International Amazon Shopping Guide: How To Buy Safely & Efficiently

Amazon offers a vast product range, competitive prices, and items that may not be available in your local market.
With AmazonGlobal / International Shipping, Amazon filters and shows products eligible for global delivery.
Many forwarding companies and third-party services assist in shipping goods from international warehouses to your country.

Not all items ship internationally: The product page may display “This item doesn’t ship to your selected address.”
High shipping costs and import taxes: Amazon collects an “Import Fees Deposit” to pre-pay estimated duties; any overpayment is refunded.
Foreign exchange and conversion fees: Paying with an international credit/debit card may incur unfavorable exchange rates.
Need a US / international forwarding address: For items Amazon won’t ship to your country, you must use a forwarder to receive items at a foreign warehouse, then forward to you.
Customs regulations & restricted items: Some goods (e.g. lithium batteries, cosmetics, electronics) may be restricted by import laws.

Step 1: Create or Use Amazon Account

Step 2: Add Your International Shipping Address

Go to Your Account → Your Addresses → add your country address (street, ZIP, phone).
Set this address as default; Amazon will then filter products based on ship-to eligibility.

Step 3: Browse & Filter Products That Ship Internationally

Use filters like “International Shipping” or search via Amazon Global.
On product pages, look for statements like “Ships from and sold by Amazon.com” and “This item ships to [your country].”
Pay attention to weight and dimensions because international shipping costs scale with weight/volume.

Step 4: Add to Cart & Choose Shipping Method

Click “Add to Cart” (Add to Basket).
In checkout, Amazon will show shipping options, estimated delivery times, and approximate cost.
Choose from Standard, Expedited, Priority (if available for your country).

Step 5: Make Payment

Amazon accepts major international cards (Visa, MasterCard, AmEx).
Amazon may apply its own currency conversion — it’s sometimes better to pay in original currency if your bank offers a better rate.
Amazon includes an Import Fees Deposit to cover estimated duties and customs. If actual cost is lower, Amazon refunds the difference.

Step 6: Track & Receive Your Order

Once shipped, you get a tracking number.
If Amazon ships directly to your country, just wait at your address.
If you used a forwarder: the order arrives at their warehouse; they then ship to your address and handle customs on your behalf.

Step 7: Inspect & Handle Issues

Upon arrival, check quantity, condition, and defects.
If you need to return items, verify Amazon’s international return policies or arrange with the forwarder to ship back.

Consolidate orders: Instead of many small orders, combine them to reduce per-order shipping cost.
Choose wisely among shipping tiers: Standard is cheapest but slowest.
Pick reliable forwarding / buy-for-me services: Look for reputation, transparency, insurance — e.g., A2E Ship.
Review seller ratings and shipment origin, avoid obscure foreign sellers with long delivery times (2–3 weeks) as reported by users.
Choose good cards / payment methods: Favor those with low foreign-currency fees and fair exchange rates.
Check import regulations of your country for restricted items and applicable taxes.
Keep invoice & tracking proof: In case you must dispute charges or request refunds.

Amazon can ship to Vietnam, if the product supports international shipping.
Amazon Prime free shipping / perks often do not apply internationally.
When direct shipping is unsupported, forwarders become the default solution.
According to community feedback:

“Shipping can be more expensive than what you actually order, and it usually took from half a month to like 2 months to get delivered.”