- Amazon just launched Haul, where all products cost $20 or less… much less
- You don’t get free shipping with Prime
- This Temu, Shein or TikTok Shop alternative is home to a large number of products
Look at Temu, Shein and TikTok Shop – now Amazon wants a piece of the ultra-cheap, generally patient shopping buzz. The answer? Well, that’s Amazon Haul.
Amazon Haul is a new mobile experience within the Amazon app that offers dozens and dozens of ultra-affordable products, including fashion, home goods, tech accessories, and even jewelry. While Amazon normally announces Prime at every opportunity, it isn’t mentioned here.
To get free shipping that isn’t that fast (estimated delivery time is one to two weeks), you’ll need to spend at least $25. Otherwise, shipping is $3.99 for the same time frame. In fact, that fee may be higher than what the desired product costs, as some items – including a stainless steel clutch ring – cost as little as $0.99.
All products on Amazon Haul cost less than $20, and the experience is a lot like a social feed. A rolling top banner rotates with options such as ‘Warm layers. Nice prices.” or “Activewear that won’t break your budget.” This is a quick attention grabber, with ongoing stats underneath and then lots of recommended products in different categories. Amazon is also leaning towards emojis and bright colors for the design here. Regardless of product type, Amazon offers additional discounts for Haul, including 5% off when you spend $50 or more and 10% off when you spend $75 or more.
Carriage can be safer than buying from Temu or Shein, because Amazon backs it with the brand’s A-to-Z Guarantee, which offers some consumer protection. You can also contact Amazon customer service if something goes wrong. You may return any item costing more than $3.00 within 15 days; however, it seems like you’re having no luck with cheaper options.
Like TikTok Shop, Temu or Shein, Haul is clearly designed to encourage purchases and you can move through it quite quickly – from the homepage to the category, to the product and to the checkout. The product pages are also slightly shorter than standard Amazon. Take for example this phone case with water ripple pattern; it has six photos, most of which are of the actual product and minimal details including an estimated delivery time, details about the product and then similar choices in case you don’t like these.
Amazon Haul is now live in beta on the Amazon app and on the mobile version of the retail site in the United States. It’s just the beginning, though, with Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s vice president of Worldwide Selling Partner Services, saying Amazon will “continue to listen to customers as we refine and expand it in the coming weeks and months.”
Furthermore, it’s clear what Haul is all about: cheaper products from a more trusted name, at least in Amazon’s eyes, as all purchases are backed by Amazon’s A-to-Z Product Guarantee, so customers can shop with the confidence that the products they purchase are safe, authentic and in the expected condition.
It offers a wide range of products including fashion – shoes and jewelry – as well as homewares, electronics, accessories, kitchen, beauty and sports. You’ll also find seasonal items, including a lot of things geared towards the holidays; you just want to order fast enough so you can lug, lug, lug.
I was able to browse Amazon Haul in beta directly from the Amazon app on an iPhone, but if you don’t see it you might want to check for an update and make sure you’re in the United States. I’ll browse the virtual aisles of this new, low-cost experience and report back what I find – just give me about two weeks.