Zebra3

I went into a bookshop in Dublin one day about two years ago and enquired about an "uncommon" book.

The reply I got was "somewhere over there" and a point towards about 1,000 books. Staff member walked off.

My attempt to keep my money in the country ended there and then.

coylemj

Not sure if this is still the case but no harm in keeping your eyes peeled for it.

A few weeks ago I bought myself a Blu-Ray player so I went online to buy a few movies to test my new technology. I went to Amazon and clicked on a four movies but from past experience I kept an eye on the prices of the items I had clicked on and was monitoring the total by a spreadsheet. Sure enough, by the time I got to the last screen Amazon had added on 6% because I was paying with a credit card and they also quoted the shipping charge ex. VAT which made it look smaller.

What really got my goat was that they attempted to disguide the CC uplift by quoting me the 'total' value of my order ex. VAT in an attempt to hide the 6% CC uplift.

The four movies I was buying added up to 68.82 but by the time I got to the 'Click to Order' screen the price had rocketed to 90.05 so I took my business elsewhere, to www.sendit.com in fact who didn't charge me for delivery to Ireland, who didn't uplift by anything for the credit card and who shipped all four movies seperately even though I said they could wait until the last one was in stock before shipping.

StealthRolex

leninbenjamin wrote: »

it is bollocks, but it's not the retailers who do it, it's the middlemen suppliers.

depending on the product, sometimes Irish retailers will have no choice but to buy off British based suppliers, and that's where the excessive charging comes in. It's been long known that some British suppliers with exclusive rights to the Irish market have been marking up excessively since the days of the punt, and despite the transparency of the euro reducing it, that practice is long from gone.

as for the Amazon thing though, that is a bit daft.

We'll have to get the UK to join the Euro so

As for the amazon thing - daft maybe but true. Couldn't believe it when I saw it.

G-Money

I know Amazon have had that free delivery thing for a while for UK addresses. I've used it occasionally for items being delivered to my address in the north. I think they have changed it now for UK orders where the order only has to be £15. I could be wrong though.

Anyway it's still a good deal. One thing to bear in mind though is when I was getting stuff delivered to the north, the free delivery did take a little longer. I think they actually say this on their site too when you are choose the delivery options.

As it is now, when I get stuff from Amazon delivered to my address in Dublin, it usually takes 2 days, 3 at most. I think though that they have a warehouse somewhere in Ireland now which speeds things up. That seems to be a lot better as I remember about 3 years ago I'd be getting stuff delivered from UK and you could be waiting anywhere between 1 and 3 weeks. Although I was also convinced that my postman just went on a route when he felt like it. He wasn't even an An Post guy, didn't have the uniform, van or anything. He just looked like some 3rd party guy they had hired in to deliver the post.

coylemj

Yes, we are getting ripped off but it's largely our own fault. A bricks and mortar retailer in Dublin has astronomical costs compared to the cost of running an Internet (mail order) shop, that principle applies in all countries so there's no point in quoting the price of a book in Dawson St. vs. the Internet.

But leaving out the costs of high street rents, average wages in Ireland are well above those of the UK, teachers and nurses for example are paid way more in Ireland than in the UK. Houses cost more here than in the UK (or at least they used to) which translates into bigger wage demands so we pay ourselves more than they do the UK. Result: it costs more to do business so profit margins need to be higher so prices here are greater than they are in the UK. It's a viscous circle, we get paid more so we get charged more.

VAT is higher here (21.5%) than in the UK (15%). More people make spurious insurance claims for 'trips' and trivial accidents whch racks up the cost of insurance. Even in a country with more lawyers than the rest of the world combined, it still costs less to insure a car in the USA than in Ireland, go figure.

Then as soon as they build a decent road to the North, we're all off to Newry to shop and then we wonder why VAT receipts in the Republic are down and the public finances are down the sewer.

thebman

In fairness there are plenty of items that you can't buy on Amazon if your in Ireland because of PRF.

StealthRolex

thebman wrote: »

In fairness there are plenty of items that you can't buy on Amazon if your in Ireland because of PRF.

I recently got some electronics from them do this does not always apply

thebman

StealthRolex wrote: »

I recently got some electronics from them do this does not always apply

I think other sellers using Amazon might get away with it.

I can never buy anything on there lol.

ardmacha

Amazon may undercut Irish shops, however they contribute to the Irish Exchequer as Irish vat is paid. Are you sure the 6% "uplift" wasn't the difference between UK and Irish VAT?

Most electronics can now be bought.

StealthRolex

Don't forget that Amazon have at least 450 Irish employees in Cork and they keep the postpersons and delivery people busy.

Irish shops being hurt by Amazon? No worse than Tescos being hurt by Lidl.

jimmmy

coylemj wrote: »

Yes, we are getting ripped off but it's largely our own fault. A bricks and mortar retailer in Dublin has astronomical costs compared to the cost of running an Internet (mail order) shop, that principle applies in all countries so there's no point in quoting the price of a book in Dawson St. vs. the Internet.

But leaving out the costs of high street rents, average wages in Ireland are well above those of the UK, teachers and nurses for example are paid way more in Ireland than in the UK. Houses cost more here than in the UK (or at least they used to) which translates into bigger wage demands so we pay ourselves more than they do the UK. Result: it costs more to do business so profit margins need to be higher so prices here are greater than they are in the UK. It's a viscous circle, we get paid more so we get charged more.

VAT is higher here (21.5%) than in the UK (15%). More people make spurious insurance claims for 'trips' and trivial accidents whch racks up the cost of insurance. Even in a country with more lawyers than the rest of the world combined, it still costs less to insure a car in the USA than in Ireland, go figure.

Then as soon as they build a decent road to the North, we're all off to Newry to shop and then we wonder why VAT receipts in the Republic are down and the public finances are down the sewer.

good post, and many of the people spending are using money which comes from the 400 million the govt is borrowing each week.

The govt borrows it, gives it to the lucky few ( relatively speaking ) and its spent straight out of the country. Go up north any weekend and see.

StealthRolex

coylemj wrote: »

Yes, we are getting ripped off but it's largely our own fault. A bricks and mortar retailer in Dublin has astronomical costs compared to the cost of running an Internet (mail order) shop, that principle applies in all countries so there's no point in quoting the price of a book in Dawson St. vs. the Internet.

But leaving out the costs of high street rents, average wages in Ireland are well above those of the UK, teachers and nurses for example are paid way more in Ireland than in the UK. Houses cost more here than in the UK (or at least they used to) which translates into bigger wage demands so we pay ourselves more than they do the UK. Result: it costs more to do business so profit margins need to be higher so prices here are greater than they are in the UK. It's a viscous circle, we get paid more so we get charged more.

VAT is higher here (21.5%) than in the UK (15%). More people make spurious insurance claims for 'trips' and trivial accidents whch racks up the cost of insurance. Even in a country with more lawyers than the rest of the world combined, it still costs less to insure a car in the USA than in Ireland, go figure.

Then as soon as they build a decent road to the North, we're all off to Newry to shop and then we wonder why VAT receipts in the Republic are down and the public finances are down the sewer.

In fairness average industrial wages are comparable between Ireland and the UK. If anything in many sectors UK wages are higher and taxes are lower. However there are additional costs that should be borne in mind e.g. council tax however if you have a car in the UK you are saving a fortune compared to Ireland.

Stamp duty is lower for those who can afford a mortgage and public transport actually works and works well. A visit to the doctor is free compared to the €55 it costs here.

The reduced tax receipts here are due to the increased taxes. If you reduce the money in peoples pockets they will spend less. That reduces not just the VAT receipts but also the PAYE and PRSI receipts as retailers reduce costs by letting staff go or shutting down entirely. Add to that the fact that because you have less smoney in your pocket you are not going to become all patriotic and spend the few sheckels you have with a rip-off retailer. Most people will go where they get value for money be it Newry or the Internet.

So the real reason we go to Newry is because we don't have enough money to shop here. Besides, Newry is in Ireland so you are still being ironically patriotic.

Both the leader of the governement and the boyo with the money are lawyers, not economists, accountants, or businessmen and if you know anything about lawyers and money you will know that they know how to collect it and how to spend it - but mostly on themselves.

There is a golden opportunity here to reduce costs and increase wages by utilizing NAMA to facilitate the mortgage holders and not the banks. The plan is NAMA takes on the mortgage repayments for the existing occupied houses. The rest are sold off at market rates - no fannying around waiting for the price to rise - just sell the buggers what whatever you can get. The banks get sold to bigger successful banks and the developers are sent to the Gobi desert.

End result - reduced rents, reduced property prices, reduce retail costs, increased sales and eventually a stable economy. The retail units will be windows with sample products and inside there will be consoles where you can order what you want.

thebman

I'd say the biggest cost difference is rent in most cases. Commercial rents here aren't properly negotiable and are artifically high.

StealthRolex

coylemj wrote: »

Yes, we are getting ripped off but it's largely our own fault. A bricks and mortar retailer in Dublin has astronomical costs compared to the cost of running an Internet (mail order) shop, that principle applies in all countries so there's no point in quoting the price of a book in Dawson St. vs. the Internet.

Okay - leaving books aside but staying with Dawson St, Dublin and comparing with bricks and mortar in Bond St, London.

As the handle suggests I have some expertise. Can you tell me why a second-hand Rolex in Dawson St costs almost as much as a brand new one in Bond St?

To avoid arguments about currency exchange you can do the exercise as a percentage of gross salary taking £25K v 32K€

Rents are higher in Bond St but a new Rolex is cheaper than a pre-owned watch in Dublin. - how does that happen?

jimmmy

thebman wrote: »

I'd say the biggest cost difference is rent in most cases.

Minimum wage here is 50% more than in UK. Vat is 1.43 % more ( 21.5% as opposed to 15% ). Then you have insurance. Rates. Electricity ; second highest cost in europe. Plus the general overhead of supporting our govt.

Boskowski

coylemj wrote: »

Then as soon as they build a decent road to the North, we're all off to Newry to shop and then we wonder why VAT receipts in the Republic are down and the public finances are down the sewer.

So we as the customer apply market principles and that means its all really our fault, did I get that right?

thebman

jimmmy wrote: »

Minimum wage here is 50% more than in UK. Vat is 1.43 % more ( 21.5% as opposed to 15% ). Then you have insurance. Rates. Electricity ; second highest cost in europe. Plus the general overhead of supporting our govt.

I said biggest not only

StealthRolex

thebman wrote: »

I'd say the biggest cost difference is rent in most cases. Commercial rents here aren't properly negotiable and are artifically high.

High enough to account for markups of 50-100%?
Properly negotiable or not they are negotiable and if high rents causes high retail prices it's even more of a reason not to support the bricks and mortar rip off.

Rock on Amazon.ie

Sarn

coylemj wrote: »

..... Sure enough, by the time I got to the last screen Amazon had added on 6% because I was paying with a credit card and they also quoted the shipping charge ex. VAT which made it look smaller.

What really got my goat was that they attempted to disguide the CC uplift by quoting me the 'total' value of my order ex. VAT in an attempt to hide the 6% CC uplift.

Sorry but there is no credit card uplift. The prices quoted on the site are inclusive of UK VAT (15%), due to the large quantity of goods that Amazon ship here they have to pay Irish VAT at 21.5%. This explains the 6.5% increase in the final total.

gdael

I bought all my Christmas presents on Amazon.
All DVD box sets and books.

Total cost when i priced them here €447
Cost buying them at Amazon €212 inc all charges

No brainer.

nesf

grandmaster wrote: »

I know Amazon have had that free delivery thing for a while for UK addresses.

They've been doing it for a good few years (I'd say close to 5 or 6) with UK addresses by this point. Methinks that competition from the likes of www.bookdepository.co.uk and similar who offer free delivery anywhere are what is pushing Amazon into doing this after years of not doing it. I know that I've been using the Book Depository website since I found it due to the free shipping.

donglen

nesf wrote: »

They've been doing it for a good few years (I'd say close to 5 or 6) with UK addresses by this point. Methinks that competition from the likes of www.bookdepository.co.uk and similar who offer free delivery anywhere are what is pushing Amazon into doing this after years of not doing it. I know that I've been using the Book Depository website since I found it due to the free shipping.

Just to add to this......www.play.com.....also do free shiping.

ednwireland

bike shops
chainreaction cycles, wiggle and probikekit all do free shiiping (larger items such as bikes do have shipping charges - wiggle is £20) have done for a while now
sendit.com as well

jimmmy

Why not outsource everything outside the country, and just buy everything from countries which have lower rates, electricity, insurance, wages , banking , I.T., accountancy + other overheads ? :rolleyes: Our little country suffers from lack of economy of scale anyway. No wonder our govt vat + tax receipts are way down. Roll on the IMF.