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StatusNomadicus
Well-known member
UPDATE 22Sep2024 thanks to following @BowTiedMara on X/twitter:
this has been discussed for years on the old censored forum:
baexpats.org
...and now today i will give Amazon a shot with this Import Fees +5 USD cost. i ordered small cheap things on Amazon.com around 6-9 months ago and they vanished once the tracking said they were in Argentina.
anyone order anything yet? i have no other details.
Get flat rate delivery of USD 5 when you ship to an eligible address in Argentina,
this has been discussed for years on the old censored forum:
Amazon: Shipping To Argentina
Find someone who is coming to BsAs and have them bring it to you. That's the only guaranteed way to get anything from out of the country. check couchsurfing.org and help out a traveller from the US in exchange for them receiving and carrying a package for you
baexpats.org
...and now today i will give Amazon a shot with this Import Fees +5 USD cost. i ordered small cheap things on Amazon.com around 6-9 months ago and they vanished once the tracking said they were in Argentina.
anyone order anything yet? i have no other details.
StatusNomadicus
Well-known member
FYI for Import costs, the cost estimate for a $49.99 USD item is showing $109.82 USD (104.82 includes item and import deposit, then they add $5 flat-rate global shipping)
so about 2.2x the cost of the item (shoes are what i tried, just to see the Checkout total)
it looks like 99% of the products on Amazon that otherwise show in-stock with a USA address just say "unavailable" or there's a red message that 'this item can't be shipped to you' (treats for my dog, ramen noodles, most anything won't go...not sure which categories are allowed)
if anyone has any luck, please track it here! Amazon would be a game-changer, though i'm sure the MercadoLibre lobby is going to fight for their monopoly
so about 2.2x the cost of the item (shoes are what i tried, just to see the Checkout total)
it looks like 99% of the products on Amazon that otherwise show in-stock with a USA address just say "unavailable" or there's a red message that 'this item can't be shipped to you' (treats for my dog, ramen noodles, most anything won't go...not sure which categories are allowed)
if anyone has any luck, please track it here! Amazon would be a game-changer, though i'm sure the MercadoLibre lobby is going to fight for their monopoly
Uncle Wong
Well-known member
I'm getting the same error message, "your item can't we shipped to the selected address". This was to my friend's apartment in Palermo. I have tried on several items of different types and nothing works.
MikeRoss
Well-known member
I have tried many items before and just like @StatusNomadicus mentioned, stuff in stock never shows allowed deliverable to Argentina. The only thing I was successful one time was a book. That's it.
StatusNomadicus
Well-known member
here's a sample item that i can get to the final Checkout page:
Black/White, size 8.5 Wide (attached screenshot)
Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
Black/White, size 8.5 Wide (attached screenshot)
Attachments
I read on X about locals that are claiming to buy electronics. One guy ordered an Air fryer. Said it is coming in October so I will be curious if any other customs fees are due. The only things that I have ordered on Amazon successfully and shipped to BA were clothing items. It's been a while but if I recall they asked me to input my Passport and I had to upload it. But then after that I always get the dreaded this item can't be shipped to your address.
Betsy Ross
Well-known member
Just be careful as I know people that ordered stuff before on Amazon and other sites that still were asked to pay additional customs. Maybe things will be different now. I haven't ordered anything from Amazon in a while but it will be interesting to read reports about if customs will ask for anything else. I have received items from DHL before where it was a pain to get the item. Hopefully things are changing on this front.
Digital Nomad
Well-known member
This is what I wonder too. A local posted this thread on X. From the sounds of things @Betsy Ross hopefully no more customs will be collected in addition to what Amazon charges. My girlfriend's dad said the next hurdle will be the packages not getting stolen along the way once it arrives to Argentina. All those Amazon boxes will be targets for any number of people to steal once it hits Argentina.
Vince
Well-known member
Correct. Some of these people posting on X I don't see that people have actually received items. I read someone saying he ordered something on another vendor and it made it through to him. Just make sure if you're ordering on Amazon you select on the main page, shipping to Argentina on the top left corner. Then it should help filter only items that will ship to Argentina.
But keep in mind that you still could get more taxes charged. My sister ordered something when she was here at my place a few months ago. She paid estimated import taxes but they still asked her for more import fees once it arrived here and wouldn't release it to her. If you call and ask Amazon or look on their website here is what it says about possible future taxes. This is what happened to my sister. And there is nothing you can really do if they ask you to pay more import taxes.
It will be interesting to read some reports of actual cases where people weren't charged anything else. Some of these items if you don't pay expedited shipping it can take 3 or 4 weeks to get the item for that cheaper $5 flat rate fee. I'm looking forward to reading about some more real life cases where people are getting items and not having to pay additional import taxes and fees. That was always the problem here.
Uncle Wong
Well-known member
Did you order it @StatusNomadicus? Let us know if you get charged any more import taxes once you get it.
I'm following along with an X user that ordered some stuff and he was charged import taxes when he paid online and said his order is coming Wednesday so see what he says if it made it without paying more taxes and fees.
Digital Nomad
Well-known member
Thanks @Uncle Wong. Just saw he ordered a Ninja Air Fryer. He says it should arrive October 3 so let's see if it makes it here with no additional fees. If so, I'm going to order some stuff.
This person that posted this ordered things from Victoria's Secret in the USA and just got his package so maybe things are improving with getting items shipped here. That is good news.
He paid the import taxes at the time of the purchase and wasn't hit up for anything else here.
He paid the import taxes at the time of the purchase and wasn't hit up for anything else here.
VINO
Well-known member
Great news! Hopefully Amazon purchases are the same. Maybe things are changing here. I have gotten packages before here even with paying import duties at the time I bought it, I still got stuck having to hassle with additional fees. If this has truly changed it will be a step in the right direction. Look forward to seeing more reports on this.
Uncle Wong
Well-known member
I just read this today. It is saying people getting the shipments have to have a level 3 tax key from AFIP. What about people that are tourists or just foreigners living there? On Amazon it shows you can upload a passport but will we have problems if we ship something via Amazon to Argentina?
www.clarin.com
Amazon llega a la Argentina con envíos a bajo precio y pelea con Mercado Libre
El gigante de E Commerce comenzó a aplicar "tarifa plana" de US$ 5 para envíos que se realicen desde Estados Unidos al país.La reacción de Marcos Galperin.Cómo funciona el servicio.
www.clarin.com
Betsy Ross
Well-known member
This is all a bit new. Waiting to hear of reports from people that ordered from Amazon. I have a few friends that just placed orders but not arriving until mid October. The flat rate shipping is very slow but let's see if it works. I would assume anyone ordering a lot of items will open themselves up to AFIP scrutiny if they have a DNI. Not sure if passport orders will work ok. My friend has a DNI and used that.I just read this today. It is saying people getting the shipments have to have a level 3 tax key from AFIP. What about people that are tourists or just foreigners living there? On Amazon it shows you can upload a passport but will we have problems if we ship something via Amazon to Argentina?
Amazon llega a la Argentina con envíos a bajo precio y pelea con Mercado Libre
El gigante de E Commerce comenzó a aplicar "tarifa plana" de US$ 5 para envíos que se realicen desde Estados Unidos al país.La reacción de Marcos Galperin.Cómo funciona el servicio.
Mercado Libre works very well but if Amazon.com arrives to Argentina it will cause a lot of great competition and lower prices which will be great.
Vince
Well-known member
You could order on Amazon for a while now. The issue before was you would almost always get hit with additional import duties. I'm not sure if Milei administration has changed this. Let's see once the packages start arriving but I have ordered things on Amazon for years now. I ordered a toy once for my son and already paid the import taxes with Amazon but then they held the package and requested additional fees here.
I have had the same bad experiences any time I have had anything shipped here. I just stopped trying but this may bring new light and would give Mercado Libre a run for their money. Amazon probably wouldn't attempt anything here until CEPO matter is resolved.
Digital Nomad
Well-known member
I think maybe now with Milei things might be changing. I have also heard horror stories about packages getting held up by customs but this guy that just ordered a Ninja Air Fryer a few days ago already has it at EZE waiting to clear customs. 🫰
earlyretirement
Moderator
Let's hope that this is the start of something new. I have also avoided sending items due to the corruption of the customs at EZE. I have even sent items via DHL before with very little value and had them get held up when sending them to friends in Argentina. Maybe things are finally improving. Amazon would give Mercado Libre a run for their money.
In Mexico Amazon has expanded drastically. Huge warehouses being built all over Mexico.
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