Shopping On Amazon In Bolivia: A Step-By-Step Guide

Amazon delivers to Bolivia, but only certain items. To find out if your desired product is eligible for delivery to Bolivia, you can use Amazon's International Shopping Portal, which only displays items available for international shipping. If the item you want doesn't ship to Bolivia, you can use a package forwarder like Planet Express or MyUS, which will accept your package in the US and forward it to your address in Bolivia.

Amazon's international shipping portal

Amazon delivers to Bolivia, but only certain items are eligible for international shipping due to legal and safety reasons. To check if an item can be shipped to Bolivia, you can use Amazon's International Shopping Portal. This portal only displays items that are available for international shipping.

To make full use of the International Shopping Portal, you must set up your "1-Click" address so Amazon knows your country of residence. Here's how to do it:

Setting Up Your "1-Click" Address

• Go to the "1-Click" address page and ensure that your current address is listed as your default address.
• Enable "1-Click" on the right side of the page.

Once you've set up your address, you can browse the International Shopping Portal and only see items that can be shipped to Bolivia.

Using a Package Forwarder

If you want to purchase items that Amazon doesn't ship directly to Bolivia, you can use a package forwarder. A package forwarder provides you with a US/UK address so that you can ship items to them, and they will then forward the package to your address in Bolivia. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Choose a Package Forwarder

When choosing a package forwarder, consider factors such as service fees, monthly fees, pricing transparency, speed, and customer service. Some popular package forwarders include Planet Express and MyUS.

Step 2: Ship Your Order to the Package Forwarder

After signing up with a package forwarder, you will receive a unique mailing address at their warehouse. Use this address as your shipping address when making a purchase on Amazon.

Step 3: Forward Your Package

Once your package arrives at the package forwarder's warehouse, they will notify you and provide you with shipping options and costs. Choose the option that best suits your needs and budget.

Using a package forwarder allows you to purchase a wider range of items from Amazon and have them delivered to Bolivia, although it may incur additional costs and time for shipping.

Payment Methods

When shopping on Amazon, you can pay with a credit card (MasterCard, Visa, American Express, JCB, Discover, UnionPay, Diners Club), debit cards, US-based bank accounts, Amazon.com store cards, and Amazon gift cards.

Additionally, some package forwarders, like Planet Express, offer a "Shop For Me" service, where they will purchase the item on your behalf and you can pay them directly.

Shipping Costs and Time

The shipping cost and time for Amazon deliveries to Bolivia depend on various factors, including the number of products, the type of items, the weight and size of the package, and the shipping method chosen. Amazon typically provides different shipping options with varying costs and delivery times.

When using a package forwarder, the shipping cost may also depend on the forwarder's pricing structure and the shipping method you select.

Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime offers benefits such as free shipping within the USA and video and music streaming. However, the free shipping benefit only applies to domestic orders within the USA. If you have Amazon Prime and want to ship to Bolivia, you can use a package forwarder like Planet Express to take advantage of the free domestic shipping and then forward your package internationally.

Buying Kindle Books

Kindle books can only be purchased from the Amazon store where your Kindle is registered. For example, if you bought your Kindle from Amazon.com, you must buy your Kindle books from the same store.

Amazon Lockers

There are no Amazon Lockers in Bolivia. However, you can still get Amazon items delivered to your home address in Bolivia without any issues.

In conclusion, Amazon's International Shopping Portal and the use of package forwarders provide convenient methods for customers in Bolivia to purchase and receive items from Amazon. By following the steps outlined above, you can take advantage of Amazon's vast selection and have your desired items delivered to your doorstep in Bolivia.

Package forwarders

Even after setting up your 1-Click address, Amazon still won't ship a lot of items to Bolivia. In those cases, you'll need to work with a package forwarder, a company with a US address that will accept your package and forward it to your address in Bolivia.

Choosing a Package Forwarder

Choosing the right package forwarder is important, as it will determine how quickly you receive your order and the cost of shipping. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a package forwarder:

• Service Fees: How much they charge to accept and ship packages, including additional services like long-term storage, re-packing, and package consolidation.
• Monthly Fees: How much they charge in monthly fees.
• Pricing Transparency: How much they share about their shipping prices before you send your order to their warehouse.
• Speed: How quickly they process and ship out packages.
• Customer Service: How satisfied other users are with their service and how quickly/thoroughly they respond to questions.

After reviewing fourteen of the best package forwarders, Planet Express and MyUS.com were found to be the best options for shipping to Bolivia. Both companies have thousands of 5-star reviews online and offer extremely competitive rates.

Shipping Your Order

After signing up with your chosen package forwarder, you'll receive a unique mailing address at their warehouse. When making a purchase on Amazon, simply enter your unique warehouse address instead of your home address as the shipping address.

Once your package arrives at the warehouse, the forwarder will send you photos of it and give you a series of shipping options to choose from. You can then choose the option that best suits your budget and desired delivery time.

Personal Experience with Planet Express

I've used Planet Express more than a dozen times to ship packages to different parts of the world, and the experience has always been smooth. Here's how things went the last time I did it:

• I placed my order and had it sent to my unique address at the Planet Express warehouse.
• Less than 48 hours later, I received an email from Planet Express letting me know that my order had arrived.
• I filled in Planet Express' customs declaration form with the following information: the item being shipped, the number of items being shipped, the value of the item, and whether the item contained batteries.
• I chose the shipping option I wanted from a list of eight options. Prices ranged from $6-$35 USD, plus insurance at an additional $2 USD. I chose the cheapest option ($8 USD, including insurance), and my package was shipped out the same day.
• I didn't have to pay any customs or duties on my order, but this may depend on the value and type of item you buy.

Overall, shipping Amazon items to Bolivia using a package forwarder like Planet Express or MyUS.com is a surprisingly easy and smooth process. The costs are low, and you may even end up saving money, as Amazon's prices are often lower than those of local retailers in Bolivia.

Payment methods

The payment methods available to you in Bolivia depend on your residence status.

If you are a tourist, you can pay with cash, a credit or debit card (Visa or Mastercard), or a Payoneer prepaid card. It is recommended that you carry between 200 Bs. to 350 Bs. ($30 to $50) in cash for everyday purchases, and no more than 1,000 Bolivianos Bs. (nearly $150) to avoid becoming a target for robbers.

If you are a temporary or permanent resident, you can open a bank account with a Bolivian bank and use other payment methods such as Soli from BCP Bank and Tigo Money.

For businesses operating in Bolivia, Stripe and Stripe Atlas, a foreign PayPal account, and a business bank account are all options for receiving payments from customers.

When it comes to purchasing from Amazon, you can pay with a credit card (Mastercard, Visa, American Express, JCB, Discover, UnionPay, Diners Club), debit cards, US-based bank accounts, Amazon.com store cards, and Amazon gift cards. If you are unable to use these methods, you can use Planet Express' Shop For Me service, where they will buy the product using their credit card, and you will pay them directly.

Shipping costs

Amazon calculates shipping fees at checkout, based on the number of items, item type, weight, and volume of all the items in the cart. The total shipping cost is calculated by adding a base "Per Shipment" cost and various "Per Item" costs. The "Per Item" cost depends on the item, and is based on the quantity of items, the weight, or volume (referred to as the dimensional weight) of each package.

For example, shipping costs to Bolivia for smaller items like clothing can range from $5 to $10, while larger, more valuable items like electronics can cost $50 to $100.

When using a package forwarder like Planet Express, shipping costs from the US to Bolivia are generally in the range of $6 to $35, plus insurance. Planet Express offers a shipping calculator to help estimate costs.

For items purchased from a seller on Amazon Marketplace, shipping fees depend on the type of product purchased. For international expedited shipping, non-media products weighing up to 1 lb cost $16.95, and over 1 lb cost $24.95.

Amazon Global Store shipping rates vary depending on the country of origin and delivery speed. For example, standard shipping from the Global Store in the UK costs $9.69 per shipment plus $2.89 per unit for books, media, and video games, plus $2.89 per pound. Priority shipping from the UK costs $18.49 per shipment plus $6.99 per unit for books, media, and video games, plus $7.19 per pound.

It's important to note that not all shipping options are available in all areas, and certain items may be restricted from shipping to Bolivia.

Shipping times

When using a package forwarder like Planet Express or MyUS, the total shipping time includes the time taken for the package to reach the forwarder's warehouse, plus the time taken for the forwarder to process and ship the package to Bolivia.

For example, MyUS typically spends 1-2 days processing orders (excluding weekends and holidays) after they arrive at their warehouse. Once shipped, delivery to Bolivia can take anywhere from 1 to 12 days, depending on the shipping method chosen.

Planet Express offers a similar service, with most shipping requests processed within 2 to 3 business days. They also offer an "Urgent" option for expedited handling, ensuring your package is shipped out on the same day.

It's important to note that the time taken for your Amazon order to reach the package forwarder's warehouse depends on Amazon's shipping policy and delivery times, which can range from 2 to a couple of weeks.

Overall, the total shipping time for orders from Amazon to Bolivia can vary significantly, depending on the chosen shipping methods and the use of a package forwarder.

Frequently asked questions