Amazon's Shipping Conundrum: Unraveling The Afghanistan Delivery Mystery

Amazon does ship some items to Afghanistan, including clothing and home decor. However, for many products, you will see the message This item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location. This is especially common for valuable items such as cameras and electronics.

There are two methods for getting Amazon packages shipped to Afghanistan with minimal fees. The first is to use Amazon's International Page, which allows you to set your 1-Click address so that Amazon knows what country you want to ship to and only shows you items that can be delivered there. The second method involves using a package forwarder, a company that will accept your package in the United States and forward it to your address in Afghanistan.

Amazon's international shipping options

AmazonGlobal is Amazon's international portal, allowing customers to shop from anywhere in the world. However, sometimes the product you want may not be available in your country. In this case, you can use a shipping forwarder like MyUS or Planet Express, which will first deliver your package to an address in the US (or another country where the product is available), and then forward it to your address.

Amazon also offers free international shipping on certain orders. Orders shipping to eligible international destinations with at least the stated minimum dollar amount of eligible items qualify for free AmazonGlobal Standard Shipping. You can identify eligible items by the "FREE Shipping" message on the product detail or search results pages.

• Set your delivery address to the eligible country.
• Add at least the minimum amount required of eligible products to your shopping cart.
• Proceed to checkout.
• Ship your items to a shipping address in an eligible international country.
• Place your order. Your estimated delivery date will be stated on the order summary page.

It's important to note that Amazon's shipping options vary depending on factors such as product weight, size, and delivery address. Additionally, some items on Amazon cannot be shipped internationally at all.

Using a package forwarder

Here's how it works:

Step 1: Choose a Package Forwarder

When choosing a package forwarder, consider the following:

• Service fees: How much do they charge for accepting and shipping packages, as well as additional services like long-term storage, re-packing, and package consolidation?
• Monthly fees: Are there any monthly fees involved?
• Pricing transparency: How much information do they provide about shipping prices before you send your order to their warehouse?
• Speed: How quickly do they process and ship packages?
• Customer service: Are their customers satisfied with their service, and do they respond to questions promptly and thoroughly?

Based on these criteria, two of the most recommended package forwarders for shipping to Afghanistan are MyUS.com and Planet Express. MyUS stands out for its low rates, tax-free shipping, and popularity, while Planet Express is known for its excellent customer service, low fees, and additional perks like a tax-free warehouse in Oregon and package consolidation.

Step 2: Sign Up and Get Your US Address

After choosing your package forwarder, sign up for an account and get your unique US shipping address. For example, MyUS offers a free 30-day trial and a US shipping address upon sign-up.

Step 3: Add Your US Address to Amazon

Add your new US address to your Amazon account as one of your shipping addresses.

Step 4: Shop on Amazon and Ship to Your US Address

Once you've set up your US shipping address, you can shop on Amazon and place your order using your US address. Your package forwarder will receive the package and forward it to your Afghanistan address.

Step 5: Choose Your Shipping Options

When your package arrives at the warehouse of your chosen package forwarder, they will notify you and provide you with shipping options based on the weight, size, and value of your package. Choose the option that best suits your preferences and budget.

Benefits of Using a Package Forwarder

• The ability to buy any product from Amazon, even those that aren't available for direct shipping to Afghanistan.
• Consolidation of multiple packages into a single shipment, reducing shipping costs.
• Tax-free warehouses and shipping options, helping you save money.
• Fast processing and shipping times, with some companies offering same-day shipping for urgent packages.
• Easy returns and refunds for damaged or incorrect items.
• Tracking options to follow your package's journey from the US to Afghanistan.

Payment methods

Amazon accepts a variety of payment methods, including credit and debit cards. The following payment methods are available for use:

• Visa (including the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card)
• China UnionPay (credit card only)
• Visa, Mastercard, or American Express prepaid credit or gift cards
• Amazon Gift Cards
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) (U.S. billing addresses only) for the purchase of FSA or HSA eligible items
• SNAP EBT cards from participating states
• Amazon Business Card
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon Store Card and Amazon Secured Card
• Prime Visa and Amazon Visa Rewards Points
• Amazon Business American Express Card
• Pay by Invoice
• Pay over time in installments plan with Affirm
• Digital wallets, including Apple Pay, Masterpass and Visa Checkout

You can add or update your payment methods by selecting 'Your Payments' in 'Your Account'.

Shipping times

Amazon Global

Amazon has recently expanded Amazon International Shopping, its selection of items from the main US Amazon store that can be shipped to Afghanistan and other countries. This is a lot like a filtered version of the main Amazon website that simply excludes the items that can't be shipped to Afghanistan.

If Amazon will ship your item directly to Afghanistan, it normally takes at least 5-7 business days, and in some cases, it can take quite a bit longer. Amazon has different shipping options you can choose from, but faster shipping methods can be quite expensive.

Package Forwarding Services

If you opt for a package forwarding service, such as Planet Express or MyUS, the delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose from their available options. Planet Express, for example, offers at least four shipping options corresponding to different price-speed combinations.

MyUS claims that after your Amazon order arrives at their warehouse, they will spend 1-2 days (excluding weekends and holidays) processing your order. After they ship it to you, you will get your item in Afghanistan within 1-12 days, depending on the shipping method you selected.

Amazon's Domestic Shipping

Standard shipping within the US may take up to 21 business days for APO, FPO, and DPO addresses.

Amazon Prime

As of October 2021, Amazon Prime is available in the following countries: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the UK, and the US.

Unfortunately, Afghanistan is not included in this list, which means that Amazon Prime is currently not available in Afghanistan. However, it is important to note that Amazon does ship some items to Afghanistan, and there are ways to get around the restrictions for specific products.

If you have Amazon Prime via Amazon.com, your orders will be eligible for free shipping within the USA. This means that if your order doesn't ship to Afghanistan, you can have it shipped for free to a package forwarder, such as Planet Express, and then have it forwarded on to your address in Afghanistan.

Additionally, Amazon has recently expanded its International Shopping selection, which includes items from the main US Amazon store that can be shipped to Afghanistan and other countries. This can be accessed through Amazon International Shopping, which is a filtered version of the main Amazon website that excludes items that cannot be shipped to Afghanistan.

While Amazon Prime itself may not be available in Afghanistan, there are still ways to take advantage of Amazon's shipping services and get your orders delivered to the country.

Frequently asked questions