Selling On Amazon: Exploring Opportunities For Afghan Entrepreneurs

Amazon does not ship to Afghanistan, and Afghanistan is not a supported country for selling on Amazon. However, some third-party sellers on Amazon do ship internationally, and there are ways to get around the restrictions for buying and selling on Amazon from Afghanistan.

Amazon doesn't ship to Afghanistan due to customs complications

The actual shipping process from the US to Afghanistan is also challenging. Sellers are responsible for completing itemized customs documents, validating Afghanistan addresses, calculating higher international shipping costs, offering detailed tracking, and accommodating longer delivery times. These factors collectively contribute to Amazon's decision to avoid shipping to Afghanistan directly.

However, it is still possible to purchase items from Amazon and have them delivered to Afghanistan by using freight forwarding services like MyUS, Planet Express, or Flycrates. These services provide a US address for shipping and then forward the packages to Afghanistan for a fee. They can also consolidate multiple packages, saving on shipping costs.

Amazon Global International Shopping offers a filtered selection of items that can be shipped to Afghanistan

Amazon does not ship to Afghanistan. The American retail giant has a vast selection of products from every brand and store, making it a popular choice for online shoppers in Afghanistan. However, getting a product shipped from Amazon USA to Afghanistan can be challenging due to various reasons.

Firstly, Afghanistan Customs presents a significant hurdle. Packages sent to Afghanistan from abroad are often subject to inspection, import duty, and additional costs, resulting in a poor customer experience that Amazon and other retailers prefer to avoid. Secondly, selling internationally adds complexity to the process. For instance, electronic products may need to comply with local regulations, and issues like international warranties, returns, packaging, and after-sale support become more complicated.

Thirdly, the shipping process itself is cumbersome. The seller, who is responsible for shipping, must complete itemized customs documents, validate the Afghanistan address format, calculate higher international shipping costs, offer detailed tracking, and accommodate longer delivery times.

While Amazon does not directly ship to Afghanistan, there are alternative options. Amazon recommends Amazon Global International Shopping, which offers a filtered selection of items that can be shipped to Afghanistan. This platform simplifies the process by excluding items that cannot be shipped to the country. Additionally, freight forwarders like MyUS.com and Flycrates can assist in ordering and shipping items from Amazon.com to Afghanistan. These services provide U.S. shipping addresses, allowing you to forward packages to Afghanistan for a fee.

Freight forwarders like MyUS can help ship Amazon products to Afghanistan

While Amazon does not ship to Afghanistan, freight forwarders like MyUS can help get Amazon products delivered to the country.

MyUS is a freight forwarding company that provides its customers with a US address. This address can be used to order items online, which are then forwarded to the customer's real home address.

To use MyUS to ship Amazon products to Afghanistan, follow these steps:

• Sign up for a MyUS account and get a US shipping address.
• Add your MyUS US address to your Amazon shipping addresses.
• Purchase your items from Amazon and have them shipped to your US address. MyUS will receive the packages and forward them to you in Afghanistan.

MyUS offers a free estimate of the shipping cost before purchasing items from Amazon. They also provide a free 30-day trial and discounted shipping rates.

However, it is important to note that using a freight forwarder like MyUS does not eliminate the challenges of shipping to Afghanistan. Customs clearance, compliance with local regulations, and longer delivery times are still factors that can affect the shipping process.

Additionally, while MyUS has positive reviews highlighting its reliability, convenience, and reasonable prices, there are also negative reviews mentioning issues with customer service, lost packages, and unexpected charges.

Overall, freight forwarders like MyUS can be a solution for shipping Amazon products to Afghanistan, but it is essential to consider the potential challenges and mixed customer experiences.

Afghans can pay on Amazon.com with a variety of payment methods

Amazon.com accepts a wide range of payment options, including credit and debit cards from popular global payment networks such as American Express, Mastercard, and Visa. Prepaid credit or gift cards from Visa, Mastercard, or American Express are also accepted. Additionally, Amazon Gift Cards can be used for payment, and you can split payment between a gift card and a credit or debit card.

However, it is important to note that your card may be refused if you have an Afghan billing address or if your card is not enabled or is prohibited from use in the USA.

To manage your payment methods on Amazon, you can add or update them by selecting "Your Payments" in "Your Account." You can add a new payment card or change your existing payment details without placing an order through your Amazon Wallet.

Afghans can create a US Amazon seller account by using a stealth USA Amazon store for banking

Afghans hoping to sell on Amazon face a number of challenges. Firstly, Afghanistan is not a supported country for selling on Amazon. Additionally, Amazon does not ship to Afghanistan, and the process of getting products shipped from Amazon USA to Afghanistan is complicated and costly. This is due to the time and money required to navigate Afghanistan Customs, as well as the complexities of selling internationally, such as complying with local regulations and offering international warranties.

However, Afghans can create a US Amazon seller account by using a stealth USA Amazon store for banking. Here are the steps to create a stealth account:

Step 1: Get the Right Tools

• IP solution (VPN or VPS)
• New computer or device
• US phone number (forwarding service or real US phone)
• US credit card (VCC or real US credit card)
• Bank account (WorldFirst or Payoneer)

Step 2: Prepare Your Information

• Draft new profile information, including a new name, address, phone number, and email address. Use a friend or family member's name and get their consent.
• Create a new Gmail address and disable web beacon.
• Get a prepaid card for Amazon verification (e.g., GiftCards.com, Vanilla Mastercard, Vanilla Visa, DeluxeCard). Ensure the name matches the one you will use for Amazon.
• Find an address that matches your IP location and zip code. You can use a friend's address, rent a P.O. Box, or use any address you have access to.

Step 3: Set Up Your Device

• Swap your network adapter or spoof your MAC address. You can disable your current network adapter and buy a cheap USB network adapter from Amazon.
• Change your IP address using a VPN or proxy. Mobile proxies and static residential proxies are recommended.
• Clear cookies, Flash Objects, and browser fingerprints. You can use CCleaner software and Adobe Flash Player Settings Manager to do this.
• Install a new browser or use a Virtual Machine (e.g., VMware Workstation Player).

Step 4: Create Your Stealth Account

• Make sure there are no Amazon extensions or plugins installed in your browser.
• Head to the Amazon website and create your new account using your new personal details.
• List a low-risk item and start selling slowly until you are out of the review period.

Step 5: Stay Stealthy

• Keep using a Virtual Machine or a new browser to avoid accidentally revealing footprints that can be linked to your previous account.
• Stay organized by keeping a spreadsheet of all the data associated with your stealth account.
• Avoid using the same selling pattern, names, or addresses on your stealth account.

Please note that creating a stealth account is against Amazon's Program Policies, and you do so at your own risk.

Frequently asked questions