My experience with Amazon $5 shipping to Ecuador

This new service has received some recent attention, so I decided to give it a try. I am very pleased with the results, so want to share:

October 1 – I ordered a few small items using Amazon’s $5 to Ecuador service. as a test. When putting in an Ecuador ship-to address, a few different things happened…
– Certain items prohibited by Ecuador customs cannot be ordered
– I was asked for an id number (I input my cedula)
– I put in the usual 2 cross streets, Building name, apt #, and Ecuador phone number. Order successfully placed!

For some reason the order was split into two packages. Amazon made use of a company called SkyPostal to do the actual shipping (I learned this when doing the tracking on the Amazon website). Amazon provided Skypostal’s tracking numbers, and I would go to the Skypostal website and track them. I could see in a timely manner where the packages were, including when they arrived in Quito, when Customs had them, and when Customs released them. Skypostal says for Ecuador delivery is 1-5 days from date of customs release.

Amazon had told me a receive date of Oct. 16, which I thought optimistic. That proved to be right on. After the 16th, on Amazon’s tracking said there was a delay, that next expected delivery date is the 26th, and if I don’t receive them by the 27th, I can get a full refund.

October 21 – I receive 2 emails from Urbano Express (similar to Servientrega). They tell me the packages are out for delivery and I will receive today. It gives me a link to track the packages using their app, which I downloaded. Coolest part about this app is it shows in real time where the driver is! I waited for him outside the building when I saw he was near, just in case he had trouble. I love that feature! With Servientrega, I’d get a call when they’re outside my building, not always the most convenient.

So…items from Amazon, ordered the 1st, received the 21st, good tracking, offer from Amazon for full refund if it was delayed past a certain point, nice local courier using live-time app to see where driver is, and only $5 delivery. Items ordered at Amazon’s usual price.

Side notes: For shipment to Ecuador, you can only order what customs allows. If the package is too big/heavy/has prohibited items, you can’t order it. That’s actually very helpful, Customs will not hold or keep your order if there’s no issue with it. Amazon makes sure it goes through customs, so you don’t have to worry about dealing with them.

Probably one of the best ordering experiences I’ve had here, other than having mild anxiety of wondering if they could find my apartment building, but it all worked out well.

As an FYI, the info below is what I saw on Skypostal’s website tracking. Nice info:

UIOOUT FOR DELIVERY2024-10-21 10:03:00
UIOIN TRANSIT2024-10-21 09:03:00
UIOIN TRANSIT2024-10-18 22:01:00
UIOTENDERED TO LOCAL CARRIER2024-10-18 20:01:00
UIOCUSTOMS RELEASE2024-10-16 13:23:00
UIOCUSTOMS CLEARED2024-10-16 03:54:00
UIOCUSTOMS ENTRY2024-10-16 03:54:00
UIOARRIVED IN COUNTRY2024-10-08 18:57:00
MIAFLIGHT DEPARTED2024-10-08 14:49:00
MIASHIPPED2024-10-07 15:34:48
MIAPROCESSED2024-10-07 12:28:13
MIANESTED TO RECEPTACLE2024-10-07 12:09:59
MIARECEIVED2024-10-07 12:09:49
MIARECEPTACLE RECEIVED IN US TRANSPORT FACILITY2024-10-07 05:29:47
MIADOCUMENTATION COMPLETE2024-10-01 06:38:55
MIADATA RECEIVED2024-10-01 06:38:55

NecesitoMasCafe: workingwithcoffee@yahoo.com

City: Cuenca

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NecesitoMasCafe
Necesitomascafe
If any are still interested, I have just placed a Temu order (arts n crafts stuff), and will post the results once I receive them. 0 0
Graham Carter
Graham Carter
The Harmonized System (HS) code is a global product classification system used by customs authorities around the world to assess duties. It is administered by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and updated every five years. You are never going to determine the rhyme or reason of it, other than to... Read more 0 0
Keira Gillis
Keira Gillis
It happened to me, I have exceeded the yearly $1,600 limit. I ship items via TMA Logistics ($5.50 / lb) and they've sent me a WhatsApp message last week letting me know that I am over the $1,600 limit. They've asked me to add a second person to my account... 0 0
Graham Carter
Graham Carter
Interesting! I usually ship via TMA who has the best per pound rate. Once I noticed my order exceeded the 4kg limit due to inaccurate weight listed for an item. I noticed in the email notifications the packages were split and one seemed to have gone thru Customs under another... 0 0
Keira Gillis
Keira Gillis
Could a person snatch a cedula number by standing behind someone at a store who is checking out? Most likely it's possible. But just knowing someone cedula number won't help. I've asked a dear friend if I could use his info to order more stuff online and he said "of... 0 0
Graham Carter
Graham Carter
I only gave Amazon my cedula number and received my $5 shipping order without supplying DOB. Your TMA experience is quite revealing. My point is despite what an employee of a govt. authorized importer tells you, as only a perm visa holder, I would want all the invoices of my... 0 0
Keira Gillis
Keira Gillis
That's exactly what I've gathered, you can use as many people's cedula numbers as you'd like if they don't shop online from other countries themselves. That's great news for me too. (big smile) 0 0
Graham Carter
Graham Carter
Amazon doesn't require DOB, but allows multiple IDs to be stored (just verified that). Could a person snatch a cedula number and its 4x4 import balance by being in line behind someone checking out at Coral...? No bueno! 0 0
Graham Carter
Graham Carter
TMA better hope they don't have Customs employees as their customers! :-0 DOB is front side of cedula data that commonly is shared via photocopy. That sketchiness cuts both ways... 0 0
Graham Carter
Graham Carter
Clarification: The vendor, not Amazon, is responsible for accuracy of all its products' data so the system can make a split second determination in search results and product detail page of purchase status based on shipping address. It's why you'll see anomalies that make no sense: garbage in by the... 0 0
Nathanael Jackson
Nathanael Jackson
Just wanted to add for a address, I used the local DHL address. This way all I had to do was go pick it up. Communication was great, three emails and even a call from ExpressDHL. 0 0
NecesitoMasCafe
Necesitomascafe
Interesting! That's what I'd been doing with my Servientrega shipments, which is who Tiendamia uses. In the past they would just show up and call me when they were outside the building, and no tracking number from Tiendamia. So I changed it to a 'hold for pickup' and a local... 0 0
Keira Gillis
Keira Gillis
Thank you for such valuable information. Regarding the question of NecesitoMasCafe, I gave it a try to order a heavy item, a carpet, just to see how Amazon reacts. So I put a nice looking carpet into my shopping cart and headed to check out. Here is what Amazon showed... Read more 0 0
NecesitoMasCafe
Necesitomascafe
For your item above, it looks like the item is permitted, but since its weight exceeds the 4kg (I'm guessing that's what you're saying), it no longer falls under the 4x4 customs exemption rule, thus the added shipping charges as well as import charge. In the past I've used Tiendamia,... 0 0
Graham Carter
Graham Carter
In reality, knowing exactly the import tariff fees charged for Cat. C imports (100kg $5,000 limits) is relatively easy to look up. Ask the vendor for the commodity's Harmonized Tariff Code. Enter the code into SENAE's online tariff database and it shows you the fees: advalorem tax is variable %,... 0 0
Graham Carter
Graham Carter
And very few items are "forbidden" to import. Ecuador happily will collect up to 45.5% of the item's value in tariff charges. The obvious items prohibited (firearms, flammable liquids, currency). The weird (used spare parts). 0 0
Patricia Babcock
Patricia Babcock
I'll share my test too! I ordered 3 of one item which came in a shipping bag. FYI, I believe restrictions to international shipping is vendor or manufacturer specific, not item specific. For example, if one item under the 4x4 limit weight says cannot be shipped to Ecuador, try searching... Read more 0 0
MrBill
Mrbill
Thanks for the update. I am in the process of putting together an order. Something I found a little frustrating is I am wanting to order replacement receivers for my hearing aids. I add both the left and the right and I go to checkout and it says the right... Read more 0 0
NecesitoMasCafe
Necesitomascafe
Is your order exceeding $400? Amazon would recognize that your order must fall under the 4x4 rule (under 4 kilos AND/OR $400). 0 0
MrBill
Mrbill
Yes I checked both of those things. 0 0
Arnie Geddon
Arnie Geddon
Thank you for this thorough report. Sounds encouraging. 0 0