Amazon is coming to town...

[Ries]

Just for entertainment, I plugged in a new iphone on Aerobox-and here is what aerobox charges- An additional 750000 pesos...
But if you read the small print, it also says- Some products are not allowed by AFIP for import into Argentina. If you have questions about your product, please contact us via WhatsApp .
So, yes, there are services that will bring in items you buy on Amazon, and they only add something like 80% of the purchase price.

 

[jbeas176]

i think when you see an amazon distribution center in argentina, its real. they deliver there own goods in amazon trucks

 

[Rich One]

Just for entertainment, I plugged in a new iphone on Aerobox-and here is what aerobox charges- An additional 750000 pesos...
But if you read the small print, it also says- Some products are not allowed by AFIP for import into Argentina. If you have questions about your product, please contact us via WhatsApp .
So, yes, there are services that will bring in items you buy on Amazon, and they only add something like 80% of the purchase price.

I have used Aerobox with excellent results , bought a Motorola G power from T Mobile , had it forwarded to Aerobox in Miami and was delivered to my home in caba. I paid here in pesos the duties and forwarding costs .
You are correct some iphones are not allowed to be imported, also you mention the delivery charges approx US$783.25 , of which US$ 728.25 are custom duties (unavoidable).

 

[Quilombo]

So, I've used the courier system several times and with different companies. I'll try to explain things as I understand them, and based on my experience.

What's new/what's the same:

• Changes currently apply only to purchases made via couriers such as DHL, UPS, Tiendamia, Aerobox, etc. NOT via Correos Argentino and the "puerta a puerta" system
• Caputo said changes ARE coming for the puerta a puerta system too, but later
• The spend limit per FOB has now been increased to $3,000 USD from $1,000 USD, the way it was under Macri
• The tariff free franchise has been increased to $400 USD
• What does this mean? If your shipment's FOB value is under $400 USD, you WILL still pay taxes, but only the 21% VAT,
• If it's over $400 USD, you get a $400 credit in your favor towards the total value, i.e. a PS5 that costs $600 USD would be $126 USD in VAT, and $200 x 35% ($600-$400 franchise, and 35% tariff rate on gaming consoles) so $70, or total taxes of $196 USD
• The couriers collect the taxes, and you are charged in pesos at the BCRA rate
• You have up to 5 unique FOBs per calendar year, and a maximum of 50KG per FOB

 

[A Antares]

I learned an expensive lesson regarding aduana the hard way. Never again. And the same with the convoluted rules and regulations concerning the shipping of products from the USA to Argentina. As with most federal activities here, it's all a clown show starring Incompetence, Arrogance and Apathy.

If I want something from the USA, I message the same Grabr traveler to tell him that I'm about to place an order. He makes an offer which I accept. As delivering products from the USA to Argentina is his job, he makes two trips/month. I pick the items up at a high end location in Recoleta and afterwards enjoy a café at the Hotel Palacio Alvear.

So, no aduana, no hassling with UPS or FedEx customer 'service' over (allegedly) unpaid duties and no futile, lengthy multi-trips to the den of snakes at Ezeiza. Sometimes the traveler can't bring the items on his first trip but they will arrive on his second trip. No problem. The delivery cost is significantly less than cost of conventional shipping and the sine qua non is the satisfaction of beating aduana at their own game. Grabr.

 

[dlish]

I learned an expensive lesson regarding aduana the hard way. Never again.

I need to hear this story. Cmon, storytime!!

How much do you pay for Grabr typically? I fly to visit family a few times a year, maybe I should do this to offset the cost of my ticket

 

[A Antares]

I need to hear this story. Cmon, storytime!!

How much do you pay for Grabr typically? I fly to visit family a few times a year, maybe I should do this to offset the cost of my ticket

To make a long story short, my VA Medical Center sent me, at no cost, a small but expensive (+3K) replacement piece of medical equipment via a UPS store. The value was listed as only the cost of shipping to Argentina.

Aduana tried to make me pay taxes on the full value. After explaining to them why it cost me nothing and despite a letter from the VA and shipper explaining the same, aduana still tried to shake me down for over $2K in taxes.

I told them to f*** off. The American taxpayers got screwed and I am sure that aduana sold the part on the secondary market for well over $3K, because I know what it would cost here. So yeah, any time that I can, I will bypass aduana.

 

[Jimbob]

Is it strictly amazon or can products be purchased from anywhere in the world with this 21% fee? Ali express for example?

 

[Quilombo]

Is it strictly amazon or can products be purchased from anywhere in the world with this 21% fee? Ali express for example?

Anywhere/any merchant; the determining factor isn't the merchant or country of origin, it's the company responsible for clearing Aduana here in Argentina:

Letter mail/USPS/Correo Argentino/EMS - these shipments enter via the "puerta a puerta" system, and it's plagued with delays (often 60+), thieves, shipments getting lost, bureaucracy, and other problems. If you're buying something via Aliexpress specifically, make sure it's shipped via a courier like UPS, DHL, FedEx, etc. as otherwise it will come via EMS and get stuck in this quilombo. Caputo said changes will come to this regime soon.

Private couriers (UPS, DHL, FedEx, Aerobox, Tiendamia, etc.) - these shipments enter via the courier system, and I've never had problems with them, and have gotten everything from clothes to snacks to a TV and desktop computer issue free. There are some restrictions, shipments are up to 3K USD and 50KG per FOB, and 5 FOBs per year (per CUIL/T, your partner/spouse has 5 too you can use). These are the shipments Caputo announced changes for, with the duty free franchise being increased to $400. Under $400 you'll pay a flat VAT of 21%, or about $214.73 ARS per dollar more or less on whatever you buy.