Amazon Takes on Temu and Shein with New Low-Cost Shopping App “Amazon Bazaar”
Amazon is officially entering the budget shopping wars. With the launch of Amazon Bazaar, a standalone low-price shopping app available in more than a dozen international markets, the e-commerce giant is targeting a fast-growing segment of cost-conscious, mobile-first consumers — and signaling a direct challenge to rivals like Temu, Shein, and TikTok Shop.
The Launch: Amazon Goes Global on a Budget
Unveiled on November 7, 2025, Amazon Bazaar is now live across Asia, Africa, and Latin America — including markets such as Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Nigeria.
Here’s what makes it stand out:
- Ultra-cheap prices: Most items are priced under US $10, with some dipping as low as US $2.
- Seamless access: Users can log in with their regular Amazon credentials and pay using Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
- Built-in trust: Familiar Amazon features like star ratings and customer reviews remain part of the experience.
- Reasonable delivery: Orders typically arrive within two weeks, with free returns within 15 days.
- Interactive deals: Borrowing from Chinese social-commerce playbooks, Bazaar features lucky draws, promotions, and first-time shopper discounts (such as 50 % off delivery).
The app mirrors Amazon’s existing “Haul” budget initiative, but with a clearer identity — a separate brand for low-cost shopping that keeps Amazon’s premium marketplace distinct.
Why This Matters
1. Winning Emerging Markets Amazon Bazaar is tailored for value-driven, mobile-native consumers in regions where online shopping is booming but spending power is limited. By localizing its pricing and logistics, Amazon is positioning itself to capture new growth beyond its saturated U.S. and European markets.
2. Fighting Back Against Temu, Shein, and TikTok Shop Competitors from China have dominated the ultra-low-cost space with addictive, gamified shopping. Bazaar represents Amazon’s answer — blending its trusted ecosystem with the engagement hooks that made its rivals viral.
3. Strategic Brand Segmentation By spinning off a standalone app, Amazon neatly separates its premium service identity (fast delivery, Prime perks) from its budget offering. This approach lets it target two vastly different customer bases without diluting brand value.
4. Logistics and Cost Efficiency Two-week delivery may sound slow compared to Prime, but it’s a calculated trade-off — using cheaper, slower shipping models to protect margins. Maintaining review systems and free returns ensures trust, even at low prices.
What to Watch Next
- Market Expansion: Amazon plans to roll out Bazaar to additional countries in the coming months. Expect focus on high-growth regions like India and Southeast Asia.
- Profitability: How Amazon balances razor-thin margins with free returns and cross-border shipping will reveal if Bazaar is sustainable long-term.
- Brand Perception: Will consumers view Bazaar as an authentic “budget Amazon” — or just a knock-off experiment?
- Competitor Response: Temu and Shein may counter with faster shipping or exclusive products to defend their turf.
Glossary
- Standalone App: An independent mobile application separate from Amazon’s main shopping app.
- Value Segment: Consumers focused primarily on affordability rather than brand or speed.
- Social Commerce: Shopping models that integrate social-media-like interactivity (games, sharing, live streams) into e-commerce.
- Unit Economics: A measure of how profitable each sale is after factoring in all direct costs.
Bottom Line
Amazon Bazaar represents a bold new front in e-commerce — an attempt to democratize online shopping for emerging markets while reclaiming share from low-cost rivals. It’s a global experiment that could redefine how Amazon serves the next billion shoppers — if it can keep prices low, logistics efficient, and trust high.
