The arrival of Amazon Ireland means that “consumers must make difficult decisions”

Irish consumers will have to make “difficult decisions” with the imminent arrival of Amazon.ie.

The online retail giant has confirmed its launch. a new website dedicated to Ireland in 2025.

From next year, customers of the online retailer will be able to access Amazon.ie, i.e. faster deliveries and returns while avoiding customs charges or currency conversion fees.

Amazon employs 6,500 people in Cork, Dublin and Drogheda.

Irish times Consumer Affairs correspondent Conor Pope said newstalk Britain’s departure from the European Union was a major factor.

“The most important thing people can expect is faster deliveries and perhaps a greater selection of products for sale on the Amazon.ie platform,” he said.

“Until now, and indeed for the last 25 years, Irish shoppers shopping on Amazon have had to shop on the Amazon.co.uk site or the Amazon.com website.

“Until Brexit, shopping on the ‘.co.uk’ site wasn’t really an issue for Irish consumers.

“But once Brexit came, it became a major issue because you had to pay a lot of higher taxes and higher tariffs on products coming from the UK.”

Amazon fulfillment center in Dublin. Image: Amazon/Karl Hussey

Follows the release of Amazon’s first Irish fulfillment center in 2022, which created 500 new jobs.

Conor said the “next logical step on that path” was a dedicated Irish website.

“Amazon sells many products through its own distribution centers, but it also acts as a platform for other sellers to sell,” he said.

“This has become an issue in recent times as a result of Brexit.

“Many UK-based websites selling on Amazon.co.uk decided not to sell in the Republic of Ireland because there was too much paperwork as a result of Brexit.

“A lot of products that would once have been available to Irish shoppers were no longer available.”

irish companies

Conor said Amazon hopes to massively increase its Irish presence when it comes to SMEs.

“One of the things Amazon.ie hopes is to be able to attract many small and medium-sized Irish businesses to its platform to sell to buyers in the Republic of Ireland and outside the Republic.” he said.

“Amazon currently has around 1,000 Irish sellers selling on its platform.

“With the creation of Amazon.ie, we hope to dramatically expand that reach and serve many more Irish businesses.”

‘A real risk’

Asked if the change is a concern for Irish businesses, Conor said consumers need to think about their shopping habits.

“I think consumers have to make difficult decisions with the advent of the Amazon.ie platform,” he said.

“Some products may be available for less money on the Amazon.ie platform, but people buy there exclusively at their own risk.

“What we don’t want to happen is for small and medium-sized Irish retailers… to be wiped out as a result of this online giant.

“That’s a real risk.”

An Amazon delivery van in Havelock Square in Dublin. Image: Amazon/Gareth Chaney

Conor said many Irish companies offer as good value as Amazon.

“I think it is important to point out the fact that a large number of Irish retailers offer better or comparable value to Amazon.ie.

“They have a significant online presence and could have comparable or better aftercare.

“What we don’t want to happen is people relentlessly chasing the bottom line, relentlessly searching for cheaper prices by shopping at online giants like Amazon… at the expense of supporting local retailers.”

Conor said that while there are still questions to be answered about how Amazon Ireland will operate, it will “provide more competition in the Irish retail space”.

Main image: Amazon fulfillment center at Baldonnell Business Park in Dublin. Image: Amazon/Karl Hussey