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.

 

[Delaluz26]

Anyone who lives in another province been able to receive Amazon orders? I live in Entre Rios and am considering ordering some items but don't want to deal with a hassle... Never actually seen a DHL truck here so don't know if they exist in this province... LOL

 

[MarshallE]

Anyone who lives in another province been able to receive Amazon orders? I live in Entre Rios and am considering ordering some items but don't want to deal with a hassle... Never actually seen a DHL truck here so don't know if they exist in this province... LOL

What's it like living in Entre Rios, do you live in a city or in the campo?

 

[SlowWalker]

Anyone who lives in another province been able to receive Amazon orders? I live in Entre Rios and am considering ordering some items but don't want to deal with a hassle... Never actually seen a DHL truck here so don't know if they exist in this province... LOL

I live in an interior province and I believe I have received, and I have shipped with DHL.

There will be a shop that is an agent for them probably so its unlikely to be a DHL truck.

There isn't a FedEx where I am. But there are weekly deliveries that come from the next province over.

 

[carride]

Anyone who lives in another province been able to receive Amazon orders? I live in Entre Rios and am considering ordering some items but don't want to deal with a hassle... Never actually seen a DHL truck here so don't know if they exist in this province... LOL

First find out if there is a DHL office near you. Then ask them in person or their local WhatsApp number if they deliver to your home. I send and receive with DHL on occasion, though I rather visit the office to pickup my order at my convenience instead of worrying and waiting for their yellow truck to arrive. Never tested with Amazon.

 

[Delaluz26]

First find out if there is a DHL office near you. Then ask them in person or their local WhatsApp number if they deliver to your home. I send and receive with DHL on occasion, though I rather visit the office to pickup my order at my convenience instead of worrying and waiting for their yellow truck to arrive. Never tested with Amazon.

There are no DHL offices in Entre Rios...I learned this when renewing my passport. They use other provincial services to get mail to Entre Rios.

 

[Delaluz26]

What's it like living in Entre Rios, do you live in a city or in the campo?

I live in Gualeguaychú, so a city. It's peaceful and beautiful but also the first question you get asked always is "what's your last name?" Everyone stares at everyone here and it is very gossipy. If you ignore all the small-town pettiness, it's a great place to live. There is only one other person from the US living here that I know of. It is a place that mostly is the same families that have lived here for generations with a more recent influx of people from Buenos Aires post-pandemic. It's touristy in the summer and totally chill the rest of the year. There is an almost constant sound of drumming as they are already practicing for the batucada for next year's Carnaval. And during Carnaval you just have to be prepared to stay up very late on Saturdays as most nights you can hear the music throughout the city until 2-3 am. I also like the proximity to Buenos Aires, because on a day with no traffic I can be in Palermo in 2 hours.