Key Points:
- Amazon Global is an international marketplace where you can find a wide array of products that may not be easily available in your country
- Amazon advises sellers to ensure that all taxes and duties are covered so that customers don’t have to deal with them.
- For example, for delivery to the US, standard global shipping costs $5.42/shipment +$2.46/lb
It seems like an understatement to say that Amazon is one of the biggest names in eCommerce. But the Seattle-based internet behemoth took a population wary of online scams and converted it into million of devoted online shoppers. Now, with Amazon Global, the company is offering a truly international marketplace that connects eCommerce retailers with customers all over the world. But how does it actually work? This article will break down everything you need to know about Amazon Global, from how to use it and how much it costs to whether you need to deal with customs and fulfillment.
Table of Contents
What Is Amazon Global?
This is one of Amazon’s numerous offerings. It allows people across the world to conveniently and safely purchase various products and have them quickly shipped to wherever they are. Currently, it operates in 130 countries.
Essentially, it’s an international marketplace where you can find a wide array of products that may not be easily available in your country. Although not all products on the platform are available in each of these countries, it gives shoppers access to a wider array of goods. The service also goes the extra mile to offer both sellers and buyers certain functionalities that make the whole process fast and seamless, including showing if a particular product is available in a certain country and offering fulfillment through Amazon Global shipping.
How Does It Work?
Thanks to a rather intuitive interface, it’s rather simple to use Amazon Global. Of course, how you use it depends on whether you’re a seller or a customer. As a customer, the process is pretty simple. If you’re new to Amazon, you can create an account and in the process, you’ll be asked to set an address. If you’re outside the US and in a country that offers this service, you’ll automatically be set up for international shopping and shipping at this stage. If you’re already an Amazon customer, here’s how to set your international options:
- Log into your account.
- Click into the “Accounts & Lists” tab then select “Your Account”.
- Under “Ordering and Shopping Preferences,” click on “Your Address.”
- Select “Add a New Address” and enter the required international information.
- At the bottom of the page, click on “Add Address” and hit save.
- Next to the international address you’ve just added, click “Set as Default.”
By setting an international address as your default shipping address in your account, you will automatically be added to the global store. You will now be able to browse the international market and have these items shipped directly to you.
As an Amazon seller, though, the process is a little different.
How to Sell on Amazon Global?
As a seller, the platform will work a little differently. Luckily, Amazon Global selling is a breeze. This is how you can start selling your products to international customers on the platform:
- Register for a seller’s account.
- List the items you wish to sell.
- Do some research to figure out how much international shipping will cost. Amazon does reimburse some of these costs, but it’s often not enough to cover the international shipping fee.
- Set your account to say that you can ship internationally. You can also choose to select this option temporarily for specific items, or set to sell to particular regions (but not countries).
- State which country you’re shipping from and provide an accurate idea of shipping times.
- Once orders start coming in, make sure they’re fulfilled quickly and properly.
- After the shipments have been delivered, Amazon will deduct their fees then transfer the remaining funds from the sale into your bank account.
How Much Does it Cost?
Getting things from a different country doesn’t come free. That’s why on top of the price of your purchases, you’ll have to pay a delivery fee. During the checkout process, you’ll usually be given a few delivery options to choose from. Each of these will have a different price, depending on the speed of delivery.
However, these prices will differ between products. That’s because Amazon uses a standard method to calculate shipping costs based on package dimensions and weights. For certain countries, prices may also vary based on product categories. For example, for delivery to Russia, you’ll pay $3.18/shipment plus $15.44/lb for things like clothes, toys, and electronics; other product categories are priced at $3.18/shipment plus $23.18/lb.
Below are some standard delivery rates for deliveries made in the US:
- Standard Global Shipping: 9-12 days, $5.42/shipment +$2.46/lb
- Expedited Global Shipping: 5-9 days, $8.14/shipment + $277/lb
- Priority Global Shipping:2-4 days, $10.86/shipment +$3.07/lb
What About Customs?
That’s a pertinent question since, with Amazon Global selling, we’re talking about international shipping. To put it simply, yes, you will need to think about customs formalities and dealing with import taxes and duties. These fees are usually based on the market value of the product being shipped. Usually, the sender (in this case, the Amazon seller) will make an initial “Import Fees Deposit.” However, if this isn’t enough to cover the duties, you may be asked to pay an additional charge. Below are a few other things you should know about dealing with customs with your Amazon shipments:
- Amazon advises sellers to ensure that all taxes and duties are covered so that customers don’t have to deal with them.
- You should make sure all your paperwork is filled out correctly so that your shipments don’t get stuck in customs. This includes the appropriate harmonized codes and addresses. If you’re struggling, Easyship offers automated customs forms.
- Most couriers will give you an estimate of import/export taxes and duties before you confirm your shipment.
- Don’t forget that customs may open and inspect your package at any point while in transit.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
The Amazon Global store puts the world at your fingertips, so it’s a pretty great service. If you’re weighing up whether the service will suit you, here are a few things that may help you make that decision:
- There’s a huge variety of items from all over the world.
- There’s great security that protects every customer’s personal payment information.
- Amazon Global logistics offers affordable prices, especially if you’re sending bulk shipments.
- There’s 24/7 customer support.
- It offers shipment tracking.
- You can get warranties based on certain conditions.
- Returns and refunds are processed pretty quickly.
Access the World Market with Amazon Global
Amazon Global is a truly international marketplace. For sellers, it represents an opportunity to scale your business by reaching international markets that may have been previously inaccessible. Customers, on the other hand, can find products from nearly anywhere in the world.
If you’re a seller, you may have some hesitations about using the Amazon Global store because of concerns over how to fulfill orders from international customers. The trick is to be able to access a range of fulfillment options so that you can always find one that can reach your customers in good time - and at an affordable price.
Easyship integrates directly with Amazon and through our platform, you’ll be able to access over 250 courier solutions that will make international deliveries a breeze. You’ll be able to use our full range of tools, from automated labels and branded tracking to give your customers (and yourself!) a seamless post-purchase experience.
Sign up for a free account today to test how we can help your business succeed on Amazon Global.
