Why Amazon.com is struggling to crack Argentina

[Bharat]

I wondered why more Argentines don't use Amazon. They had free shipping offer. I wish I could use Mercado Libre but I do not have dni. In USA I used Amazon a lot. It work very good. I read this article that was interesting why Amazon has problems here.

Why Amazon is struggling to crack Argentina

The company, which recently launched free shipping to Argentina, faces major challenges from regional rival MercadoLibre and a network of smugglers.

restofworld.org

 

[Betsy Ross]

Amazon had a $5 shipping deal for a while but most things are expensive to ship here. They ended that promotion. Shipping also takes forever to get here. There is one advantage to being so far away from the entire world. It makes you think twice on ordering junk you don't need. Either it will take too long or will cost too much.

Mercado Libre works fine. Costs have come down with Amazon competition which is good.

 

[earlyretirement]

Mercado Libre has drastically improved. I've been using them quite a bit. Prices are much cheaper than in stores. The same exact product I will see in a store and sometimes it is as low as half on Mercado Libre and most things arrive the next day. I've ordered things big and small and it works well and easy to return as well.

I also found a way to get Mercado Pago credit (cash). If you order something and then cancel the order before they ship it, they refund it to Mercado Pago cash. For example, I used my American credit card to buy a refrigerator. It was about $1,000 USD and the vendor reached out to see if I wanted to buy it direct. I agreed and he canceled the order and then I got the cash into my Mercado Pago account. It seems like you can do that if you wanted.

Venders are getting smart and figuring out ways to sell things direct outside of Mercado Libre so they avoid commissions.

 

[Peabody]

Like anywhere people are willing to pay a premium to get it quickly. Amazon prices even with the eliminated import taxes still adds up with shipping and the vat tax. I ordered some stuff but it took forever to get here. My friend lets me use his ML account and stuff gets here mostly in 1 day.

 

[Larry]

Well many things are stolen from packages from Amazon. Their packages are obvious and along the way things are getting stolen. I have ordered things before from them and things were taken out. Nothing you can do. I had to dispute with my credit card. You can clearly see someone opened the box and replaced the Amazon tape with normal tape.

Mercado Libre is very easy to deal with. Returns are simple and can take it to any return location. Amazon you have to pay shipping.

Too many people stealing stuff on the way to Argentina.

 

[old fart]

Well many things are stolen from packages from Amazon. Their packages are obvious and along the way things are getting stolen. I have ordered things before from them and things were taken out. Nothing you can do. I had to dispute with my credit card. You can clearly see someone opened the box and replaced the Amazon tape with normal tape.

Mercado Libre is very easy to deal with. Returns are simple and can take it to any return location. Amazon you have to pay shipping.

Too many people stealing stuff on the way to Argentina.

It is no wonder Amazon is not doing well here. I ordered some towels and high thread count sheets for my bed as there is not good quality here and the sheets and towels were used! It was clear someone returned them but nothing I could do but also dispute it.

 

[Avocado]

Be VERY careful buy from Amazon. I ordered 2 items and both had problem. One was air fryer that did not work. It was clear they ship me used item. No plastic packaged and I could see used. It would not turn on. They want me to pay more shipping back than value of item!

I order set of sheets for my bed. I open and I can see it was also used. It was shoved in plastic and I see blood stain. I show Amazon and they deny it. They also want me to pay for shipping back. Many people have problem with Amazon!

Other people I know have package open and things stolen and one item had rock put inside!

Precios bajos pero problemas para devolver productos rotos: el lado B de Amazon en Argentina

De la mano de la apertura comercial de Milei, las plataformas internacionales de e-commerce comenzaron a seducir al mercado nacional. La norteamericana no tiene oficina en el país y hay inconvenientes para las devoluciones. El impacto en MercadoLibre.

www.eldiarioar.com

 

[earlyretirement]

Be VERY careful buy from Amazon. I ordered 2 items and both had problem. One was air fryer that did not work. It was clear they ship me used item. No plastic packaged and I could see used. It would not turn on. They want me to pay more shipping back than value of item!

I order set of sheets for my bed. I open and I can see it was also used. It was shoved in plastic and I see blood stain. I show Amazon and they deny it. They also want me to pay for shipping back. Many people have problem with Amazon!

Other people I know have package open and things stolen and one item had rock put inside!

Precios bajos pero problemas para devolver productos rotos: el lado B de Amazon en Argentina

De la mano de la apertura comercial de Milei, las plataformas internacionales de e-commerce comenzaron a seducir al mercado nacional. La norteamericana no tiene oficina en el país y hay inconvenientes para las devoluciones. El impacto en MercadoLibre.

www.eldiarioar.com

Thanks @Avocado I heard from 2 clients that bought sheets for their bed on Amazon and they were used. They had a heck of a time trying to get a refund.

 

[Digital Nomad]

Thanks @Avocado I heard from 2 clients that bought sheets for their bed on Amazon and they were used. They had a heck of a time trying to get a refund.

Also talked to a few friends that had issues with Amazon on broken stuff. As Americans we can easily dispute stuff but I think Argentine credit cards aren't as strong. Several friends had to pay some big return fee. In the US it's seamless but here it is more of a pain waiting for it and the chance that something is used or broken.

 

[Betsy Ross]

Has anyone ordered stuff from Amazon lately? Working ok? I tried a few months ago and terrible and took forever. I read about some improvement. @StatusNomadicus did you get your stuff ok?

 

[lemonade]

Has anyone ordered stuff from Amazon lately? Working ok? I tried a few months ago and terrible and took forever. I read about some improvement. @StatusNomadicus did you get your stuff ok?

Amazon has worked for me ok. I have used them several times and although it took about 1 month the things came ok. They came to my apartment via DHL. The fees still added up. And you can only get a few packages each year. I'm already at 4. Does anyone know how many you can get each year?

 

[Mother Russia Argentina]

Amazon has worked for me ok. I have used them several times and although it took about 1 month the things came ok. They came to my apartment via DHL. The fees still added up. And you can only get a few packages each year. I'm already at 4. Does anyone know how many you can get each year?

I also order ok. Things take 3-4 weeks. They have deals sometimes where if your order is over $100 it may come with free shipping. But it's not free because you must pay "import fees". Not all items are included for free shipping offer. If they don't qualify for free shipping then you pay or shipping + import fees which when you add up, make it expensive.

Pro tip is select Argentina as the shipping country before and there is a box for selecting "Eligible for free shipping" in the filter down on the left side.

You are allowed up to 5 small deliveries via courier each year and each order can't be more than $400 per order. This is all tracked by your DNI #.
See below:

https://www.afip.gob.ar/envios-internacionales/courier/pequenios-envios.asp

This isn't just for Amazon but also with others like Mercado Libre or Alibaba that ships with couriers into Argentina. DHL is the best for this kind of delivery into Argentina based on my experience.

Avoid anything that goes through Correo Argentina which is a nightmare. They have their own system and it is terrible!

Puerta a Puerta - Envíos internacionales | ARCA

Procedimiento para cada tipo de envío de mercadería.

www.afip.gob.ar

 

[Blockchain]

I talked to some people I met that said as long as it's DHL it is not too long. But a few said things took forever or arrived broken or used!