Australia now has Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime has launched in Australia, 13 years after the United States got its hands on the service.
Prime is Amazon's membership program that promises free delivery on some items, and two business day delivery to customers in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, and regional cities such as Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Gold Coast, Gosford, Newcastle, Shepparton-Mooroopna, Toowoomba, and Wagga Wagga.
Prime members in more remote or rural locations will receive free expedited shipping in four or five days, Amazon said.
Amazon is handing out a free 30-day Prime trial, which can then be continued at a cost of AU$6.99 per month, or AU$59 annually. Until January 31, 2019, Amazon Prime will be available at a cost of AU$4.99 per month as part of a promotion the retail heavyweight is trialling to get locals on board.
As part of the membership, customers will also have access to the company's streaming service Amazon Prime Video; Amazon Prime Reading; gaming platform Twitch Prime; Prime Day shopping deals; and Alexa shopping, allowing shopping via voice on Alexa-enabled devices.
Amazon.com.au finally launched in December, ending months of speculation.
The company last month announced it would no longer be shipping to Australia out of its global store, when changes to the country's goods and services tax (GST) come into effect on July 1, 2018.
From the start of July, Amazon will be redirecting Australian customers from its international sites to amazon.com.au.
"While we regret any inconvenience this may cause, from 1 July we will be redirecting Australian customers from our international Amazon sites to amazon.com.au where you can shop for products sold by Amazon US on the new Amazon Global Store, available today," the company wrote in an email sent to customers.
"We have taken this step to provide our customers with continued access to international selection and allow us to remain compliant with the law which requires us to collect and remit GST on products sold on Amazon sites that are shipped from overseas."
From July 1, 2018, overseas retailers selling goods to Australia will be liable to pay GST on items under AU$1,000.
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Amazon Prime Video and Twitch Prime became available to Australians alongside the online marketplace. Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched an Australian region in 2012, and the Australian Kindle Store opened in 2013.
Australians also finally got their hands on Alexa-powered Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Plus devices in February.
With its Australian operations in full swing, Amazon announced a new fulfilment centre earlier this month, slated for launch in the second half of 2018.
The new 43,000 square metre facility is located in the Goodman Centenary Distribution Centre in Moorebank, New South Wales. It's the second Australian facility Amazon has, with the first located in Dandenong South, Victoria.
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