Amazon's Presence In Belarus: Exploring Availability And Accessibility

Amazon does not have a dedicated website for Belarus, and only a select few products on Amazon can be shipped to the country. Around two-thirds of third-party sellers on Amazon do not ship internationally. However, it is still possible to get Amazon products delivered to Belarus by using a package forwarder or a personal shopping service.

Amazon's International Shopping Portal

Amazon International Shopping is a service provided by Amazon that allows customers from all over the world to shop on Amazon and have their purchases delivered to their doorstep. Amazon ships to over 100 countries and regions and offers its website in 75 different currencies.

To make use of Amazon's international shopping services, you must first set up your "1-Click" address so that Amazon knows which country you want to ship to. This can be done by going to the "Account & Lists" page, selecting "Account", and then choosing "1-Click settings" under the "Ordering and shopping preferences" list. Here, you can manage your addresses and ensure that your current address is listed as the default.

Once your address is set up, you can browse Amazon's international section, which only displays items available for international shipping. Amazon's international shopping portal also allows you to estimate shipping costs by placing items in your cart before checking out.

However, it is important to note that not all items on Amazon can be shipped internationally. Certain products, especially valuable ones like cameras and electronics, may be restricted from shipping to certain countries. In these cases, you may need to use a package forwarder, which is a company that accepts your package in the United States and forwards it to your address in your country.

Amazon also offers an Amazon Global service, which is an international shipping service that delivers packages to your country using couriers like UPS, DHL, and FedEx. Local couriers in your country then handle the final leg of the shipment to ensure your package reaches your address.

Amazon International Shopping provides a convenient way for customers worldwide to shop on Amazon and have their purchases delivered directly to them. With a simple address setup process and an international shopping portal, customers can easily find items that can be shipped to their location and estimate shipping costs.

Shipping Forwarders

While Amazon delivers some items to Belarus, including clothing and home decor, many products will not be shipped to the country. This is due to the difficulties of getting products through Belarus Customs, which can be a time-consuming and costly process. As a result, many Amazon sellers will not ship internationally.

However, it is still possible to get Amazon products delivered to Belarus by using a shipping forwarder. This is a company that will accept your package in the United States and forward it to your address in Belarus.

Choosing a Package Forwarder

There are several package forwarders to choose from, including Planet Express and MyUS.com. When selecting a package forwarder, consider the following:

• Service fees: How much do they charge to accept and ship packages, including additional services like long-term storage and re-packing?
• Monthly fees: Are there any monthly charges?
• Pricing transparency: How much information do they provide about shipping prices before you send your order?
• Speed: How quickly do they process and ship packages?
• Customer service: How satisfied are other users with their service? How quickly and thoroughly do they respond to queries?

Using a Package Forwarder

Once you've chosen a package forwarder, you'll need to sign up for an account and get a US shipping address. You can then add this address to your Amazon account and purchase your items. The package forwarder will receive your packages and forward them to you in Belarus.

Some package forwarders, like MyUS, offer a free estimate of the shipping cost before you make a purchase. They may also offer a VIP membership with discounted shipping rates for high-volume shippers.

Payment Methods

Amazon.com accepts a variety of payment methods, including major debit and credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, American Express, JCB, Discover, UnionPay, and Diners Club), US-based bank accounts, Amazon.com store cards, and Amazon gift cards. However, your card may be refused if you have a Belarus billing address or if your card is not enabled or is prohibited from use in the USA.

If you encounter issues with payment methods, you can use the services of a package forwarder like Planet Express or MyUS, which offer alternative payment options. For example, Planet Express provides a "Shop For Me" service, where they will buy the product using their credit card, and you pay them directly instead of Amazon. MyUS, on the other hand, offers a concierge service where they will place the order for you for a fee.

Shipping Times

When using a package forwarder like Planet Express or MyUS, the total delivery time includes the time it takes for the package to reach the forwarder's warehouse, plus the time for the forwarder to process and ship the package to Belarus. Planet Express typically processes packages within 48 hours, while MyUS takes 1-2 days to process packages (excluding weekends and holidays).

For example, if you use MyUS to forward a package from Amazon to Belarus, the total delivery time would be the time it takes for Amazon to deliver the package to MyUS plus the 1-2 days for processing at MyUS, plus the 1-12 days for shipping from MyUS to Belarus.

The shipping method chosen will also affect the delivery time. Faster shipping methods, such as expedited or urgent shipping, can be more expensive but will reduce the overall delivery time.

It's important to note that shipping times can be unpredictable and may take longer than expected, especially when dealing with customs and international shipments.

Additionally, the time it takes for Amazon to deliver a package to the package forwarder's warehouse can vary depending on Amazon's shipping policy and delivery times, which could range from 2 days to a couple of weeks.

Belarus Customs

The main reason Amazon doesn't deliver to Belarus is due to the country's customs. The process of getting products through Belarus Customs is time-consuming and costly. Products from Amazon, or elsewhere, will likely be detained by customs, inspected, and subject to import duty before they are released to the recipient. This can create a poor customer experience, which is why many stores, including Amazon, choose to avoid it altogether.

The second reason is the added complexity of selling internationally. Some Amazon products, such as electronics, need to comply with Belarus's regulations. Additionally, aspects like international warranties, returns, packaging materials, and after-sale support become more complicated in international shipments.

The actual shipping process from Amazon to Belarus is also challenging. Shipping a product from Amazon to Belarus requires the seller to:

• Complete itemized customs documents and fill out the correct duty customisations.
• Validate the Belarus address, which differs from United States addresses.
• Calculate the cost of shipping from Amazon US to Belarus, which will be significantly higher.
• Offer detailed tracking from Amazon US to Belarus.
• Support longer delivery times.

How to Get Amazon Packages Shipped to Belarus

Despite the challenges, it is still possible to get Amazon packages shipped to Belarus. Here are two methods to achieve this:

Method 1: Amazon's International Page

Amazon has a special search portal that only shows items that can be shipped to your current address. To make full use of this page, you need to set up your "1-Click" address so Amazon knows which country you want to ship to. Here's how to do it:

• Go to the 1-Click settings under the "Ordering and shopping preferences" list in your account settings.
• Manage your addresses here and input your Belarus address.
• Enable 1-Click on the right side.

Now, when you search for products, you will only see items that can be shipped to your Belarus address.

Method 2: Shipping Forwarder

Even after setting up your 1-Click address, Amazon still might not ship certain items to Belarus. In this case, you can use a shipping forwarder, a company that will accept your package in the United States and forward it to your address in Belarus. Here are the steps:

• Choose a package forwarder. It is important to select a reliable company with good customer service and competitive shipping rates. Some recommended options include Planet Express and MyUS.com.
• Sign up with the shipping forwarder and obtain a unique US mailing address at their warehouse.
• When making a purchase on Amazon, enter your US warehouse address as the shipping address instead of your home address.
• Once your package arrives at the warehouse, the forwarder will notify you and provide shipping options to choose from.
• Select your preferred shipping option and have your package forwarded to your Belarus address.

Using a shipping forwarder allows you to get a wider range of Amazon products delivered to Belarus, although it may incur additional costs and take longer for the items to arrive.

Frequently asked questions