Amazon launches low-cost standalone shopping app, Amazon Bazaar, in more than a dozen markets
On Friday, Amazon announced the launch of Amazon Bazaar, a new low-cost shopping destination for Asia, Africa and Latin America that will be available separately from the main Amazon shopping app. On Bazaar, most products are available for less than $10, and some for as little as $2, the retailer says.
The selection of products, available now on Android and iOS, will be available in its own app available in Hong Kong, Philippines, Taiwan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Nigeria.
Amazon says more markets will have access to the app in the coming months.
The app has significant overlap with Amazon Haul, which launched last November as a competitor to Shein and Temu. Haul operates as part of Amazon’s main website and app and will remain available in its existing markets, including the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan and Australia.
In other markets, Amazon had already branded Amazon Haul Bazaar, where it was available through Amazon’s main shopping app. This version also remains available in Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. (Amazon uses two names for the same selection of low-cost inventory, which is confusing! But Amazon thinks the different names “better fit local language preferences and cultures.”)
The move to create a standalone shopping destination for its cheaper inventory indicates Amazon is stepping up competition with low-cost Chinese shopping apps, like Temu, Shein and TikTok (TikTok Shop), which have been widely adopted by younger users and others who don’t have as much disposable income to spend on clothing, decor, electronics and other household items.
The Bazaar app will offer these users “hundreds of thousands” of affordable products in categories including fashion, home goods and lifestyle products, the retailer says. Product pages feature familiar Amazon features like customer reviews and star ratings.
Customers use their same Amazon credentials to shop and pay, where they can use Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. Orders must meet the local minimum purchase amount to qualify for free delivery. (This varies by market.) For small orders, a standard delivery fee is charged.
Shipments take approximately 2 weeks or less, returns are free within 15 days of receipt, and Amazon offers multilingual customer support. The app itself supports six languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, and Traditional Chinese.
The app will also engage customers with interactive features such as sweepstakes and social promotions – elements popularized by Chinese shopping apps. New customers will also receive 50% off their first delivery to entice them to try the app.
