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Brexit: Alternatives to Amazon.co.uk

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  • 28-08-2019 9:48am
    #1
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,721 ✭✭✭


    I have seen on the news that prices of goods ordered from UK are going to spike in case of no deal Brexit.

    I am wondering what are the alternatives available?

    Does Amazon.de seem to have similar products available? And what about using English language on .de website?

    Any one could share their experience /opinion on this?


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    #2
    D3V!L
    Registered Users Posts: 2,923 ✭✭✭D3V!L


    masterboy123 wrote: »
    I have seen on the news that prices of goods ordered from UK are going to spike in case of no deal Brexit.

    I am wondering what are the alternatives available?

    Does Amazon.de seem to have similar products available? And what about using English language on .de website?

    Any one could share their experience /opinion on this?

    I got an LG soundbar from Amazon.de recently. I saved €630 over the retail price here !! It took a while to get here compared to the UK one but well worth the wait.


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    #3
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,721 ✭✭✭masterboy123


    That's great news, does it take weeks to get items delivered?
    And how did you navigate through the website, it's in German?
    D3V!L wrote: »
    I got an LG soundbar from Amazon.de recently. I saved €630 over the retail price here !! It took a while to get here compared to the UK one but well worth the wait.


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    #4
    Thelonious Monk
    Registered Users Posts: 13,816 ✭✭✭✭Thelonious Monk


    Stop buying stuff you don't need!


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    #5
    ToxicPaddy
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,764 Mod ✭✭✭✭ToxicPaddy


    I've bought stuff from amazon.com, amazon.de and amazon.es. No issues getting anything delivered to ireland.


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    #6
    ELM327
    Registered Users Posts: 21,475 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    masterboy123 wrote: »
    That's great news, does it take weeks to get items delivered?
    And how did you navigate through the website, it's in German?


    Ask someone who speaks German or use google translate


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    #7
    D3V!L
    Registered Users Posts: 2,923 ✭✭✭D3V!L


    masterboy123 wrote: »
    That's great news, does it take weeks to get items delivered?
    And how did you navigate through the website, it's in German?

    There's an icon on the page to select English under the site search bar. Apart from that shipping isn't much different. Of course it will be a day or two longer depending on what you order.


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    #8
    KungPao
    Registered Users Posts: 4,781 ✭✭✭KungPao


    Try having a look in the shops in your town, instead of sending all your money to Amazon / the Fatherland.


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    #9
    ELM327
    Registered Users Posts: 21,475 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    KungPao wrote: »
    Try having a look in the shops in your town, instead of sending all your money to Amazon / the Fatherland.
    And when the shops in your town are selling for double the price on amazon?


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    #10
    Gregor Samsa
    Registered Users Posts: 8,925 ✭✭✭Gregor Samsa


    ToxicPaddy wrote: »
    I've bought stuff from amazon.com, amazon.de and amazon.es. No issues getting anything delivered to ireland.

    Does the (electronic) stuff come with EU plugs?

    I buy musical equipment from thomann.de in Germany. They used to throw a free 2 pin to 3 pin adaptor into the box for shipments to Ireland/UK, but recently they seem to be sending the actual 3 pin plug versions over this direction. Just wondering did the EU amazons do anything similar?


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    #11
    D3V!L
    Registered Users Posts: 2,923 ✭✭✭D3V!L


    phutyle wrote: »
    Does the (electronic) stuff come with EU plugs?

    I buy musical equipment from thomann.de in Germany. They used to throw a free 2 pin to 3 pin adaptor into the box for shipments to Ireland/UK, but recently they seem to be sending the actual 3 pin plug versions over this direction. Just wondering did the EU amazons do anything similar?

    My sound bar came with a two pin plug but with the maaaahoosive saving I could stretch to a new plug.


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    #12
    ELM327
    Registered Users Posts: 21,475 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    phutyle wrote: »
    Does the (electronic) stuff come with EU plugs?

    I buy musical equipment from thomann.de in Germany. They used to throw a free 2 pin to 3 pin adaptor into the box for shipments to Ireland/UK, but recently they seem to be sending the actual 3 pin plug versions over this direction. Just wondering did the EU amazons do anything similar?
    It's not that difficult to rewire a plug from schuko to UK


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    #13
    cj maxx
    Registered Users Posts: 13,438 ✭✭✭✭cj maxx


    ELM327 wrote: »
    It's not that difficult to rewire a plug from schuko to UK

    True , but it wont be unearthed ?


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    #14
    B0jangles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,951 ✭✭✭B0jangles


    KungPao wrote: »
    Try having a look in the shops in your town, instead of sending all your money to Amazon / the Fatherland.


    I tried to buy locally - I wanted a decent cooking thermometer so I went up to our local cooking supplies/homeware shop, they had 4-5 thermometers in stock - great!
    I checked the online reviews for them and not one got more than 3 out of 5 stars, plus the shop was selling them with close to a 100% markup compared to online. So my choice was buy a very expensive, inferior product locally, or get a really good one online for half the price.


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    #15
    ELM327
    Registered Users Posts: 21,475 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    cjmc wrote: »
    True , but it wont be unearthed ?
    No


    https://www.electriciansforums.net/threads/european-to-uk-plug-conversion-2-pin-to-3-pin.57508/


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    #16
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,721 ✭✭✭masterboy123


    I did and unfortunately it's no good from what they offer and the costs are almost double!
    KungPao wrote: »
    Try having a look in the shops in your town, instead of sending all your money to Amazon / the Fatherland.


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    #17
    Spocker
    Moderators Posts: 6,853 ✭✭✭Spocker


    Don't forget that most of the other Amazons won't have a free delivery to Ireland option


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    #18
    endacl
    Registered Users Posts: 22,237 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    D3V!L wrote: »
    My sound bar came with a two pin plug but with the maaaahoosive saving I could stretch to a new plug.

    Dunno. Having to leave the gaff and walk into a shop to buy a plug would be a bit of a deal breaker for me. Do amazon sell plugs?


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    #19
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,721 ✭✭✭masterboy123


    Even with Amazon Prime membership?
    Spocker wrote: »
    Don't forget that most of the other Amazons won't have a free delivery to Ireland option


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    #20
    kneemos
    Registered Users Posts: 20,410 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Amazon will add any tariffs presumably.

    Take your chances with the original sellers.


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    #21
    ELM327
    Registered Users Posts: 21,475 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    I think amazon prime gives you free delivery


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    #22
    Gregor Samsa
    Registered Users Posts: 8,925 ✭✭✭Gregor Samsa


    ELM327 wrote: »
    It's not that difficult to rewire a plug from schuko to UK

    True, and I've done that for some stuff, but if I can get a free adapter, or better yet, the UK plug in the first place, I can save myself the hassle.

    Not everyone can, though, and some people could be a little disappointed if their new smart kettle or fog machine arrived and they couldn't plug it straight in. It's just something to be aware of when buying from mainland Europe.
    cjmc wrote: »
    True , but it wont be unearthed ?

    Most of the stuff I'd be buying is Class II (Double Insulated) equipment. They have a square within a square logo, and the earth pin on the plug is plastic. They don't require earthing, and in fact should not be earthed. So that wouldn't be a problem.


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    #23
    stimpson
    Registered Users Posts: 7,815 ✭✭✭stimpson


    I'm going to be amazed if amazon don't have delivery from EU via amazon.ie ready to rock in case of a no deal. Also very disappointed.

    With a bit of luck we'll get duty free back to drown our sorrows.


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    #24
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    If you find an item you like on Amazon.co.uk you can see what the price is on any other Amazon just by changing the co.uk to the relevant country

    Random example

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/SONOS-PLAYBAR-Wireless-Cinema-Soundbar-Black/dp/B00BD1I8P4/

    https://www.amazon.de/SONOS-PLAYBAR-Wireless-Cinema-Soundbar-Black/dp/B00BD1I8P4/

    Obviously if the other country don't sell the particular item you get an error msg.


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    #25
    masterboy123
    Registered Users Posts: 5,721 ✭✭✭masterboy123


    The first link oepend automatically with amazon app on my phone.

    I suppose you need to be using browser to be able to change countries. Until today I have used only Amazon app on my phone to purchase the items.

    Good idea though, just need to spend little extra time.
    my3cents wrote: »
    If you find an item you like on Amazon.co.uk you can see what the price is on any other Amazon just by changing the co.uk to the relevant country

    Random example

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/SONOS-PLAYBAR-Wireless-Cinema-Soundbar-Black/dp/B00BD1I8P4/

    https://www.amazon.de/SONOS-PLAYBAR-Wireless-Cinema-Soundbar-Black/dp/B00BD1I8P4/

    Obviously if the other country don't sell the particular item you get an error msg.


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    #26
    Gregor Samsa
    Registered Users Posts: 8,925 ✭✭✭Gregor Samsa


    stimpson wrote: »
    I'm going to be amazed if amazon don't have delivery from EU via amazon.ie ready to rock in case of a no deal. Also very disappointed.

    No, I think the English language version of the German site is their official solution. Amazon have told independent retailers on the UK store to send stock to their mainland European fulfilment centres if they want to be able to sell to Ireland after a no-deal brexit.

    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/amazon-uk-users-may-have-difficulties-after-a-no-deal-brexit-1.3762917

    The article also says "the US giant has developed an English language version of its German-based www.amazon.de website with some of the prices on that site proving to be cheaper than on the UK site."


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    #27
    Cina
    Registered Users Posts: 2,387 ✭✭✭Cina


    masterboy123 wrote: »
    Even with Amazon Prime membership?

    I have Prime but it doesn't show me as having it on the German site, seems I'd have to cancel my UK Prime and get German prime instead, but the accounts seem to be linked so I've no idea how it works.

    hopefully they'll find a way for us to still buy from the UK site post-brexit, seeing as the pound will probably be worth the same as the Yen by then.


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    #28
    jack presley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,687 ✭✭✭✭jack presley


    I had a look at Prime on the German site and Ireland isn’t listed as an available country. Am I missing something?

    Otherwise postage seems quite expensive for items like CDs, books etc. and there doesn’t seem to be free shipping for spending over a certain amount.


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    #29
    Gregor Samsa
    Registered Users Posts: 8,925 ✭✭✭Gregor Samsa


    Cina wrote: »
    hopefully they'll find a way for us to still buy from the UK site post-brexit, seeing as the pound will probably be worth the same as the Yen by then.

    We'll still be able to physically buy from the UK site post Brexit, but if there's no deal, we'll be paying import duties, so unless the exchange rate is very favourable, things will be much more expensive. It'll be the exact same as buying from the US at present.


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    #30
    Plopsu
    Registered Users Posts: 671 ✭✭✭Plopsu


    jack presley wrote: »
    I had a look at Prime on the German site and Ireland isn’t listed as an available country. Am I missing something?

    Otherwise postage seems quite expensive for items like CDs, books etc. and there doesn’t seem to be free shipping for spending over a certain amount.

    Hopefully, they'll introduce it when .co.uk no longer ship to Ireland.


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    #31
    ixoy
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 17,989 Mod ✭✭✭✭ixoy


    How about digital products, such as Kindle books? They should come under the €22 threshold but any confirmation? Can't really use the de site for ebooks.


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