Hey friend! Looking to buy from Amazon France but not sure how it works? As someone who shops on Amazon.fr all the time, let me walk you through everything you need to know.
Whether you‘re in France or overseas, this in-depth guide will cover:
- How to access Amazon France and find products
- Placing orders and managing your account
- Getting Amazon Prime benefits like free express delivery
- Payment and shipping options to choose from
- Tracking your packages and reaching customer service
- How international customers can shop on Amazon France
Let‘s get started!
Overview of Amazon France
Amazon entered the French market back in 2000, just 5 years after launching in the US. Since then, it has grown steadily to become one of the top online retailers in France.
Here are some key facts and figures about Amazon France:
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Offers over 180 million products across 30 categories like books, electronics, apparel, groceries etc.
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Has 10 million active customer accounts as per latest data.
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Received an average of 1.7 billion visits per month in 2022.
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Operates 22 logistics and fulfillment centers employing over 9,300 people in France.
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Generated over 7 billion euros in net sales revenue in 2021, a 23% annual growth.
Clearly, Amazon France has become hugely popular among French shoppers for its combination of competitive prices, vast selection and convenience.
Now let‘s see how you can access this megastore and start shopping.
Accessing Amazon France as a New Shopper
To visit the French Amazon website, simply go to www.amazon.fr.
Alternatively, you can go to amazon.com and switch to the France site using the country drop-down menu next to the search bar.
On landing, you‘ll notice the interface is in French. But don‘t worry – just click on the globe icon at the bottom and change the language to English if needed.
However, some pages may still remain in French. This is where browser translation plugins like Google Translate can help!
When you visit for the first time, here are some of the top pages I recommend browsing:
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Amazon Prime: Check if you‘re eligible for free express delivery and other Prime benefits. Annual plans start at just 49 euros.
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Best Sellers: See what hot products French shoppers are buying right now!
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Today‘s Deals: Shop discounted products that change daily. You can snag some great bargains here.
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Your Account: Set up your Amazon account and preferences. This makes future purchases quicker.
Okay, now that you know how to access Amazon.fr, let‘s move on to the fun part – finding and buying products!
Browsing and Searching the Amazon France Catalog
With over 180 million item listings, Amazon France‘s catalog can seem overwhelming. Here are 4 tips to easily find what you want:
1. Shop by Category
On the homepage, scroll down to browse top-level categories like Books, Fashion, Electronics, Toys & Games etc. Click any to explore subcategories.
For example, under ‘Livres‘ you‘ll find Literature, Comics, Textbooks and more. This is the easiest way to dive into a section.
2. Use the Search Bar
Got a specific product in mind? Simply type its name into the search bar at the top and hit enter.
For instance, searching for "iphone 14" will instantly pull up all the latest iPhone models and accessories.
3. Filter By
On the left side of most category or search pages is a ‘Filter by‘ menu. Use this to narrow your results by brand, price range, ratings, delivery options and more criteria.
4. Check Daily Deals
Don‘t miss out on Amazon France‘s ‘Ventes Flash‘ page full of deals that last just 24-48 hours. These can include big discounts on popular products.
I also suggest signing up for email alerts so you never miss a deal on something you‘ve been eyeing!
Compare Prices and Reviews
Amazon France displays a product‘s price, delivery timeline, ratings, reviews and more details on its page.
Compare this information across 3-4 listings to identify the best offer for you. Higher rated items with faster shipping tend to sell out quicker!
Placing Your First Order on Amazon France
Once you‘ve filled up your shopping cart, here is a simple 5-step checklist to complete your purchase:
Step 1: Provide Your Account Details
As a new customer, you‘ll need to enter some basic information like your email, phone number, name and address. This creates your Amazon account.
Verify your email to activate the account before continuing.
Step 2: Select Delivery Address
Double check that your shipping address is correct. A minor error can delay delivery.
Step 3: Choose Shipping Method
Compare the delivery timelines and costs, and pick the shipping option that suits you:
- Livraison GRATUITE en 1 jour – Free 1 day delivery (for Prime members)
- Livraison GRATUITE le jour même – Same day delivery (where available)
- Livraison accélérée – Express shipping
- Livraison standard – Standard shipping
Faster options cost extra.
Step 4: Enter Payment Details
On the secured payments page, enter your card number, expiry date, CVV code etc.
International customers get to pick if they want to pay in Euros or their card‘s home currency.
Step 5: Confirm Order
Double check the final order summary page and click ‘Buy Now‘. You‘re all set!
Sit back and wait for your delivery now. An email confirmation will arrive shortly.
Pro Tip: Save time on future orders by storing your card and address details in your Amazon account.
Getting the Most Value with Amazon Prime
As frequent Amazon shopper, joining Amazon Prime is the best decision I made!
For just 49 euros per year, Prime members get:
- 🚚 Free 1-day delivery on millions of eligible products
- ⚡️ Free 2-hour delivery on groceries and essentials in select cities
- 🎬 Unlimited streaming of movies, TV shows, and Amazon Originals via Prime Video
- 🎧 Ad-free access to 2 million songs on Amazon Music
- 📚 Rotating selection of ebooks, comics and magazines with Prime Reading
- 🎮 Free high-quality games and add-on content every month with Prime Gaming
- 👚 Try before you buy fashion and home items with Prime Wardrobe
Prime makes shopping on Amazon France even more rewarding. The express shipping alone helps me save time and money monthly!
Not a Prime member yet? You can try it free for 30 days first and then pay 49 euros per year if satisfied.
Tracking Your Amazon France Orders
Once you‘ve placed an order, stay up-to-date on its status with real-time tracking:
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Email updates: Amazon will notify you when the order is confirmed, shipped out, and delivered.
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Your Orders page: Check here 24/7 to see current status and delivery timeline.
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Text alerts: If you added a mobile number, SMS updates can be enabled.
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Carrier tracking: Use the tracking ID given to check non-Amazon freight progress.
Reach out to customer service immediately if you notice any anomaly, like a delayed or missing delivery.
Pro Tip: Enable location tracking on your mobile for smoother deliveries. This helps drivers pinpoint your exact address.
Getting Support From Amazon France Customer Service
Don‘t sweat it if something goes wrong with your order – Amazon France‘s customer support has got your back!
You can get in touch with them via:
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Email: Send your query to [email protected] for a quick response.
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Phone: Call their toll-free number 0805 540 503 to talk to an agent.
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Chat: Initiate a live chat from the Contact Us page. Super quick answers!
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Social: Tweet or DM @AmazonNewsFR on Twitter or comment on their Facebook page.
Some common issues customers contact them for help with:
- Damaged, defective, or wrong product received
- Delayed, lost or canceled orders
- Returns and refunds
- Payment problems
- Prime membership questions
- Trouble logging in
No matter what problem you face, don‘t hesitate to reach out. Amazon France‘s customer service team is friendly, responsive and available in both French and English.
Shopping on Amazon France as an International Customer
If you don‘t live in France, you‘re probably wondering – can I also order products on Amazon.fr?
The answer is yes, Amazon France delivers internationally to many countries worldwide!
However, here are some tips to make your experience smoother:
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Double check Amazon France ships to your country by looking for the ‘Ships to [Country Name]‘ message on product pages.
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Be aware of import duties and taxes. These are now included upfront in the final order cost.
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Not all Prime benefits like streaming media may work outside France due to licensing.
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For non-EU countries, expect longer delivery timelines of 5-8 working days.
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Make returns and exchanges easier by opting for an address in France whenever possible. This avoids international return shipping.
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Can‘t find an item on Amazon France? Try using a package forwarder to ship it from Amazon.com to your country.
So if you occasionally want to enjoy something exclusively available on the French site, go for it! Just follow the guidance above.
Pros and Cons of Shopping on Amazon France
To wrap up this guide, here‘s a quick rundown of some of the key advantages and potential drawbacks of using Amazon France for your shopping:
Pros
✅ Huge selection across categories
✅ Low prices with daily deals
✅ Free fast shipping for Prime members
✅ Convenient mobile app and site
✅ Secure payment and order tracking
✅ Top-rated customer support
Cons
❌ Risk of fake/low-quality sellers
❌ Can kill local independent stores
❌ Privacy concerns
❌ Unsustainable packaging waste
❌ Treatment of warehouse workers
So in summary – Amazon France is hard to beat when you want a vast catalog, fair prices and quick delivery. But it‘s wise to be an informed shopper and buy from trustworthy sellers only.
I hope this detailed guide covered everything you need to start ordering seamlessly on Amazon.fr. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!
