Amazon is the largest e-commerce marketplace where millions of businesses get exposure and boost their sales. Ever since Amazon.ae dominated the UAE, it has become the most sought-after platform for online sellers who want to reach out to a large audience in a blink. Selling on Amazon might excite you, but the process is not without challenges. Many sellers have reportedly faced difficulties using the platform and even opted for its alternatives.
Besides being the top-selling platform, what makes selling on Amazon.ae challenging? Is there any other e-commerce marketplace that scores better than Amazon.ae and should be preferred by the new sellers?
Let’s break down the facts here and help you find alternatives to Amazon in the UAE.
Challenges faced by sellers on Amazon.ae
While Amazon is a gateway to the digital business world, this mainstream marketplace has some challenges sellers should navigate to have a successful selling experience.
Let’s look at some of the common challenges most Amazon sellers face.
Crowded marketplace, fierce competition
Amazon.ae is unarguably one of the most extensive e-commerce platforms in the UAE, where the competition is fiercely high. Since millions of sellers are already running their businesses on Amazon, it could be extremely tough for new sellers to stand out. This highly competitive world requires sellers to work effortlessly to get noticed by their targeted audience and to maximize their sales.
Pricing battles
The highly saturated Amazon marketplace forces sellers into pricing battles. With tons of similar products available, many sellers reduce the prices of their products, which cuts down their profit margin. This practice is unhealthy and can cause tremendous losses to your online business.
Strict approvals
While Amazon.ae is a welcoming platform for many product listings, it could be tough to get a specific category of products listed on the platform. Categories like food, currency, and food and beverage require strict approval. Since the platform ensures an unparalleled customer selling experience, its policies are strict regarding specific categories. You might be required to verify that certain products are sourced from authorized sellers/manufacturers.
Receiving feedback
One of the ranking factors for the Amazon sellers is the feedback they get for their products. The sellers can no longer ask the consumers to leave a positive review in return for a discount or freebie, as it comes under feedback manipulation. The Amazon algorithm prioritizes those sellers and products with a positive review base. So, if you fail to grab positive reviews, you will lose credibility. Amazon.ae is strict about its feedback algorithm, so new sellers must work hard to get those good reviews.
Complicated Product returns
While Amazon’s hassle-free return policies favor buyers in product returns, they are not very friendly for sellers. Sellers may be held responsible if the items returned to the Amazon fulfillment centers are in faulty condition, even if the buyer has exploited the item. Amazon’s return policies are more accommodating towards the buyer’s side and can cause considerable costs to the sellers in case of expensive items.
While Amazon offers sellers multiple tools and expanded reach, growing a business on this giant e-commerce platform takes time and consistency. Amazon prioritizes sellers based on certain factors, including customer reviews, order fulfillment rates, and product listings, so if a seller’s performance doesn’t meet its defined standard, Amazon might restrict their products.
Top Alternatives to Amazon
The sellers are most affected by Amazon policies, so is there an alternative that favors sellers and offers them better selling opportunities? Let’s find out.
1. DeliverIt
DeliverIt Top features:
- Seamless registration process.
- No setup fee.
- Easy to create product listings.
- Hassle-free payment settlements.
Source: Deliverit.ae
DeliverIt is a new e-commerce marketplace compared to Amazon.ae and offers numerous growth opportunities to new sellers. DeliverIt is primarily a delivery service provider, but its e-commerce platform has seen consumers surge over the past few months, making it a highly competitive platform for sellers looking for Amazon alternatives in the UAE.
What makes DeliverIt stand out in this list is its seamless registration process. As soon as the seller submits his business information, the DeliverIt team verifies it and registers the seller on the platform, after which he can start selling online through the DeliverIt e-commerce marketplace. While Amazon charges different fees from the sellers, DeliverIt doesn’t overburden the sellers with any extra charges. There is no monthly fee or setup cost, which makes selling on DeliverIt more profitable for the sellers.
Recommended Read: Top online marketplaces in the UAE
Due to being a new name in the UAE’s e-commerce market, the competition is not very high, so you can get your products easily ranked at the top and get more visibility. So, if you are a new seller afraid to delve into the fierce competition on Amazon.ae, DeliverIt is the right place to sign up. DeliverIt also facilitates those sellers who want more control over their delivery process with its on-time deliveries within the UAE. The consumers can pay via cash or card, which are transferred to the seller’s bank account every month.
2. Noon
Noon Top Features:
- Lower commission rates.
- Strong e-commerce marketplace for local products.
- Dedicated assistance for sellers.
Source: noon.com
Noon is the homegrown e-commerce marketplace in the UAE and a top-tier competitor of Amazon.ae. Since its launch in 2017, Noon has helped numerous local brands and businesses reach a larger audience by offering tailored solutions to sellers. Noon has exceptionally promoted local products and fostered a strong connection with local consumers. Compared to Amazon.ae, Noon doesn’t charge a hefty commission fee and allows small businesses to earn a better profit margin by charging a lower commission fee.
The dedicated support for sellers makes it easier for new sellers to navigate the platform and create listings that appeal to the targeted audience. While Noon has a limited international reach, its focus on the UAE’s regional market makes it a competent and more dedicated platform for the UAE’s local sellers. Noon has its strength in a wide array of products, including fashion, grocery, and beauty, that attract consumers and give sellers better opportunities to thrive. While Amazon gives you less control over logistics, Noon has a smooth fulfillment process that benefits sellers.
3. Carrefour
Carrefour Top Features:
- Strong physical presence.
- Simple fee structure.
- Specialized grocery sector.
Source: carrefouruae.com
Carrefour is another leading e-commerce marketplace in the UAE, offering high growth potential to online sellers. It caters to online businesses and has supermarkets and hypermarkets across the UAE. It deals mainly with household essentials, electronics, beauty, etc. Carrefour grocery has gained strong recognition by facilitating instant deliveries to local consumers.
Due to its strong physical presence, Carrefour earns credibility for its online marketplace, which means sellers can get strong recognition and reach a wider audience quickly. Carrefour’s in-store marketing opportunities give it an edge over Amazon.ae, which means new sellers and local businesses can increase their brand visibility without extra effort. Since it owns a specialized grocery platform, it offers excellent opportunities for sellers who provide perishable items. Carrefour also has a straightforward fee structure, unlike Amazon.ae, which makes it easier for sellers to earn better profits. Moreover, Carrefour offers omnichannel strategies for the sellers who are looking to integrate their online and in-store sales.
4. Namshi
Namshi Top Features:
- Dedicated seller support.
- Fashion and lifestyle focused.
- Quick seller registration process.
Source: namshi.com
Namshi is another go-to e-commerce marketplace for the UAE sellers who offer fashion-related products, including apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty products, lifestyle products, and more. It has an extensive collection of in-house and international brands where people can shop across the UAE. Namshi has dedicated support for sellers to help them navigate the platform and make the selling experience hassle-free. Sellers with a valid Emirati ID can get them registered on Namshi in a few steps and start making profits.
Namshi manages logistics operations seamlessly so sellers don’t have to. Moreover, Namshi’s exchange and return policies are excellent and facilitate sellers and buyers. Namshi’s primary focus on lifestyle and fashion makes it an impressive platform for sellers and buyers.
5. Sharaf DG
Sharaf DG Top Features:
- Seamless creation of product listings.
- Easy payment settlements.
- Quick seller registration.
Source: uae.sharafdg.com
Sharaf DG has earned several awards and accolades by offering tremendous growth opportunities to electronics sellers. Buyers can find more than 25,000 electronic products on this dedicated e-commerce marketplace and benefit from exceptional deals. Sharaf DG gives sellers multiple tools to create product listings and optimize them to appear at the top of the search.
While Amazon.ae makes registration complicated, Sharaf DG has a straightforward registration process that encourages new sellers to start their online venture sooner. The platform has a strong customer base and hassle-free payment settlements, so the sellers do not have to worry about these aspects and focus only on their products. Sharaf DG also has a 15,000 sq ft. store in Dubai and is recognized as a trusted tech retailer in the Middle East, which means that the sellers can trust the platform for its established credibility.
Wrap up
While Amazon.ae has a significant presence in the UAE, its strict policies are unfavorable for new sellers. From banning certain products to tax implementations, selling online through this platform involves certain risks. This is why startups and sellers usually struggle to establish a sturdy presence on the Amazon marketplace and look for alternatives that help them maximize their profits without putting in extra effort.
DeliverIt has helped sellers reach out to the targeted consumers by offering them curated solutions, tools, and linear policies that favor them. You can trust the platform to list your products and depend on their delivery personnel to deliver customer orders. If you are a new seller, you can register your account on the DeliverIt e-commerce marketplace within 2 to 3 business days and start selling immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I look for alternatives to Amazon to start an online business?
Although Amazon is one of the largest e-commerce marketplaces, its crowded marketplace, tax intricacies, strict product approvals, product return policies, and immense pricing battles make it challenging for new sellers to run their e-commerce business successfully. Many inexperienced sellers lose business profitability due to Amazon’s strict policies and fierce competition.
What is the UAE version of Amazon?
Amazon.ae is the UAE version of Amazon, which offers consumers a wide range of products in this region.
What are the top alternatives to Amazon in the UAE?
DeliverIt, Noon, Carrefour, and Sharaf DG are some of Amazon’s top-performing and highly competitive alternatives in the UAE.
Does DeliverIt charge monthly from sellers?
There is no monthly fee that DeliverIt sellers have to pay. However, sellers must pay a referral fee of almost 4 to 12% on each sale generated.
Why is DeliverIt better than Amazon for sellers?
DeliverIt favors new sellers more than any other e-commerce platform. Its registration process is straightforward and doesn’t require a prolonged registration. Moreover, since DeliverIt is a delivery service provider, it is more beneficial for sellers who want more control over the delivery process. DeliverIt is a more cost-effective solution for sellers as there is no platform fee, and they pay a certain amount only when a sale is generated.
