[imagesource: Amazon]

In news that is likely to cause more than a few chewed fingernails at Takealot, Amazon is coming to South Africa.

Leaked documents show that Amazon plans to launch its online marketplace in five new countries by early next year, with South Africa down for February.

That’s good news if you’re the sort who regularly shops via the platform. It will, however, come far too late for this year’s Amazon Prime Day sale.

The name is actually a little misleading because it’s a two-day sale running on July 12 and July 13 (next Tuesday and Wednesday). Aside from Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it offers perhaps the best savings on a huge range of products.

Better still, many participating retailers run the specials in the week leading up to those dates so you can already see what’s on offer.

I won’t go through the full lists but I would recommend checking out Robb Report’s summary, as well as the lengthy list on USA Today, to get you started.

Prime Day is Amazon’s “thank you” to Prime members. As a result, shoppers must be Amazon Prime subscribers to take advantage of any deals. However, Amazon offers a free Prime member trial. After your 30-day trial is up, you can keep your membership, or cancel it before the free trial expires.

Whatever you decide to do, your Prime trial period will let you shop deals on Prime Day.

When it comes to the tricky game of figuring out which products do and do not ship to South Africa, there’s an easy fix there, too.

Postbox Courier gives you a shipping address in the US, UK, and Hong Kong.

So, if you’re buying products that don’t ship to SA, or you don’t want to deal with the customs mess once it arrives on our shores, then just give that US address, which Postbox Courier gives you for free.

As soon as it is delivered there (often the same day you order, or the following day), Postbox Courier will grab it and bring it to you in South Africa in three to five working days.

It really is that easy.

Head on over to Postbox Courier’s website to set up your account, which is free, and nab yourself that international address.

Happy shopping – just remember to also support local businesses wherever possible.