Amazon (U)S has introduced a new low-cost shopping service called “Amazon Haul” in the United States, in beta, directly targeting budget-conscious shoppers and competing with platforms like Temu and Shein.
Available via the Amazon app or mobile website, Amazon Haul offers a broad range of affordable items across categories such as fashion, home, lifestyle, and electronics, all priced at $20 or below. Most items are under $10, with some priced as low as $1. To incentivise bulk purchases, Amazon offers a 5% discount on orders over $50 and a 10% discount on orders above $75.
Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s vice president of Worldwide Selling Partner Services, emphasised the platform’s commitment to affordability, stating, “Finding great products at very low prices is important to customers, and we continue to explore ways that we can work with our selling partners so they can offer products at ultra-low prices.” Amazon Haul features a layout similar to that of Temu and Shein, with “crazy low” banners prominently displayed on product listings.
Shipping costs $3.99 for orders under $25 but is free for orders over this amount. Unlike Amazon’s typical fast shipping, delivery through Amazon Haul takes one to two weeks, which Amazon believes is acceptable to customers who prioritise price over speed. Amazon screens products sold on Haul to ensure they are “safe, authentic, and compliant with applicable regulations,” a response to consumer concerns about counterfeit and illegal products on competing platforms.
Why is this important?
Amazon Haul is designed as a separate experience within the Amazon ecosystem, with its own Search, cart, and checkout process. Users can access Amazon Haul by searching “Haul” in the Amazon Shopping app or visiting www.amazon.com/haul on a mobile browser. Free returns are available for orders over $3 within 15 days at over 8,000 locations, including Amazon Lockers and Whole Foods Markets.
This new initiative is aimed at Amazon customers looking for ultra-low-priced items, even if it means slower delivery, complementing its existing offerings of over 300 million items, many available with same-day or one-day delivery for Prime members. Mehta said Amazon will continue refining the Haul experience, adding, “It’s early days for this experience, and we’ll continue to listen to customers as we refine and expand it in the weeks and months to come.”