As just one example, the same 128 gigabyte SD memory card that Amazon.com sells for $US61 ($83) and ships to Australia is available only from a third-party seller on Amazon’s Australian website for $98, while JB Hi-Fi sells the same product for $199.

Amazon's local website has been criticised since it launched late last year for its uncompetitive prices and small range, currently listing about 64 million products compared to almost 500 million on its US website.

Mr de Plater said he would probably look for his hard-to-find purchases on eBay, which says it has found a way to charge GST without restricting access. But he feared other companies he shopped with - like American photography mecca B&H - will follow Amazon's lead.

“It’s a similar situation to services online in general, for example Netflix (in Australia) has a fraction of the content that the US version of Netflix has," he said. "Australia’s at a bit of a disadvantage, where we pay more and we’re penalised by our location."

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Another Amazon.com customer, Diana Flavell, has been using the website for the past eight years to buy products she can’t find locally - such as Korean skin care items, makeup, and specialty books - or to take advantage of far cheaper prices.

Ms Flavell said she’s been able to buy make-up on Amazon for at least half the price she would have paid in stores in Australia, and was furious about have her choices taken away.

“What I am really angry about is that they're trying to make us buy from big Australian retailers, not the "little" guys, as they like us to believe,” she said.

“If prices weren't marked up highly, then yes I would buy from Australian retailers. But since a pricing precedent has been established in Australia, prices won't be going down anytime soon.”

Social media also erupted with anger over the move.

"It's hard to find clothing for my tall husband here in Australia without paying stupidly high prices,"  Cheryl Hart said on Facebook.

"It will be very annoying for things like academic, specialist and technical books," said Steven Rostron.

While Victoria Wensor said that she looked for some of the books she had bought on Amazon US on the local website and half were not stocked.

Some have raised fears about whether the Amazon-owned store The Book Depository will also be restricted for Australian customers.

Fairfax Media has asked Amazon if the online mega bookstore will be affected, but the company has not yet responded.