IT WAS billed as the online store to save Christmas shopping but Amazon’s Australian outlet is plagued by slow deliveries from foreign locations and, in many cases, cannot match the shipping times of its American outlet, an ocean away.

In addition to unpredictable pricing, Amazon Australia offered delays of more than a month compared to local retailers and its US parent company, a News Corp survey revealed, which could add to shoppers’ frustration at its launch this year.

Retail experts said the situation was not likely to improve until the company matched its delivery offerings in the US and UK, and enticed more Australian companies to sell their products on its site.

Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey said Amazon’s success had been hampered by its establishment of just “one warehouse in Melbourne,” and its arrival so late in the year.

“I didn’t think any online company would ever launch a couple of weeks before Christmas when most people won’t buy online because it’s heads you get it, tails you don’t,” Mr Harvey said. “I found that extraordinarily strange.”

Gartner research analyst Thomas O’Connor said there had obviously been “quite a bit of disappointment among consumers” with Amazon’s Australian offering, with much of their frustration centred on shipping times.

“The delivery options they put forward aren’t quite as impactful as many consumers were hoping for,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Many (Amazon) Marketplace sellers continue to ship from China and other countries, leading to these long lead times, which can frustrate Australian consumers.”

A News Corp survey of 10 popular Christmas items found delays of up to 42 days for some items to be delivered by Amazon Australia compared to its US counterpart, and delays of 10 days or more compared to goods from local retailers such as Officeworks and JB Hi-Fi.

A pair of Bose headphones, for example, could be purchased for $31 less and delivered 16 days earlier from Officeworks than Amazon Australia.

Similarly, the Fitbit Ionic smartwatch was $98 cheaper and would arrive 10 days earlier if purchased locally.

In other instances, Amazon Australia was cheaper than local bricks-and-mortar stores, but delivered goods significantly later. A DJI Spark drone purchased at JB Hi-Fi would cost $40 more than from Amazon Australia but would arrive in time for Christmas rather than on January 11.

The delivery days affected goods sold by third parties on Amazon’s Australian website, which research firm Marketplace Pulse found were mainly shipping products from China.

Only 43 per cent of Amazon Australia Marketplace sellers delivered goods locally, it reported, compared to 52 per cent which shipped from China.

Goods delivered directly by Amazon fared better, with a standard delivery between three and seven days, and “priority” deliveries offered in one business day.

Mr O’Connor said while current delays would frustrate some Australian shoppers, it could be a different story next year if Amazon introduced its Prime delivery service, or offered to handle shipping on behalf of third-party sellers.

“If they’ve got Amazon Prime in place for Christmas next year, it will be a different Amazon that we see,” Mr O’Connor said. “Their position would be a lot more competitive and retailers would feel the heat from Amazon at a different level.”

Amazon Australia country manager Rocco Braeuniger said the website had seen millions of visits in its first week, and would focus on its “long-term success” in Australia.

“We continue to work hard to deliver great customer experience and fast delivery, and to provide customers with an ever-increasing selection of products at low prices,” he said.

AMAZON AUSTRALIA GIFTS MISSING THE CHRISTMAS DEADLINE

Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones

Amazon Australia: $500, January 3

Amazon US: $US329, December 20

Officeworks: $469, December 18

Delay: 16 days

Google Wi-Fi System

Amazon Australia: $517.87, December 28

Amazon US: $US268.99, December 20

JB Hi-Fi: $399, December 18

Delay: 10 days

Fitbit Ionic smartwatch

Amazon Australia: $439, December 28

Amazon US: $US270, December 20

Officeworks: $341, December 18

Delay: 10 days

DJI Spark drone

Amazon Australia: $599, January 11

Amazon US: $US349, December 19

JB Hi-Fi: $639, December 21

Delay: 23 days

Canon EOS 5D Mk IV camera

Amazon Australia: $4230, January 3

Amazon US: $US3199, December 20

CameraPro: $4449, December 19

Delay: 15 days

Langford’s Advanced Photography 2010 paperback

Amazon Australia: $64.44, January 5

Amazon US: $US51.74, December 20

Booktopia: $68.50, December 24

Delay: 16 days

Hatchimals Surprise Peacat Twin Egg

Amazon Australia: $109, January 11

Amazon US: $US74, December 20

Delay: 22 days

Fisher-Price Imaginext Batcave

Amazon Australia: $460, January 31

Amazon US: $US140, December 20

Delay: 42 days

Microsoft Surface Pro 12.3

Amazon Australia: $4130, January 3

Amazon US: $US2799, December 21

Microsoft Australia: $3999, December 20-28

Delay: 13 days

Samsung Gear 360 camera

Amazon Australia: $270, January 3

Amazon US: $US160, December 20

Samsung Australia: $319, December 19

Delay: 15 days