Amazon takes next step in Israel by offering local service to customers

Amazon’s website is currently available in English to Israeli customers.

By World Israel News Staff

Amazon, the online retail giant, has just taken the next step forward to establish itself in the Israeli marketplace.

Amazon has officially launched its local delivery service on its platform for Israeli customers. Originally the retail site wished to launch its services in Hebrew to serve the population, but due to bureaucratic pressure to open before the Jewish holidays, the company decided to roll out their services in English for the time being.

Nevertheless, Israeli residents will be happy to see that prices are listed in shekels and that many popular products have the option to be delivered locally.  Popular Israeli retailers have already joined the platform, such as cosmetics brand GA-DE, fashion retailers Crazy Line, 911 Fashion, Style River, Adika, Dynamica, Newpan, and skincare brand Sebocalm.

Amazon’s local delivery service allows Israelis to receive items ordered from local merchants either via standard shipping or within a shorter timeframe with expedited shipping.

Israeli vendors received an official announcement from Amazon shortly before the launch, “We are happy to let you know that the local delivery program has been launched on Amazon.com. Feel free to check in with offers of excellent value to Israeli customers. If you’ve planned marketing or public relations campaigns you can introduce them now.”

The next major step for the retail giant is to open local warehouses and logistics centers. As of now, there have been no official announcements on this front, but it will probably happen sometime in the future, according to E-Community founder Nir Zigdon.

“Amazon.com had in the past launched overseas operations in steps, beginning with offering local merchants an opportunity to sell on its marketplace – and ending with full-scale operations,” he said.

Amazon delivered a shock to the Israeli system when it announced back in April that it was entering the Israeli market.

Amazon ended 2018 with an operating profit of $12.4 billion, up 200% from 2017.