[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "I%20am%20currently%20signed%20into%20and%20using%20amazon.co.uk%20but%20I%20live%20in%20ireland%20If%20I%20set%20my%20amazon%20as%20amazon.ie%20what%20things%20could%20I%20lose%20out%20on%3F%20buying%20things%20books%20and%20so%20on."
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "If you're in Ireland and considering switching from using Amazon.co.uk to Amazon.ie, there are several key differences to be aware of. Here\u2019s a breakdown of what you could gain\u2014and lose\u2014by making the switch, especially when buying books and other goods.\n\n---\n\n## What You\u2019ll Gain from Switching to Amazon.ie\n\n1. **Local Pricing in Euros**\n   - Items on Amazon.ie are priced in euros, which can help avoid surprise costs from currency conversion, credit card foreign transaction fees, or unfavorable exchange rates. ([worldef.com](https://worldef.com/2025/03/18/amazon-launches-ireland-specific-store-amazon-ie/?utm_source=openai))\n\n2. **No Customs or Import Fees**\n   - Amazon.ie promises shopping \u201cwithout additional customs charges\u201d thanks to Ireland being within the EU system. ([thejournal.ie](https://www.thejournal.ie/amazon-ireland-website-6652441-Mar2025/?utm_source=openai))  \n   - On Amazon.co.uk, there's often an \u201cImport Fees Deposit\u201d charged at checkout for orders shipped to Ireland, which covers VAT and duties; Amazon handles that tax clearance for you. ([moneyguideireland.com](https://www.moneyguideireland.com/buying-from-amazon-uk-after-brexit.html?utm_source=openai))\n\n3. **Faster Delivery Times**\n   - With Amazon\u2019s fulfillment center in Dublin operational since 2022, many items can reach customers in Ireland within one day via Amazon.ie. ([worldef.com](https://worldef.com/2025/03/18/amazon-launches-ireland-specific-store-amazon-ie/?utm_source=openai))  \n   - Delivery times from the UK site are generally longer\u2014standard delivery to Ireland tends to take 3-5 days and sometimes more during busy periods. ([wise.com](https://wise.com/ie/blog/does-amazon-uk-ship-to-ireland?utm_source=openai))\n\n4. **Lower Prime Cost (For Ireland)**\n   - Prime membership in Ireland through Amazon.ie costs around \u20ac6.99/month, which is cheaper than the UK Prime fee. ([extra.ie](https://extra.ie/2025/03/19/business/amazon-ireland-explainer?utm_source=openai))  \n   - If you have a UK Prime membership already, you can switch to the Irish one; any remaining subscription value from the UK will be automatically refunded. ([worldef.com](https://worldef.com/2025/03/18/amazon-launches-ireland-specific-store-amazon-ie/?utm_source=openai))\n\n5. **Ease of Returns & Local Support**\n   - Since things are shipped and processed locally, returning items tends to be simpler, faster, and less expensive (or free for many Prime-eligible returns). ([thejournal.ie](https://www.thejournal.ie/amazon-ireland-website-6652441-Mar2025/?utm_source=openai))\n\n6. **Support Irish Businesses**\n   - Amazon.ie has a \u201cBrands of Ireland\u201d section that gives local and regional companies better exposure. If shopping local matters to you, this is a clear plus. ([worldef.com](https://worldef.com/2025/03/18/amazon-launches-ireland-specific-store-amazon-ie/?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## What You Might Lose or Find Less Convenient\n\n1. **Smaller Product Range**\n   - The UK site has had years to accumulate its catalogue; Amazon.ie is newer and doesn\u2019t (yet) carry *every* item that Amazon.co.uk offers. Some books, gadgets, or niche items may not appear on ie. ([thejournal.ie](https://www.thejournal.ie/amazon-ireland-website-6652441-Mar2025/?utm_source=openai))\n\n2. **Some Missing Prime Perks**\n   - Amazon.ie Prime currently does **not** include \u201cFamily Sharing\u201d, unlike the UK version. That means you can\u2019t share benefits (like free delivery, video streams, etc.) as easily with other household members. ([irishtimes.com](https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/03/18/amazon-ireland-platform-online-shopping/?utm_source=openai))  \n   - Also, features like Prime Reading may be missing or limited in Ireland. ([extra.ie](https://extra.ie/2025/03/19/business/amazon-ireland-explainer?utm_source=openai))\n\n3. **Potentially Higher Prices on Some Items**\n   - Because VAT, import, and operational costs are baked in, some items may be more expensive on Amazon.ie than the same item on Amazon.co.uk\u2014even after adding VAT and import fees on the UK option. ([moneyguideireland.com](https://www.moneyguideireland.com/amazon-currency-converter-good-or-bad.html?utm_source=openai))  \n   - For more expensive items like electronics, comparing both sites before buying makes sense.\n\n4. **Loss of Existing UK-Specific Credits, History, Digital Content**\n   - Your order history, saved wish lists/lists, gift card balances from the UK site **don't transfer** to the Irish site. ([moneyguideireland.com](https://www.moneyguideireland.com/amazon-currency-converter-good-or-bad.html?utm_source=openai))  \n   - Subscriptions related to Kindle, Audible, and certain digital content might still be tied to UK-based accounts and not fully portable. ([extra.ie](https://extra.ie/2025/03/19/business/amazon-ireland-explainer?utm_source=openai))\n\n5. **Some Items Still Use UK Fulfilment/Shipping Rules**\n   - Even on Amazon.ie, some products are fulfilled from outside Ireland or the EU, which can affect delivery time and availability. ([joe.ie](https://www.joe.ie/news/amazonie-differences-between-amazon-ireland-and-uk-837968?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## How This Affects Books & Other Goods\n\n- **Books**: Previously, books from the UK could often be zero-rated for VAT, so they could be cheaper. But you\u2019d have to watch for delivery eligibility, import rules, and added costs. With Amazon.ie, books are price-fixed in euros, with no import fees, so it offers more predictability. ([thejournal.ie](https://www.thejournal.ie/amazon-ireland-website-6652441-Mar2025/?utm_source=openai))\n\n- **Electronics and Gadgets**: These are more sensitive to price differences and VAT changes. If the UK site offers them cheaper even after fees, they might still be worth ordering from there. But warranty, return, and service issues might be more straightforward via the local (Irish) site.\n\n- **Digital Goods & Subscriptions**: Kindle books, apps, Audible, and Prime Video content: you\u2019ll need to check what is tied to your account\u2019s country setting. Some content perks may not switch over. ([extra.ie](https://extra.ie/2025/03/19/business/amazon-ireland-explainer?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## What To Do If You Decide to Switch\n\n- Compare a few typical products you\u2019d buy on both sites to see where the price ends up after all fees, VAT, shipping, etc.\n\n- If you have UK Prime, consider when to switch (Amazon refunds remaining UK Prime fees when switching). ([worldef.com](https://worldef.com/2025/03/18/amazon-launches-ireland-specific-store-amazon-ie/?utm_source=openai))\n\n- Keep non-transferable items in mind: gift cards, account credits, lists, certain digital content subscriptions might remain under your UK-account or need special treatment.\n\n- Be aware that Amazon.ie is still growing: availability might improve over time, but in the short term there may still be gaps or longer waits for certain items.\n\n---\n\nIf you tell me some items or categories you regularly buy\u2014books, electronics, etc.\u2014I can check side-by-side pricing for you to see what you'd lose or win in your specific case."
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "but%20i%20have%20noticed%20a%20lot%20of%20items%20are%20shipped%20from%20england%20to%20amazon.ie%20and%20then%20shipped%20to%20us%20so%20time%20is%20longer%20not%20quicker"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "You\u2019re right to notice that many products on Amazon.ie are shipped from the UK first before reaching Ireland. That kind of routing can slow things down. Below is a breakdown of what this means, why it happens, how to tell when it is happening, and what you might do to reduce delays.\n\n---\n\n## What \u201cShipping from England to Amazon.ie then to Ireland\u201d Means\n\n- **Remote Fulfillment**: Amazon has a service called *Remote Fulfilment with FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon)*, which means UK inventory is used to serve orders on Amazon.ie. So, a product you order through amazon.ie might physically be housed in a UK warehouse and then shipped cross-border when ordered. ([channelx.world](https://channelx.world/2025/05/amazon-remote-fulfilment-with-fba-is-now-available-from-uk-to-ireland/?utm_source=openai))\n\n- **Stock Shortages Locally**: If the same item isn\u2019t kept in the Irish fulfillment centre\u2014which Amazon built in Dublin in 2022\u2014Amazon may use UK fulfilment centres to satisfy demand. ([news.worldef.com](https://news.worldef.com/2025/03/18/amazon-ie-ireland/?utm_source=openai))\n\n- **Cross-Border Transport Logistics**: Even if Amazon.ie is the store you're purchasing from, the actual shipping may involve multiple legs\u2014warehouse transit in the UK, then customs/clearance, and delivery in Ireland. All of that adds time. ([wise.com](https://wise.com/ie/blog/does-amazon-uk-ship-to-ireland?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## Why This Slows Delivery\n\n- **Distance & Transit Time**: Moving stock across the sea adds days compared to deliveries from Dublin or local distribution hubs.\n\n- **Customs & Border Controls**: Although Ireland is in the EU, the UK is not. Items shipped from the UK into Ireland typically need customs declarations and VAT clearance\u2014this adds both time and complexity. ([wise.com](https://wise.com/ie/blog/does-amazon-uk-ship-to-ireland?utm_source=openai))\n\n- **Mixed Fulfillment Origins**: Sometimes part of an order comes from an Irish warehouse and part from the UK, meaning the ship times can be uneven. Amazon\u2019s systems might still display them together, but tracked separately. ([aboutamazon.com](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-ireland?utm_source=openai))\n\n- **Delivery Partners**: Once the item arrives in Ireland, Amazon often uses local partners (An Post, UPS, etc.) to complete the final leg\u2014sometimes less reliable or efficient than Amazon\u2019s own network. Customer reviews frequently mention slow, unreliable, or confusing final delivery stages. ([uk.trustpilot.com](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/amazon.ie?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## What Amazon.ie Promises vs Reality\n\n- **Official promises**: The launch of Amazon.ie emphasized \u201cfast delivery\u201d, one-day delivery on \u201cmillions of products\u201d, local Prime membership, and \u201cno additional customs charges\u201d. ([news.worldef.com](https://news.worldef.com/2025/03/18/amazon-ie-ireland/?utm_source=openai))\n\n- **Customer feedback**: Many users say that delivery is much slower than promised. For example: \u201cPrime delivery takes a week!!!\u201d; \"delivery dates inaccurate... usually at least 2 working days after stated date.\" ([uk.trustpilot.com](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/amazon.ie?utm_source=openai))\n\nSo there\u2019s a gap between what\u2019s advertised and what actually happens\u2014likely because of the cross-border fulfilment process.\n\n---\n\n## How to Tell If Your Item Will Ship from the UK\n\nHere are some clues:\n\n- **\u201cSold by Amazon.com/NL/UK\u201d or \u201cdispatched by Amazon UK\u201d**: If the item page mentions UK dispatch or lists UK warehouses, it\u2019s probably coming from across the border.  \n\n- **Estimated delivery date**: Sometimes the delivery date shown will be longer on items shipping from the UK even though you ordered from Amazon.ie.\n\n- **Shipping options**: Items stored locally often have \u201cOne-Day Delivery\u201d or similar faster options; those coming from UK stock typically don\u2019t.\n\n- **Remote Fulfillment tag**: For third-party sellers using Amazon FBA, the \u201cRemote Fulfillment with FBA\u201d program is explicitly used to list UK stock for Irish customers. ([channelx.world](https://channelx.world/2025/05/amazon-remote-fulfilment-with-fba-is-now-available-from-uk-to-ireland/?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## What You Can Do to Reduce Delays\n\n- **Prioritize items stocked in Ireland**: Whenever possible, pick items marked \u201cOne-Day Delivery\u201d or \u201cPrime\u201d that say they are stored or shipped from Irish/\u201clocal\u201d warehouses\u2014this avoids the UK-to-IE leg.\n\n- **Check estimated delivery dates carefully**: If an item shows 3-5 days or more, assume cross-border shipment; shorter windows are more likely local dispatch.\n\n- **Compare with UK site**: Sometimes, even with cross-border shipping, the UK site might get something to you quicker depending on the seller and delivery method.\n\n- **Use filters and search terms**: Search for \u201cDelivers from Ireland\u201d or \u201cFree delivery (Ireland)\u201d; sometimes filters allow you to limit to items already in local stock.\n\n- **Understand that Prime doesn\u2019t always mean fast**: Even with Prime membership on Amazon.ie, some items will be fulfilled from UK stock, hence delayed. Checking the \u201cdispatched from\u201d info helps.\n\n---\n\n## Bottom Line\n\nYes, a lot of things arrive via the UK on Amazon.ie, which can make delivery slower than advertised. While Amazon.ie has already made big improvements (local pricing, a Dublin fulfilment centre, promise of fast delivery), the truth is the system is still a mix\u2014some items in-country, some abroad. If you're ordering something non-urgent, these delays might not matter too much\u2014but if you need it quickly, it\u2019s a good idea to check the fine print (shipping origin, delivery estimate) before committing.\n\nIf you like, I can check for your postcode in Ireland and see how long it typically takes for Prime items *stored locally* vs *stock shipped from the UK*\u2014to give you more precise idea of what to expect."
    }
]