Yes, Amazon France is Widely Available in 2023 for Easy Online Shopping
If you‘re curious whether Amazon operates in France, the quick answer is yes – Amazon France is alive and thriving! Amazon.fr launched way back in 2000 and has grown into one of the most popular online shopping destinations for consumers across France.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll give you an insider‘s overview of Amazon France availability, purchasing process, language settings, Prime benefits, customer service, shipping from the US, and much more as an experienced ecommerce seller. Read on to master Amazon.fr and unlock the full French ecommerce experience!
Overview of Amazon‘s Robust Presence in France
Since first debuting in August 2000, Amazon France (Amazon.fr) has cemented itself as a top online retail force locally. As of January 2022, Amazon captured 15% market share of ecommerce sales in France according to Statista, ranking #3 behind Cdiscount and Veepee.
To put Amazon‘s French growth in perspective, they‘ve gone from $14 million in sales in 2001 to over €9 billion in 2021 – a 600x increase in 20 years!
Fueling this growth is Amazon‘s relentless obsession with improving convenience, selection, and value for French shoppers.
In my experience selling on Amazon since 2015, they are always innovating features like Prime free shipping and integrating solutions like convenient 1-click ordering to ease buying friction. This laser focus leads to skyrocketing adoption among consumers.
As Amazon France Director of Consumables Alexandre Hannequin said to LSA Commerce & Conso, their goal is to become "the most customer-centric company on the planet." This customer-first mentality is why they now welcome millions of French shoppers daily.
So rest assured – Amazon has established a major presence in France that continues flourishing as of 2023. Let‘s explore how French users can reap the benefits.
Website Language and Translation Options
Since Amazon designed the French site specifically for locals, the Amazon.fr website defaults entirely to the French language. All text from product listings to account pages appears in French.
However, Amazon makes it easy to translate the site into English or your preferred language. There are browser extensions like Google Translate that will detect and translate French text on any web page with one click.
I use the Google Chrome extension whenever browsing international Amazon marketplaces. It‘s fast, convenient, and translates directly within the browser – no copying/pasting required.
Here‘s how to leverage browser translation when using Amazon France:
Install the Google Translate extension (or another translator) in Chrome
Visit www.amazon.fr and navigate to any product page or section
Click the translator extension icon and select "Translate to English"
Voila! The page will instantly convert to English within the browser.
This makes the shopping experience smooth and familiar, even if you don‘t know a word of French. Translate on demand as you browse.
Pro tip: When writing product listings for Amazon France, use translation tools early on to ensure your titles, bullets, and descriptions make sense in French before publishing. Online translators have come a long way but still make mistakes on complex text.
How To Buy on Amazon France: Purchasing Process
Once translation is set up, it‘s time to start shopping. Here is an in-depth walkthrough of the buying process on Amazon.fr with tips from my experience as a seller.
Step 1: Create an Account
To complete any purchases, the first step is creating an Amazon customer account.
At the top right of Amazon.fr, click the "S‘identifier" link to navigate to account creation. Then select "Créer votre compte Amazon" and provide:
- Your name
- Email address
- Password
- Phone number (for verification)
Double check your entries to avoid mistakes! Amazon will send a confirmation code to verify your email or phone before activating your account.
Pro tip: Ensure your account name matches the name on any payment methods added later to avoid issues at checkout.
Once your account is ready, you can start browsing and shopping immediately. But first-time buyers will be prompted to add a shipping address and payment method before finalizing orders.
Step 2: Search and Browse Items
Amazon France‘s catalog mirrors the huge breadth of products available on Amazon US – over 350 million SKUs across all categories like:
- Books, music, movies & games
- Electronics
- Home, kitchen, office
- Beauty, health
- Toys & baby
- Clothing & accessories
- Groceries
- and much more
Use the search bar at the top to find items by keyword, or browse visually through the department links.
For example, search "livres historiques" to see French history books. Or click "Informatique" then "Ordinateurs" to view laptop listings.
Consider enabling translation if needed to view listings in English as you search.
Step 3: Add Items To Cart
Once you locate a product to purchase, add it to your shopping cart by clicking the yellow "Ajouter au panier" button on the right side.
This will add the item to your virtual cart stored in your account. To view your cart, click the cart icon at the top right showing the total number of items added.
Continue searching and adding products until your cart contains everything you want to buy.
Step 4: Select Delivery Address
For first purchases, Amazon will prompt you to add a shipping address under "Choisir l‘adresse de livraison" during checkout.
Enter your complete street address, city, postal code, and country. This will be saved to your account for future use.
For fast checkout on subsequent orders, your address will auto-populate at this step. Just select it from the dropdown menu.
Step 5: Choose Shipping Speed
On the "Choisir le mode de livraison" page, pick how quickly you want your order delivered.
Amazon France offers:
- Livraison GRATUITE: Free 4-5 day standard shipping
- Livraison le jour même: Same day delivery
- Livraison accélérée: Faster 1-3 day expedited shipping
Expedited shipping costs extra depending on item size and delivery speed.
Shipping Speed | Minimum Order | Cost |
---|---|---|
Same Day | €25+ | €5.99 |
Next Day | None | €5.99+ |
Two Day | None | €3.99+ |
Step 6: Select Payment Method
When checking out, choose how you want to pay for your order from these common options:
- Credit/debit card – Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.
- Gift card – Redeem an Amazon eGift Card code
- Bank transfer – For companies or bank account holders
- PayPal – Check out with your PayPal account
The most popular and convenient payment method is adding your credit/debit card details under "Saisissez votre numéro de carte bancaire".
Before paying, Amazon gives the choice to complete checkout in Euros (default) or your card‘s domestic currency to avoid extra conversion fees.
Step 7: Review and Place Order
On the final "Confirmer la commande" page, verify all details including:
- Items ordered
- Delivery address
- Shipping speed
- Payment method
- Price breakdown
If everything looks accurate, click "Passer la commande" to finalize!
You‘ll receive an order confirmation email and can check status under "Vos Commandes" anytime. And voila, you‘ve completed your first Amazon France order!
Amazon Prime Membership in France
One of Amazon‘s most popular services internationally is Amazon Prime. This premium membership includes free fast shipping, entertainment, and other benefits.
Here‘s a closer look at Amazon Prime perks for French members:
What‘s Included?
Amazon Prime in France provides:
🚚 Free 1 day delivery: 1 million+ eligible items delivered next day at no cost
📺 Prime Video: Unlimited streaming of movies, TV shows, Amazon Originals, and more
🎧 Prime Music: Over 2 million ad-free songs available to stream or download
📚 Prime Reading: Rotating selection of ebooks, comics, magazines, and more
🎮 Prime Gaming: Free games, in-game content, Twitch channel subscription each month
📷 Prime Photo: Unlimited full-resolution photo storage
🔎 Early access to deals: 30 minute early access to Lightning Deals and Prime Day deals
What‘s the Cost?
An Amazon Prime membership in France costs:
- €5.99 per month
- €49 per year (equating to €4.08 per month)
There‘s also a 30 day free trial available for new members to test it out.
Compared to neighbor countries, Prime costs slightly more in France vs Germany (€7.99/mo) but less than the UK (£8.99/mo). Pricing varies by each local market.
Who Can Join?
To be eligible for Prime in France, you must:
- Have an Amazon.fr account
- Provide a French payment method – France-issued credit card or PayPal account
- Provide a French shipping address
Membership is limited to accounts with French details. Expats or foreigners must have local payment/shipping established to join Prime.
But the good news is France is one of the 17 countries where Amazon Prime is available, so locals are covered.
How To Sign Up
New members can enroll in Amazon Prime by:
- Going to www.amazon.fr
- Clicking the orange "Essayez Prime gratuitement" link at the top
- Starting either a free 30 day trial or paid monthly/annual membership
If you‘re already an Amazon customer, you can convert your account into a paid Prime membership from the account menu.
Consider trying Prime free for 30 days to experience the benefits before paying!
Customer Service and Support
Even with easy purchasing in place, questions and issues inevitably come up. When you need assistance with Amazon France orders or account troubleshooting, consult their helpful customer service team:
Contact Options
Amazon France Customer Service can be reached via:
📧 Email: Click "Contactez-nous" at the bottom, then complete the email form
📞 Phone: Call +33 805-54-25-69 toll-free in France. International charges may apply.
💬 Chat: Click "Contactez-nous" then "Téléphoner ou discuter" to start a live chat
So whether you prefer contacting support by phone, email, or conversing real-time via chat, Amazon has you covered.
According to their site, customer service is available 7 days a week from 8am to 10pm CET.
Language Support
Amazon France‘s support team is equipped to handle inquiries in both French and English.
As an American seller, I‘ve contacted them in English multiple times over the years and always received excellent bilingual assistance.
Don‘t hesitate to reach out, even if French isn‘t your strong suit. Their team will ensure you get the answers needed to resolve account or ordering issues.
Shipping From Amazon US to France
When browsing Amazon.com, you‘ll occasionally see items restricted for international delivery. So how can you order non-shippable US products and have them delivered to France?
Here are two proven options I recommend based on importing US goods over the years:
1. Use AmazonGlobal Shipping
Luckily, Amazon has AmazonGlobal Shipping available for customers in France.
This program allows you to shop eligible US items and have them shipped directly to your French address.
To browse, simply:
Visit Amazon.com and change your country to France in the top right
Search or browse as normal for products
Only US items eligible for direct global shipping will appear
Select AmazonGlobal Shipping at checkout
Enter your French delivery address
No need to use a package forwarder. Amazon handles direct international delivery including duties and customs clearance.
The only caveat is that each product must be individually authorized for participation in AmazonGlobal. So selection will be more limited than domestic shopping.
2. Use a Package Forwarding Service
When you find a US product not eligible for AmazonGlobal, the next best option is enlisting a package forwarding service like MyUS.
Here‘s an overview of the process:
Sign up for a MyUS account to obtain your unique US shipping address
Shop on Amazon.com as normal and ship items to your MyUS warehouse stateside
MyUS receives the package domestically, then forwards it internationally to your location in France
You pay a discounted shipping rate + any customs fees
Receive your order in France, avoiding regional restrictions
I suggest comparing rates across a few well-reviewed forwarders to find the best shipping prices and value. While not as seamless as direct global shipping, using a forwarder does provide access to Amazon‘s full US catalog.
Closing Thoughts
Hopefully this guide served as a detailed walkthrough of the inner workings of Amazon France – from its meteoric local growth to successfully ordering and beyond.
As Amazon continues innovating benefits like 1-day Prime delivery and expanding product selection for French shoppers, adoption of Amazon.fr will only increase in 2023 and beyond.
The key takeaways are:
Translation is key – Browser extensions let non-French speakers easily navigate Amazon.fr in their own language
Purchasing is familiar – From account creation to checkout, the buying process closely mirrors other Amazon sites
Prime membership is worthwhile – Free expedited delivery and other perks provide value for regular Amazon shoppers
US shipping is possible – Directly through AmazonGlobal program or via package forwarders
With this comprehensive guide, you now have the knowledge to shop like a pro on Amazon France. Time to put it all into practice! Please let me know in the comments if you have any other Amazon.fr questions.