Does Amazon work in China? Fees, delivery time, products and services in China.

Living in China doesn’t mean that you can’t shop internationally, thanks to a variety of overseas online shopping websites. Amazon is one of the world’s most well-known e-commerce platforms, and widely loved by people who wish to buy products from around the world. But, can we use Amazon in China? This worries a lot of foreigners living in China.

In order to answer the question, the content that follows will explain what Amazon China is, how Amazon purchases are delivered to China, and what the equivalents of Amazon are in China.

For a more convenient shopping experience on Amazon in China or any other online purchases, we highly recommend using a Wise Visa debit card. It is accepted in China at any Visa network. If you want to manage your Chinese income better, also consider opening a Wise multi-currency account. You can send, convert, and hold money in a more cost-effective manner.

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Does Amazon exist in China?

Yes, Amazon still offers (some) service in China, despite shutting down its China marketplace business in 2019¹ and closing the Kindle e-bookstore in China from 30 June 2023².

While Amazon had achieved remarkable success in the Chinese e-commerce market, this U.S. e-commerce giant is not doing well in China these past few as previously. According to CNBC, the main factor was the intense competition in China’s domestic e-commerce environment. Homegrown e-commerce giants like Alibaba Group (Tmall & Taobao) and JD.com have surged to prominence, and essentially surpassed Amazon in China¹.

Additionally, Amazon's strategy in China has failed to fully take into account local factors, such as Chinese consumers’ preferences for online shopping, payment and delivery systems¹.

Despite the downturn, Amazon has re-entered the Chinese market. Today, customers from China can still visit the webpage Amazon.cn³, and make purchases.

What is Amazon China?

To answer this question, we need to understand the history of Amazon in China.

Amazon China, formerly known as Joyo.com, is a Chinese shopping website that became a subsidiary of Amazon Inc following its acquisition in 2004. Established in 2000, Joyo.com initially provided clients with a wide array of products, including books, audio and video materials, software, toys, gifts, and department store items. Later in 2007, Amazon.cn replaced Joyo.com and expanded the variety of products⁴.

What Amazon services are available in China?

Amazon.cn offers similar products on Amazon.com⁵. These include books, movies and tv shows, music, technology, games and entertainment, personal care, watches and jewelry, makeup, sports and health, food and drinks, automotive products, etc³. The main difference in products between the two websites is that Amazon.com features Kindle E-Readers & Books, while Amazon.cn has discontinued those operations in China.

Amazon.cn also offers customers the Amazon Prime, and every Wednesday is Amazon China Prime Membership Day. What’s more, every Amazon China Prime member can enjoy unlimited free shipping, exclusive discounts for a selection of goods, and other benefits⁶. When comparing it to Prime on Amazon.com, although free shipping is available with some restrictions, Amazon.com provides more benefits for reading, streaming, and shopping⁷.

One more thing to mention is that when online shopping on Amazon China globally, you can only access products that are imported from Amazon warehouses located overseas⁸, including the US, UK, Japan, and Germany. This is in contrast to amazon.com, where you can buy products from a locally-based warehouse.

How to access Amazon in China? Do I need a VPN?

Since Amazon China is specifically for Chinese customers and sellers, you can access its webpage without using a VPN. Simply type "Amazon China" or “amazon.cn” in your browser's address bar and press the URL from the results. Enjoy shopping on the website and access the Prime services anytime and anywhere in China.

Posting Amazon purchases to China

If you are ready to make purchases on the Amazon China site and have them delivered to China from a foreign Amazon warehouse, but not sure about the shipping policy, don't worry. To give you an idea, here we have an example using shipping items from the US to China.

How to track your purchases from the U.S.?

After making a purchase on Amazon.cn, you can easily track your order by logging into your Amazon China account. Amazon China provides real-time tracking information. Or just go to the Amazon.cn App and open the "Logistics Services Reminder" function⁹. Make sure that your system allows Amazon to send you notifications.

Alternatively, you can Follow the Amazon China WeChat official account to stay updated with the status of your Amazon order, including package departing from the US warehouse, package arriving at the delivery station, delivery agents preparing for delivery, successful delivery, and other delivery updates¹⁰.

Finally, you can also opt for the SMS order tracking service. China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom all support SMS package tracking services. Once you have subscribed, you will receive SMS notifications about the delivery status of your package after it has been sent out from the US Amazon site¹¹.

What is the average delivery time?

Amazon China delivery times and costs vary based on the shipping method you select and the location of the seller. Amazon.cn typically provides estimated delivery dates and costs during the checkout process. When shipping from the US, standard delivery normally takes 7-12 business days, while accelerated delivery typically takes 5-9 business days¹².

Size and weight limits and prohibited goods for posting to China

When ordering from Amazon.cn for overseas delivery, you need to pay attention to product size and weight restrictions, as the delivery fee is calculated based on the weight or volume of the order¹³. Oversized or exceptionally heavy items might have additional shipping charges.

Certain goods are prohibited for international shipping, both within China and from abroad. These may include degradable plastic products, laser products, medical apparatus and instruments, amongst other products

How to collect your package?

When you place an order on Amazon.cn for overseas purchases, the process from order placement to delivery of goods is divided into six steps: website order, overseas shipping, international transportation, customs clearance, domestic delivery, and finally, the user signing for the package. It means the orders will be delivered directly to your designated address¹².

Please note that Amazon China's overseas purchase goods currently do not support late delivery, delivery by appointment, self-pickup, or other similar services¹².

Purchasing made in China goods from Amazon.com

Imagine you are an American expat who used to work in China but is now residing in the US. You are interested in purchasing something from a Chinese shop on the US Amazon.com. Here's what you can expect.

How to track your order from China?

After making an order on US Amazon.com from a Chinese seller, you will be able to find tracking information for each of your orders. If an order has several items, each may have different delivery dates and tracking information¹⁵.

What is the average delivery time?

When shipping from China to the US, there are different delivery speed options provided during checkout. Amazon’s fastest available speeds are 14 business days when choosing Standard Shipping and 7 business days when choosing Priority Shipping¹⁶.

Size weight limits and prohibited goods for posting to the U.S.

Eligible for Amazon Locker delivery¹⁷:

• The package's shipping weight is below 10 lbs.
• The item's measurements are less than 16 x 12 x 14 inches.
• There are no dangerous materials in the package.

Eligible for Amazon Counter delivery¹⁷:

• Items must weigh more than 33 lbs. or measure more than 36 (h) x 24 (l) x 24 (w). Note: certain retail partners have more stringent restrictions.

• There are no goods in the order that need special treatment.

How to pick up your package?

Typically, there are multiple options available for picking up your package. You can choose to have it delivered to your home address, business address, an Amazon Locker, an Amazon Counter, or any other Amazon pickup locations that are displayed during checkout, depending on your location and the availability¹⁸.

China Amazon competitors

Taobao and Tmall, both founded by Alibaba Group, feature global shopping platforms that offer a diverse array of product categories from overseas, including clothing, electronics, makeup, furniture, groceries, etc. In the Chinese e-commerce marketplace, they are regarded as the giants of e-commerce and the equivalents of Amazon in China.

Taobao is known for its user-friendly platform and competitive pricing, while Tmall is a premium version that focuses on connecting consumers with brands and authorized retailers. Both platforms are immensely popular in China.

In 2023, Taobao had 892 million monthly active users, while Tmall had 877 million monthly active users. As of March 31, 2023 (the most recent official figure published by Alibaba Group), the company's revenue reached 868.69 billion RMB ($126.49 billion). Taobao and Tmall account for 582.78 billion RMB, that is, 65% of Alibaba's projected total revenue in 2023, and account for the majority of its income for the company¹⁹.

Compared to Amazon China, which ships all goods from overseas warehouses, Taobao and Tmall have both domestic bonded warehouses and overseas warehouses. General bonded shipments typically arrive in about 7 business days, while overseas direct mail goods take approximately 14 business days to arrive.²⁰

Send your income out of China using Wise

After mastering the basics of Amazon China, you'll be well-prepared for global shopping even in China, especially with the assistance of Wise Visa debit card. Don’t ever miss the Black Friday, the Amazon Prime Day, or any holiday promotional events.

And for expats who want to transfer your income out of China to your home country, remember to take advantage of the convenient and cost-effective international money transfers with Wise. By opening a Wise account, you can send funds to over 160 countries worldwide at the fair mid-market exchange rate, a cheaper alternative to banks. Plus, with the ability to hold 40+ currencies in your Wise account, you can even earn cashback on your account balance. (Learn more about how does balance cashback work and how does card cashback for businesses work.)

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