Practically at Home: Is Amazon Haul a screaming good deal?

Amazon Haul is a specific section of Amazon, basically offering items at cheaper prices than on the Amazon site at large. Some online shoppers liken it to Temu or Shein, with the biggest difference being that it’s affiliated with the more popular Amazon.

By the company’s own definition, “Amazon Haul is a new shopping experience dedicated to offering customers affordable prices on a wide range of everyday products. Amazon Haul is available on an updated Amazon app, Mobile Web and Desktop.”

Amazon also describes Amazon Haul as “an engaging shopping experience that brings lower priced products into one convenient destination. The storefront makes it easier than ever to discover sought-after products at lower prices.”

Categories include women, men, kids, home, electronics, beauty, kitchen, home improvement, accessories, office, and sports.

How do you browse items on Amazon Haul?

As with shopping on Amazon in general, you can search for specific product categories and features. You can sort your search findings by popularity, pricing, customer reviews, and most recently added items.

There’s also a “Crazy Low” section, offering the cheapest pricing on a large, seemingly random assortment of products. And Amazon Haul usually has a selection of “Flash Deals” priced at $2 or less. For example, one day this grouping offered embroidered letter patches, hair bows, hat hanger hooks, rubber shoe covers, press-on fingernails, off-brand sticky notes, tent pegs, and a slew of junk jewelry – among other intriguing items. As a rule, customers are limited to two Flash Deal offers per order.

Selections vary on Amazon Haul.

Many of the items on Amazon Haul are available in very limited supply. Not infrequently, you might click on a product and discover it is sold out. Apparel and shoes, for example, may be found in just one size or color. Or the listing may indicate only a few are left.

It’s not a place to hunt for something truly a specific. Shopping on Amazon Haul is sort of like hunting through a thrift store or rummage sale – except all the items are brand-new. It’s luck of the draw. Looking for blue suede shoes? You may strike gold, but you’re more likely to find (and perhaps even buy) something you didn’t even know you needed (or wanted).

Apparel sizing can be tricky on Amazon Haul.

Looking closely at the photos in a clothing listing on Amazon Haul, you can usually spot a sizing chart, which likely includes measurements (sometimes in both metric and inch formats). Don’t skip this step. (Learn from my own mistake. I ordered a small jersey shirt, but when it arrived, I discovered it was a plus size small – much too big for me.)

Examine the ingredients carefully on Amazon Haul.

Quality (or lack thereof) is often evident in the product ingredients. A necklace may be titled as ”silver,” but the product specifics may say it’s made of copper with a silver-like coating. Despite the fancy name, it may still turn your skin green. Or the description may indicate it’s made (at least in part) of sterling silver, and you may have struck gold, so to speak.

Regarding apparel, the same principle holds. Is the shirt all-cotton, rayon, spandex, wool, or what?

Look closely at fabric patterns before buying clothes.

There’s a reason most of the item listings offered on Amazon Haul (and all of Amazon, for that matter) tend to have plentiful photos. Examine these carefully, and you will see if the fabric fits and drapes nicely. Does it have a printed or woven pattern? Does it look sturdy or see-through?

As a long-time seamstress, I am picky about pattern placement in my clothing. Where do flowers fall on a shirt or dress? Are stripes straight or a little wobbly? Do plaids line up on seams? Do buttons line up properly?

Amazon is extremely popular among clothing shoppers. Look around in public, and you may grow familiar with certain fabrics. On a recent Sunday, I spotted several people in church wearing printed floral tops that I’d seen on Amazon. If this matters to you, you’ll perhaps steer away from the most recognizable patterns. You may feel you can create your own personal style in solids or stripes, rather that that distinctive, but oversold design.

Familiar brand names are essentially absent on Amazon Haul.

OK, you might stumble upon a name you recognize, once in a blue moon. Forever 21 shows up there occasionally. I found a Tommy Hilfiger top once, and I picked up some Naturalizer pumps. But that almost never happens.

Amazon Essentials items often find their way into Amazon Haul. I picked up a traditional cardigan sweater for $9 and a pair of Lee jeans for $12 in midwinter.

You might stumble upon something from Calvin Klein, Columbia, Gap, Keds, Levis, Liz Claiborne, Stride Rite, or another favorite maker. But it’s not the norm.

But the lion’s share of brands found on Amazon Haul are unrecognizable to the American shopper. Some of the clothing labels, for example, bear cutesy names that seem designed to evoke US and European styles, but aren’t actually brands we might know. Others are overtly foreign-sounding monikers. Here’s a sampling: Alleroo, Automet, Dimur, Ekouaer, FullSoft, Heymoments, Lomon, Ofeefan, Pantora, Pinspark, PrettyGarden, Trendy Queen, Wiholl, Xieerdou, and Zeagoo. And sometimes items are simply labeled as Generic. (You’ll probably find these brands on Amazon at large too, but they are all the rage on Amazon Haul.)

Warning: Some Amazon Haul apparel is NSFW.

Are you searching for a dress? Tank top? Opaque tights? Workout wear? Get ready for some surprises. Several apparel offerings on Amazon Haul are outright risqué (NSFW = Not Suitable for Work). If your kids are fashion-hunting on the site, you may want to be on-hand to guide the process.

Despite all these caveats, super deals can be spotted on Amazon Haul.

If you are a smart shopper with an eye for quality, and if you are willing to take the time to poke around and study items before you order, you can score some great buys. I spent just under $30 on one order, qualifying for free shipping. And I received 6 really nice wardrobe basics that have become prime picks in my own closet.

Returns are possible on Amazon Haul.

The Amazon A to Z Guarantee apparently applies to Amazon Haul purchases. Damaged, defective, or broken items can be returned. Items that aren’t exactly what you wanted or expected likely can be sent back as well.

Generally, you can return any items priced at more than $3 on Amazon Haul, but only within 15 days of delivery. Anything under that price point is regarded as final sale. And returned items must be in pristine brand-new condition. You simply follow the regular Amazon return policy to file a claim, filling out the required info before shipping stuff back.

Get ready for some serious wrinkles.

Amazon Haul items are shipped directly from China. As such, clothing items seem to be always tightly shrink-wrapped very flat in sturdy plastic. They are extremely creased and wrinkled and smell strongly of plastic after their long journey (and probably significant storage before shipping). I’ve been known to launder my purchases at least twice before wearing them. (This, of course, eliminates the option of returning them, so I try to try things on before washing them.)

Amazon Prime benefits and services do not apply to Amazon Haul.

For example, free shipping does not automatically apply to anything you purchase on Amazon Haul. Usually, free shipping comes with orders totaling $25 or more. Other orders usually ship for $3.99, although bulkier and heavier orders may cost more.

Also, Amazon Haul is not available for Amazon Business customers. At least, not yet.

Shipping almost always takes longer on Amazon Haul.

Because shipping originates in China for Amazon Haul, nothing comes quickly from them. Don’t expect same-day, overnight, or 2-3 day performance, as you might enjoy routinely from Amazon. Your order from Amazon Haul will first have to leave Asia, then work its way through the regular Amazon system before it zips off in your direction. Even so, for non-emergency orders, Amazon Haul pricing can make your order worth the wait, if you find something special at a super cost.

Amazon Haul is not the same thing as Amazon Outlet.

Amazon Outlet is an entirely different department than Amazon Haul. Amazon Outlet offers closeout and overstock items in many categories. Popular picks include Customer Favorites, Deals on Under $10, Deals on Clothing, Deals on Gift Ideas, Deals on Tools & Home Improvement, Last Chance Savings, Overstock Deals, and more. Well-known brands (like Citizen watches, Franklin sports equipment, Keen Sandals, Melissa & Doug toys, Skechers sneakers, Sony electronics, Toshiba TVs, Under Armour sports apparel, XBox battery packs, Yankee Candles, were all found on a quick search of Amazon Outlet. (Inventory changes often, so shoppers seem to return frequently to see what’s available.)

Usually, the Amazon Outlet items can be spotted while shopping Amazon in general. Look for the lowest priced choices (such as a garment color), and you likely will be seeing an Amazon Outlet item with a clearance price.

How do you find Amazon Haul?

Amazon Haul is accessible via the search bar or the drop-down menu on the site (Look under Programs and Features, like Amazon Custom, Amazon Luxury, Amazon Outlet, Amazon Premium Brands Shop, and Amazon Second Chance,

All in all, Amazon Haul can become a time-suck of sorts. It's easy to be drawn in and spend a while sifting through the bargain merchandise. But if you are willing to invest a a few minutes (or more) and you can evaluate quality, you may be surprised at some super finds.

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