Why Amazon is struggling to crack Argentina

[pmacay]

I placed an Amazon order on April 18 for an "Old Fashion Cocktail Mix", I know I know, what do you need a mix for for an "Old Fashion" which is just bitters, sugar and bourbon? I was chatting with a friend and he mentioned he loved this mix, and I love "Old Fashions" so I thought, "What the heck, why not try it?" The cost was $37.99 + $32.72 shipping and handling and Amazon calculated estimated "Import Fees Deposit" of $27.22 I thought for sure I'd have to go to the International Post Office to pick it up, but it came right to my door today, May 12th! And the actual "Import Fees" was less, only $14.85 So it looks like Amazon is sending the fees to the Argentine govt, so maybe we don't have to go anymore to the International Post office to pick up Amazon orders. Maybe if it's electronics or something more expensive you might need to pick it up in person, don' t know??

 

[Lex]

Yes, I can confirm that Amazon works fine, including for electronics. I've done 2 orders (one was a cordless vac) and both arrived to our door via DHL. My only gripe is the time they take to actually ship items. The vac order I placed on March 24, but they only shipped it on April 19. It then arrived on April 28. So the actual delivery time is quite quick...if only they didn't sit on it for so long and actually shipped it sooner!

But a few other things to note...
1. Qualified orders totalling over $99 come with free shipping, so you just pay the import fees (which effectively become the delivery fee). Not at all items qualify for free shipping, so put Argentina as the shipping country and select "eligible for free shipping" in the filters down the left side. You can buy items that don't qualify for free shipping over $99, but you'll be paying shipping + import fees which added up often make it not worthwhile. You also need to put a DNI with the delivery name.
2. You are allowed up 5 of this type of "pequeno envios" via courier per year up to USD 400 per order. This is tracked by DNI. See all elements here: https://www.afip.gob.ar/envios-internacionales/courier/pequenios-envios.asp. Note, this is includes international orders you make via Mercado Libre (or any other platform that may ship with a courier under). Amazon uses DHL and in my experience DHL is the only courier who actually make this work and get it to you directly without you having to do or pay anything extra - what you pay on Amazon is the final price and yes, can get some of the import fees returned by Amazon if they end up being more than required (this happened with my first order). DHL handle all the customs clearance and deliver to your door. Perhaps Fedex does too, but I've never used them.
3. This is distinct from items sent via Post that end up being sent by Correo Argentina locally under the "puerta-a-puerta" scheme. A different set of elements apply. See here for details: https://www.afip.gob.ar/envios-internacionales/puerta-a-puerta/procedimiento.asp. I ordered some eye glasses from overseas (not from Amazon) that started with a courier (not DHL or Fedex) but ended up being passed to Correo Argentina locally. This is a pain in the arse as you have to pay the import fees (plus Correo Argentina's fee) AND you have to go to their HQ in the city to collect your item. So much for door-to-door! They say you can arrange CA to deliver it, but I didn't seem to have that option.

 

[pmacay]

Yes, I can confirm that Amazon works fine, including for electronics. I've done 2 orders (one was a cordless vac) and both arrived to our door via DHL. My only gripe is the time they take to actually ship items. The vac order I placed on March 24, but they only shipped it on April 19. It then arrived on April 28. So the actual delivery time is quite quick...if only they didn't sit on it for so long and actually shipped it sooner!

But a few other things to note...
1. Qualified orders totalling over $99 come with free shipping, so you just pay the import fees (which effectively become the delivery fee). Not at all items qualify for free shipping, so put Argentina as the shipping country and select "eligible for free shipping" in the filters down the left side. You can buy items that don't qualify for free shipping over $99, but you'll be paying shipping + import fees which added up often make it not worthwhile. You also need to put a DNI with the delivery name.
2. You are allowed up 5 of this type of "pequeno envios" via courier per year up to USD 400 per order. This is tracked by DNI. See all elements here: https://www.afip.gob.ar/envios-internacionales/courier/pequenios-envios.asp. Note, this is includes international orders you make via Mercado Libre (or any other platform that may ship with a courier under). Amazon uses DHL and in my experience DHL is the only courier who actually make this work and get it to you directly without you having to do or pay anything extra - what you pay on Amazon is the final price and yes, can get some of the import fees returned by Amazon if they end up being more than required (this happened with my first order). DHL handle all the customs clearance and deliver to your door. Perhaps Fedex does too, but I've never used them.
3. This is distinct from items sent via Post that end up being sent by Correo Argentina locally under the "puerta-a-puerta" scheme. A different set of elements apply. See here for details: https://www.afip.gob.ar/envios-internacionales/puerta-a-puerta/procedimiento.asp. I ordered some eye glasses from overseas (not from Amazon) that started with a courier (not DHL or Fedex) but ended up being passed to Correo Argentina locally. This is a pain in the arse as you have to pay the import fees (plus Correo Argentina's fee) AND you have to go to their HQ in the city to collect your item. So much for door-to-door! They say you can arrange CA to deliver it, but I didn't seem to have that option.

Yes, I also wondered about the long time between ordering and them shipping. I'm guessing it's Amazon having to contact the Argentina import office to "clear" the order, and find the actual fees, get approval to import, blah blah blah, before they can actually send the package.

Thanks for the links on the actual AFIP regulations, I did hear there was a per year limit on international purchases but I heard it was much lower, like $600 per year, maybe it's been increased because of inflation.