Amazon is the largest online retail platform. It originated in the United States, but is increasingly expanding its presence in Europe. While we haven't yet seen a fully Polish version of the site, there's nothing stopping Poles from shopping on Amazon. What's it like to order online with delivery to Poland? How do you set up an account? What else is worth knowing? Read all about how to shop on Amazon in Poland!
Amazon – an American platform with a global reach
Amazon is an American company founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994. Back then, online shopping was a complete novelty, so it can easily be considered one of the pioneers of the e-commerce industry . Amazon's owner envisioned the platform as an online bookstore, but as it grew, it initially expanded its operations to include music and movie CDs. In subsequent years, the product categories expanded. Today, Amazon is one of the largest online stores , where you can buy virtually anything—from the biggest brands, through unique crafts and handicrafts, to Amazon's own products.
The platform's appeal stems, among other things, from its sheer number of products. This is particularly noticeable in the US market, where the offerings are the widest and, relatively recently, it expanded to include another service: Amazon Fresh – a virtual supermarket with a vast selection, great prices, and lightning-fast delivery. This is one reason why Amazon owns half of the entire US e-commerce market! This is also why Amazon owner Jeff Bezos currently tops the list of the world's richest people, with his net worth growing by several million dollars by the hour.
American customers also appreciate Amazon for its incredible convenience, including lightning-fast shipping. Subscribers to the Prime service receive it for free for a small monthly fee, with the option of same-day delivery. Additionally, they have access to various promotions and benefits, including free access to Prime Video (a Netflix-style streaming platform), as well as music and e-books.
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We also shouldn't forget about prices – Amazon is known for its affordable prices on a wide range of products . Furthermore, it often offers attractive promotions – for example, on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This is the result of a carefully managed pricing policy and a sophisticated business strategy. By offering a wide range of services, the company can afford to sell below cost in some locations. This is why it gains so many loyal customers and continues to strengthen its position. It is also expanding geographically – Amazon's owner is systematically introducing it to a growing number of countries.
Amazon in Poland
As mentioned at the beginning, Amazon is officially unavailable in Poland. The Amazon.pl website is still down, despite rumors that it will launch soon. For now, however, entering this address in a browser redirects users to the German website – Amazon.de. This site offers a Polish language version, making navigation very convenient. While it's not possible to display prices in Polish złoty (PLN) (they are converted only during payment), most products are available for shipping to Poland . This makes it much easier to shop on the German website than, for example, the British one (Amazon.co.uk) or, even more so, the American one (Amazon.com), which has significantly greater restrictions in this regard.
Delivery to our country is quite fast – standard delivery (free for orders over €39) takes 3 to 5 business days. Faster shipping is also available for an additional fee. This is due, in part, to the distribution centers operating in our country.
Polish-language technical support may also be important for Polish consumers. It's currently only available on Amazon.de.
Amazon – but how does it actually work?
Before you start shopping on Amazon, it's worth learning more about the site's structure. It's slightly different from the Polish Allegro or the very popular Chinese Aliexpress. While Amazon also offers items from various sellers, they are presented differently.
All offers for the same product (the same brand, model, color, or size, as defined by the EAN code or other identifying number) are combined into a single product card, sharing a description and photos. Individual offers (from Amazon itself or third-party sellers) are displayed in a dedicated window. They may differ in price and shipping costs. Buyers can choose who they want to buy from or trust the algorithm by simply clicking the "Add to Cart" or "Buy in 1 Click" button. This algorithm is designed to always select the most advantageous offer—not necessarily the cheapest, but one with free or fast shipping, for example.
In reality, it doesn't matter to the customer who they buy from. All sellers are obligated to adhere to Amazon's strict customer service guidelines. You can therefore be assured that you will always receive your goods quickly and that they will be well-protected for shipping. Delivery often takes place from Amazon-owned warehouses, regardless of the seller's legal status – this is one of the reasons why the company can guarantee such uniform standards to consumers. You also don't have to worry about returns or complaints – their policy is the same for all goods sold on Amazon. We will return to this topic later.
How to buy on Amazon in Poland?
These days, most online stores and marketplaces allow you to make purchases without registering. This isn't the case with Amazon, however! To buy something, you need an account with the store. To begin, simply provide your email address. You'll also need to set up a username (nickname, alias, login) and password. The email requires verification – after entering it and confirming it with the "Create an Amazon account" button, you'll receive an email with a special code and an invitation to complete registration.
The code should be pasted in the next step, "Verify Email Address." Once approved, you'll be automatically logged into your newly created profile, which allows you to shop on Amazon. Importantly, although Amazon's regional websites look essentially the same, they aren't integrated. Therefore, if you have an account on Amazon.de and want to make a purchase on Amazon.co.uk, you'll need to create a separate profile on the other site.
After logging in to your profile, it's worth filling out your shipping address . You can change it in the upper left corner of the window, just below the Amazon logo. Importantly, you can save different addresses (e.g., home and work). Filling in your address from the start will make shopping much more convenient.
To add a new address to your profile, you'll see a standard form. Select Poland from the list of shipping countries. By confirming your location when browsing products, you'll see their prices, including shipping to Poland. Estimated delivery dates will also be calculated based on this information. After completing the form, click the "Add address" button. You can also select your preferred delivery days.
Account created – time to go shopping
Once you have an account, you can start shopping. You can search for the right product just like in most online stores – either by browsing specific categories or by entering the product name in the search bar at the top of the page. If you're using the Polish version of the website, you can enter the product name in Polish. Clicking the "magnifying glass" icon next to the search field will display a list of products. The one closest to your search term should be at the top. If you find what you're looking for, you can click the product name.
You'll be redirected to a tab with its description, photos, and specifications. If the product has reviews and ratings, you'll be able to check them (Amazon uses a star rating system). The review text is available at the bottom of the page, as well as a full product description and detailed technical specifications. Next to the main image, you'll see the price. Sometimes, the price of used goods sold by companies that partner with Amazon may also be listed below.
In the box at the top of the right-hand column, you'll find information about the price, cost, and delivery time to Poland. You can also check how many items are in stock. It's worth noting that the product page layout on Amazon is quite unique . It may not be suitable for many people who aren't used to it and often shop on Allegro, for example. It's sometimes difficult to find key information because it's not properly displayed. Furthermore, the page uses a lot of small fonts.
Purchase and payment
Once you've decided to purchase a specific product, you can click the "Add to Cart" button . You'll also receive recommended products. Then, proceed to checkout. Select your delivery address – if you've already entered one, simply confirm it by clicking "Deliver to this address." You can also add completely new details if you'd like to ship to a location not saved in your profile.
Next, select your shipping option . Sometimes, only the standard option (free for purchases over €39) will be available. However, you can often pay extra for faster delivery. It's worth noting that all packages sent by Amazon are trackable.
After selecting your delivery option, click "Next" and the system will redirect you to the payment panel. There are several options. The basic ones are:
- direct debit from a bank account,
- card payment,
- payment via Przelewy24.
Additionally, at this stage, you can add a discount code or gift card code. Saving your credit or debit card details to your account is the most convenient option, allowing you to make purchases later without having to confirm payment details. It's worth noting, however, that such an action always carries a certain risk. Despite Amazon's robust security measures, it's not 100% protected against data leaks, as no service can offer such certainty.
Many Polish customers consider payment via Przelewy24 to be the most convenient and secure option. If you choose to pay this way for your first order, this method will be saved as the default. After clicking "Next," you will be redirected to another tab with an order summary. Now, simply click "Place an order and pay." You will be redirected to the Przelewy24 website, where you will select your preferred payment method and follow the instructions. Only at this stage will you see the exchange rate for converting your order from euro to złoty. Once your payment is confirmed, you will receive an email confirming your order. This will include a link to a page with an order summary and the ability to track the status of your package. Your package should arrive within the specified timeframe. Shipping usually takes place within 24 hours of purchase.
Returns and complaints on Amazon
But what should you do if you're not entirely satisfied after receiving a package from Amazon? Fortunately for Polish customers, the platform boasts an extremely favorable returns and complaints system . Regardless of whether the item you received is not as described or damaged, you can file a complaint. If there are no defects, but you still don't want to keep it for any reason, you have 30 days to return it (and sometimes even longer, for example, during the Christmas season). It's worth remembering, however, that the item must be unused.
All issues related to returning a product (for any reason) can be handled online if the seller is Amazon or a third-party entity using the brand's warehouses and logistics facilities. You'll find the appropriate tab in your user profile. This allows you to easily generate a return shipping label and a form to insert into the package. Then, simply print the documents, package the return, and drop it off at the appropriate drop-off point. The buyer incurs no fees for the return – you'll receive a full refund. How quickly? It depends on the payment method chosen, but the process usually takes no more than a few business days. For card payments, an immediate refund is sometimes possible.
You can also exchange a defective, damaged, or otherwise unsatisfactory item. It's best to contact the seller or Amazon customer service. If you request an exchange, a second package will usually be sent to you immediately (usually via the fastest shipping method available). You'll also be asked to return the defective item within 30 days.
If shipping was handled by a third-party seller, it's best to contact them directly if you wish to return the item. However, the returns policy is standardized across the entire platform , so you won't incur any additional fees. If, by any chance, the seller causes problems, you can always contact the Amazon Helpdesk to resolve your issue.
Shopping on Amazon – is it worth it?
Is shopping on Amazon worth your time? It's up to you. The fact is, it offers a wide selection of products, often unavailable or difficult to find in Poland. Many of them are reasonably priced , although this savings may diminish somewhat when converting from euro to złoty. Furthermore, shopping on Amazon means:
- very good customer service,
- many different goods in one place,
- favorable terms of returns and complaints,
- fast and often free delivery,
- website and communication with the service in Polish.
Of course, skeptics will inevitably point out the website's flaws. Many people dislike the product card layout, which seems unintuitive and rather clumsy. Small fonts can further complicate understanding product features and other important information. Other potential drawbacks include the website's lack of full Polish translation, shipping from Germany, and prices expressed in euros.
Certain restrictions and chaotic rules can sometimes be discouraging – not every product is available for shipping to Poland. Shipping prices also vary, sometimes being very high, even prohibitive. When ordering, you're informed when your package will arrive at your address, but you don't know where it will be from or what shipping method it will use. This is another drawback that can prevent you from shopping frequently on Amazon Germany.
We can only hope that when Amazon.pl finally appears, these minor flaws will be eliminated and Poland will receive a solid online store with a wide selection, affordable prices and excellent customer service.
Frequently asked questions about buying on Amazon
No. Unlike many other online stores, Amazon doesn't allow guest shopping. To order anything, you'll need to create a free account, including at least your email address.
According to the article, if you have an account on one version of the website (e.g. German Amazon.de), if you want to shop on another (e.g. British Amazon.co.uk), you need to create a separate profile there and go through the registration process.
It's best to do this immediately after logging in to your newly created account. You'll find the option to add or change your shipping address in the upper left corner of the page, just below the Amazon logo.
When you move from your cart to checkout, the system will offer you several convenient options. The most popular include:
- Card payment,
- Direct debit from a bank account,
- Payment via the fast Polish system Przelewy24.
Yes. The buyer incurs no shipping costs for returning the item and receives a full refund. You also have the option to exchange the item for another one if it arrives defective or simply doesn't meet your expectations.
This depends on the payment method you chose, but the entire process rarely takes more than a few business days. In the case of card payments, the funds can even be returned to your account almost immediately.
Summary
The above article covers the following topics:
- The history and global development of the Amazon platform
- Amazon in Polish e-commerce – opportunities and challenges
- Amazon's operating mechanism (offers, sellers, logistics)
- How to order on Amazon.pl – step-by-step instructions
- First purchases after registering an account
- Payment methods and security issues
- Returns and complaints procedures on Amazon.pl
- Profitability of shopping on Amazon – advantages and disadvantages
