Amazon Has Come to Poland: See Two Ways Consumers in Lithuania Can Save As Result

Until March of this year, users who visited amazon.pl were redirected to an Amazon website with a German domain. However, today there is already a website dedicated to Poland with its own market and execution centers, where local sellers can submit their offers.

A. Šinkevičius said that buyers of amazon.pl in Lithuania may be interested for two reasons.

“Often times, products from the same manufacturer cost differently in different markets. Therefore, the same product sold in the US or in this case in Poland can have a significant price difference. This is also true for local Polish producers.

With the advent of amazon.pl, it is easier for them to sell their products on a larger scale. We Lithuanians also win with that. By comparing the prices of the same products in different markets, we can make the right decision and choose the same product from those sites where the price is lower. This is where we save.

We also save because we use the services of third parties, when we can even buy goods that are not shipped to Lithuania. For example, you are looking for a product that is not available in Lithuania. You can find that product on amazon.co.uk and amazon.pl. Let’s say it costs the same here and there, but neither amazon.co.uk nor amazon.pl ship it to Lithuania.

You can then use the services of third parties, when you purchase the product and it is shipped to the address of Great Britain or Poland, respectively, and from there it is transported to Lithuania. The price of shipping the goods to Lithuania from Great Britain or Poland can sometimes differ. That’s why we also save here ”, he explained.

A. Šinkevičius also noted that amazon.pl will make it possible to find many Polish merchants and their products in one place.

“I see no reason why manufacturers should not use Amazon services. The goal of every entrepreneur is to make money, so at least trying to trade through this platform is definitely worth it. This does not necessarily mean that it will happen. a miracle and space sales will begin, which has not been the case so far. No. This means you have the opportunity to present your product to a wider audience and ideally sell it. This is especially relevant for products and brands niche and less known, ”he said.

Does not feel affected

In an interview with Eltai in early March, Artūras Rakauskas, president of Kesko Senukai, drew attention to Amazon in Poland.

“If in the past we regretted that our consumers were feeding the Polish budget when they came to Suwalki, today the budget revenue will dissolve at the touch of a computer key, sitting comfortably on the quarantine sofa,” he said. Senukai did not comment on this post.

At the time, Ernestas Kačerauskas, Marketing Manager at Pigu, said amazon.pl was not affected.

Amazon is a world-renowned e-commerce platform. In Poland, it is still in its infancy, and with more than one strong local player in the country, Amazon will have to fight for space and show what it can do in the Polish market. As amazon.pl products have not yet been delivered to Lithuania, we do not feel any impact on our activities.

As for Lithuanian buyers, shopping in foreign e-shops is not unknown to them, but the pigu.lt shopping center on the Internet has many advantages over global players, ”he said.

E. Kačerauskas referred to the Nielsen survey, which showed that pigu.lt is the most popular email. Store in Lithuania: Every second resident has made purchases during the 12-month period indicated in the survey, when Amazon is in the top ten at that time.

“It is influenced by our long-term workforce and our convenience in shopping, which our customers value. First of all, the service in the local language, allowing customers to shop comfortably and be sure that any questions or warranty service will be resolved quickly and clearly on the spot. Our online shopping center is also characterized by offering a wide range of local retailers in one place, so that customers can find brands they are already familiar with. ” commented.

For his part, Marius Butauskas, head of the Frog Group, noted that Amazon, which began operating in Poland this year, is not as big news as it may seem at first glance.

Amazon.pl has been operating for more than 5 years, and now begins to operate as a separate business entity in Poland with its own market and execution centers. So far this has been done from amazon.de. Knowing that Amazon has been in Europe for many years, it can be assumed that Lithuanians who bought from Amazon will probably continue to buy, ”he considered.

According to M. Bauska, Amazon will bring more changes to the local market in Poland.

“This is a serious email challenge for the Allegro store, whose price has fallen dramatically in recent days. Allegro’s market share, on the other hand, is incomparably higher, and Allegro itself has already withstood the competition. from Ebay.

It is also possible to take advantage of the experience of other countries: there was no revolution in Sweden, the Netherlands or Australia with the arrival of Amazon. Therefore, a serious position in the Polish market is likely to take a long time, and Lithuanian traders may need even longer to achieve a more pronounced impact, ”he said.

The director of Frog said that he still does not see the impact of amazon.pl on the Lithuanian market.

“This is due to very important reasons for the end customer: the transport costs to Lithuania and the warranty service. There may be products that Amazon looks good on at first glance, but when you add up all those costs, it becomes large enough or unappealing for a customer to buy outside of the local market.

Therefore, in terms of competition, we do not expect the prospect of any major hit here, Amazon was already in Germany and sellers were trading in it, and people who have bought and who are used to it will continue to buy.

And now it will definitely not be the case that everyone suddenly starts shopping on the Polish Amazon. Oddly enough, to the average buyer, this merchant is still very lazy. On the other hand, Amazon itself no longer has a very good image and is famous as a company that exploits employees, and there is a tendency for more and more people to be important to social responsibility, sustainability, ecology and other topics. ”Said M Butauskas.

Interest in Brexit

Liutauras Alkinas, the founder of Inbeauty.lt, also said that in the short term amazon.pl will not affect the Lithuanian market.

“Mainly because the range will remain much smaller and lag behind German or British sites. On the other hand, Brexit may have more influence. This makes it very difficult to buy goods from England, which was quite common among the Lithuanians. As a result, they will start looking for alternatives, maybe it will be Poland, “he said.

However, in the medium and long term, according to Alkin, Amazon’s influence will increase.

“Poland and Germany will be Amazon’s dominant markets, where Lithuanians will buy. It is already buying from Allegro, for example, but it is only a matter of time before Amazon catches up with it,” he said.

Speaking of Amazon’s ability to open amazon.lt, the interlocutor noted that in other countries, the American giant has acquired a popular player that is already operating.

“Amazon calls it an electronic store. The old name remains, it only contributes to the logo,” he said.