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Amazon Singapore customers get Prime service, but no longer enjoy free global shipping on its US site.
Amazon is finally making moves to extend its online ecosystem to some markets in Asia-Pacific, but its efforts so far appear haphazard–with limited services and range–giving Alibaba, which has been aggressively expanding in this region, even more room to storm into the lead.
It also opens up questions over whether Amazon is indeed serious about its gameplay in Asia and has truly recognised the region’s growth potential.
The US online retailer on December 6 unleashed its Prime service in Singapore, giving customers here unlimited free shipping on “millions” of local and international products as well as access to movies and TV shows on Prime Video and video games on Twitch Prime.
The 16th country to get Amazon Prime, Singapore’s offering is available for free during the first month and, thereafter, at a “limited time” promotional price of S$2.99 per month. Amazon did not reveal how long this would remain its pricepoint before reverting to its regular monthly subscription of S$8.99. Unlike Amazon US, there is no yearly subscription option.
The launch comes months after it introduced Prime Now here in July.