Amazon has just launched “Bazaar,” a cheap shopping app that aims to take on the giant world of Ali Baba and Shein, Temu-style. A move aimed at those who love online bargains and that challenges the Chinese market, because it will be those same Chinese products, but at extremely low prices and backed by Amazon.
The app is already available for iOS and Android in 14 countries, including Peru, Argentina, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, and its goal is to compete head-to-head with Temu and Shein, the kings of digital low-cost. Will they succeed?
Amazon Bazaar
Bazaar is the evolution of Amazon Haul, the cheap shopping section the company launched in the United States in 2024. But now Amazon wants to explore the market with a standalone app, faster and focused on the visual experience.
There’s everything, you can’t complain about it. There are cosmetics, clothing, accessories, home goods, technology… And the prices are crazy, just how we like them. Starting at $2 you can find your perfect treat, and most products cost less than $10.
They want you to buy compulsively because “it’s cheap” and you add it to your cart, just like you do with Shein and its $2 carts that end up being $237 purchases. But here it’s qualitatively better, the guarantee comes from Amazon.
Competition for China
The style is the same as Temu or Aliexpress back in the day: offers that appear and disappear, the more you buy, the cheaper, catalogs that update daily… but Amazon promises deliveries in less than two weeks and free returns within the first 15 days.
And you don’t need to register again because you can use your same Amazon account, saved cards, and usual shipping addresses.
While Temu and Shein reign for their prices, Amazon has what they still don’t: a solid reputation and a working infrastructure, so it could hurt them a lot.
How the app works
Unlike Haul, which was a section inside Amazon, Bazaar is completely independent from the parent company.
The app is divided into three main categories: fashion, home, and lifestyle.
It also includes raffles and interactive promotions, but without the minigames like Shein’s dog one where you never reach the top prize. It’s cleaner and perhaps more straightforward.
For now, it is available in 14 countries: Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, Nigeria, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. In other places like Mexico or Spain, the catalog can be found within the main app by searching for “Bazaar” or “Haul”.
Amazon enters the low-cost market
Shein should be worried, because with Bazaar, Amazon is diving straight into a market that moves billions every day, the fast and affordable consumption market (and that of online shopping addicts).
Until now, that territory was dominated by Chinese giants, but Amazon wants to change the rules forever.
Also, as mentioned before, Amazon has something the rest don’t: consumer trust and an incredible international distribution network.
What about taxes?
That’s the question we’ve all asked. Although shipping is free, Amazon clarifies that in some countries taxes or import duties may apply. In Mexico, for example, products coming from China can have tariffs of up to 30%, which raises the final price a bit. So you’ll need to check the tariffs in your country to know if buying from this store is worth it.
And wait… doesn’t it seem curious that Bazaar arrives just as countries like the US are adjusting import policies with China? We’ll pretend it’s a coincidence.
Amazon wants to dominate the world
And it’s not far from doing it. Now it’s also joining the low-cost market where, as you already know, Chinese companies used to dominate everything, though adding its own efficient, reliable, and global touch.
Maybe many people think there are already too many compulsive shopping apps, but we love that there’s one more!
If it delivers what it promises, Bazaar could become the world’s next favorite shopping app, but it faces a big competitor, because, well, Shein has the crown…