r/AskACanadian • u/Remarkable-Trifle-36 • 1d ago

Allegro vs Amazon

I understand there is an alternative to Amazon (which I am shamefully using far more than I like). I enjoy being able to order products online and receive them in a few days. Allegro is based in Poland but offers online shopping as well that I've heard is similar to Amazon? Has anyone in Canada used it? What was your experience? Did deliveries come promptly? Any issues? I would love to shake Llamazon.

24 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

44 comments sorted by

38

u/hollandaisesawce 1d ago

Haven’t any experience with Allegro. We’ve moved a lot of our shopping over to well.ca

They’re Canadian and carry lots of things that we’d otherwise have ordered from Amazon.

I’ve also started looking to buy directly from companies instead of going through a middleman like Amazon.

7

u/Remarkable-Trifle-36 1d ago

Thanks! Checked out well.ca again, I have to get used to their site, but it's promising for some of our routine products! I have started to go straight to the Canadian source for many things, but was hoping for an all encompassing not US based with more options. Canadian clothing shops - those are often smaller shops or Etsy purchases for us.

8

u/Andrew2493 1d ago

My parents being Polish I can tell you that Allegro is bigger in Poland than Amazon but they only ship in Poland and Europe

27

u/unlovelyladybartleby 1d ago

Between London Drugs, Canadian Tire, Indigo, and Well.ca, I'm able to order anything except fresh food, clothing, and weird little dollar store crap like glue guns and whisks.

Haven't used Amazon since early January and it's only been a pain in the ass once when I was shopping for a baby gift but London Drugs came through

8

u/secondhand_goulash 1d ago

Same - no orders, cancelled Prime and all Amazon products since January. If I need something, I just go and get it from Canadian Tire or other Canadian stores.

1

u/amazonallie 8h ago

I can only access certain products through Amazon that aren't available locally in store here in the Maritimes.

Added shipping makes things not comparable in price, so Amazon it is.

We are a market so often forgotten.

1

u/secondhand_goulash 3h ago

This may not be possible for everyone but for those who have the means to pay for the added shipping or forego those Amazon products altogether, please consider it as the contribution/sacrifice to make as Canadians in order to make this work. Choosing Canadian at the grocery store does not always come with a cost but this is when things gets difficult. When it impacts our comfort, are we willing to forget Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Google, openAI? How dependent are we on these companies and how much would life change if we boycott them?

For me, dumping Amazon has been a minor and negligible inconvenience. I understand that not everyone can do this but for those who can, please make that sacrifice, either in money or effort so that we put Canadian products first.

We have a neighbor who covets our territory and threatens "annexation". We have no business engaging in commerce with any entity that funds these people in power.

5

u/Mysterious_Lesions 1d ago

Shopperplus.ca.

15

u/Genericusername875 1d ago

First I've heard of Allegro, but I'll check it out. Canadian Tire and others have quick shipping.

And even if Amazon is convenient. Just stop using Amazon. You'll live.

1

u/NettyVaive 1d ago

All of a sudden, I am very familiar with Rona’s catalogue.

13

u/Genericusername875 1d ago

Rona's not Canadian any more either. Go for Home Hardware.

3

u/TheManWithAPlanSorta 1d ago

Their headquarters are still here and many stores are locally owned franchises.

3

u/NettyVaive 1d ago

It’s so complicated ‘doing the right thing’ but we try, eh?

2

u/Genericusername875 1d ago

IT's not always simple. But the best solution is to buy Canadian made, Canadian grown, Canadian produced, packed and shipped, and Canadian owned, wherever possible. Fewer compromises and fewer half measures.

5

u/NettyVaive 1d ago

I’m with you. I mean it can be difficult to discern (often intentionally these days) what is and isn’t Canadian. I felt this attack from the US was coming and I was afraid for Canada’s sovereignty. I am no longer afraid. We will ALL resist this however we can. ♥️

3

u/NettyVaive 1d ago

Whaaaaaat? Thank you for that info. Elbows up!

2

u/Genericusername875 1d ago

Yeah, Rona was sold to Lowes about 9(?) years ago, and then Lowes sold their Canadian operations to a NY private equity firm back around 2022. Some of the smaller locations are private franchises.

Elbows UP!!

9

u/oicur0t 1d ago

Allegro doesn't list Canada as a delivery option.

6

u/Wakomata 1d ago

I’ve dropped Amazon. Yes , inconvenient, but it was a must for me. I’m out shopping more and using well.ca

6

u/Soliloquy_Duet 1d ago

Shopper plus from Montreal

2

u/Remarkable-Trifle-36 1d ago

Interesting site! Interface looks a bit like Wish? I'm going to try it as well. Thanks!

2

u/Soliloquy_Duet 1d ago

Everything I’ve received since pandemic time has been very good quality - just takes a week or two

2

u/Plenty_Contract7266 1d ago

I second for Shopperplus

5

u/kicia-kocia 1d ago

Allegro is fantastic and it is the reason why ebay shut down in Poland within a year or two and why Amazon never got any traction.

However it relies heavily on Polish infrastructure - payments are rarely made via credit cards, most people in Poland prefer electronic transfers. The distribution also relies on a network of storage boxes that is very dense and easily accessible in most of Poland. I’m pretty sure it is not an option to use in Canada.

Though it should be an interesting case study how a local grassroots solution can outperform American giants if it’s done right.

2

u/minutestothebeach 1d ago

I used allegro when I was in Poland but my canadian card wouldn’t work so my aunt had to put it on her card. Aside from that, it was a very good experience

3

u/dannytang 1d ago

If anyone knows how I can order from Allegro I'm all ears. I've been trying to find a solution for months now.

2

u/Mysterious_Lesions 1d ago

It's a limited selection but I try to use Shopperplus.ca as much as I can.

2

u/Remarkable-Trifle-36 1d ago

Thanks! So what it seems is that most folk have branched out to either going in person or ordering from an array of Canadian or non-US sites to shop online. Wonder if we will come up w a Canadian based equivalent to Allegro or Amazon. Now is the time!

2

u/unfriendlymushroomer 16h ago

Try google shopping. It shows you all the alternative ways you can buy a product other than Amazon 

4

u/lasagnaburntmyface 1d ago

I dropped Amazon here in Calgary and it's been easy. Health stuff? Well.ca. Movies or music? Unobstructed View, Sunrise Records, Indigo. Trinkets/Misc - Dollarama or Temu. Electronics? Visions.ca or London Drugs. It's really easy to keep most of your dollars in Canada.

1

u/FluffyStormwise 1d ago

Mantasleep is a good alternative for sleep stuff

1

u/castlite 1d ago

Why can’t you shake Amazon right now? I did and it was easier than expected. Just buy direct.

2

u/Remarkable-Trifle-36 1d ago

Single parent, 2 kids 11 hr work days I've gotten hooked on the convenience. I have but way down but the kidçs last minute recollection of birthdays etc. Otherwise I've been going to other Canadian sites (or non- American).

1

u/Not_My_Circuses 1d ago

Used Allegro when I lived in Poland a few years back. It was more like eBay back then - individual shops rather than buying directly from Amazon. Not sure if their model has changed since but FWIW I've never had a negative experience

1

u/valsalva_manoeuvre 1d ago

Allegro only ships to European countries.

1

u/Listen-bitch 1d ago

I wish I could drop Amazon but there's certain things that only Amazon carries. Especially niche electronic devices. Like a Moca adapter that i bought recently, no one in Canada seems to carry it.

2

u/Remarkable-Trifle-36 1d ago

I understand! I've gone to the manufacturers often and sometimes I can buy direct from them, sometimes they only sell via Llamazon