Amazon to Block AU buyers from purchasing from Amazon.com

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networkn

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#236405 31-May-2018 17:08

https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/amazon-to-block-its-us-website-for-aussie-shoppers-over-new-gst-rules-20180531-p4zikr.html

Basically, you won't be able to ship from .com back to Australia.

If that happens here, and it seems most likely it will, then that would extremely annoying.

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#2026382 31-May-2018 17:33

Damn. Would mean going back to being stuck with overpriced forwarders like YouShop etc.

networkn

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#2026413 31-May-2018 17:41

I am unsure how much longer that provider will continue to be a valid offering. Obviously, there are others too, but from my perspective, all sales to NZ and AU combined are likely a rounding error in Amazons revenue column, they can afford to take this position, it's the consumer who will suffer.

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#2026422 31-May-2018 17:58

Surely that means they'll start using their own internal channels to get more product to Aus. It would be crap is they went back to a tiny catalog.

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#2026442 31-May-2018 19:00

That’s what I thought would happen.

If a supplier decides a country is a rounding error, there’s the risk they’re not going to jump through hoops for a foreign government.

16 months to go.

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#2026526 31-May-2018 20:50

Hope eBay and Alibaba don't decide it's too much trouble as well.

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networkn

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#2026536 31-May-2018 20:58

Dingbatt: Hope eBay and Alibaba don't decide it's too much trouble as well.

ebay have already said they are considering it.

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#2026565 31-May-2018 22:06

Wow! this is crazy

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#2026568 31-May-2018 22:24

Amazon collects various usa state and local sales taxes and sometimes combinations of several for places in the USA. Much harder than aust gst. Looks more like an attempt to boost the local platform more than anything else.

eBay have announced they will support aust gst on all international sites by the required date.

Alibaba now have more or less announced they will make the required changes by the date required.

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#2026612 1-Jun-2018 01:26

networkn:
Dingbatt: Hope eBay and Alibaba don't decide it's too much trouble as well.

ebay have already said they are considering it.

Pandora have already done it. (Yes, I know - not apples ...).

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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#2026666 1-Jun-2018 08:57

It will happen here once our Amazon tax comes into play. I believe this was one of the key reasons National and their advisors were slow to day anything about it.

NZ shops will soon be able to increase their prices as competition will be diminished. More good news for the consumer.

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#2026668 1-Jun-2018 09:01

Free trade is dying under labours tyrannical bureaucracy!

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#2026669 1-Jun-2018 09:03

I'm glad eBay is supporting it, but I really hope they're able to provide some sort of GST receipt for businesses, or better yet, the ability to put in our IRD number and not be charged any GST. That's frustrating with Amazon and eBay's global shipping program, as there's no proof of GST paid.

Yet with eBay's seller fees, and things like the Adobe subscription, there's no GST charged if you pop your IRD number into your profile and you're self employed or a business.

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#2026677 1-Jun-2018 09:11

I thought it was illegal to charge GST and not provide a GST receipt?

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#2026736 1-Jun-2018 09:34

Clever move actually.

I mean it's BS and annoys me (as like others I assume it will apply for NZ sooner or later) - but from Amazon's perspective it's a solid knight takes bishop, "check", ball is in your court AU type move.

It basically makes the application of GST to online products, already unpopular with consumers, even MORE unpopular - and politicians don't like being put on the defensive, especially trying to defend an unpopular stance.

Amazon could have simply ignored the AU law - no US law stating they have to collect GST for Australia (or NZ or any other country), but then they would be the bad guy in the eyes of the consumer (their customer) and the politicos would be able to tar them as such.

It's another example of how much power these multinational corporations have - they have many options when it comes to dealing with governments - they can operate around laws via loopholes, hide behind one countries laws, play different countries off against one another, or, as in this case simply exacerbate consumer opinion with an unpopular 'consequence' to an unpopular law.

Perhaps NZ was too hasty in following AU's lead... of course, AU will hold their nerve here, it will likely spread to NZ (unless govt responds to this warning shot).

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#2026742 1-Jun-2018 09:40

surfisup1000:

Free trade is dying under labours tyrannical bureaucracy!

I think you'll find Labour is not in power in Australia. They currently have a Coalition (National/Liberals) government.

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