Amazon launch: 'Disappointment that own products not available in SA'

Amazon has FINALLY launched its online shopping service in South Africa, catching some by surprise with a 'sneak attack'.

The launch 'just happened' comments MyBroadband editor Jan Vermeulen, being quietly activated on Tuesday morning with a press release following a couple of hours later.

Vermeulen reports back after taking amazon.co.za 'for a spin'.

"Everything works quite well - the ordering is smooth, the courier process is smooth... so far, so good."

Jan Vermeulen, Editor - MyBroadband

What people could be disappointed by he says, is that Amazon's own products aren't available in South Africa.

Vermeujlen cites the Amazon Kindle e-reader as an example. Ironically, if you want to buy a Kindle right now you'd have to go to Takealot, he points out.

The sentiment on social media has also been a little less than glowing than she'd anticipated, comments Adoozy Power's Mathabo Sekhonyana.

"The main things I'm seeing come across, is consumers saying they'd been excited to think they would receive more of the products that you see in the US or UK and can't get from local retailers... and from a price perspective it's a mixed bag."

Mathabo Sekhonyana, Marketing Specialist - Adoozy Power

The products that are brought to South Africa and kept in a warehouse here are going to be determined by the demand, notes Vermeulen.

Of course you'll still be able to go to amazon.com and import, as you were able to in the past.

The one thing that stands out as 'missing in action' is Amazon's Prime subscription, Vermeulen says.

He speculates that the online retail giant is holding off on that to make a second big splash once it's got a broader selection on offer.

Click here to read MyBroadband's tech price comparison between Amazon SA and Takealot.