Amazon is shipping directly to the Dominican Republic?

JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
Jan 7, 2016
15,016
11,116
113
Amazon first level chat told me that if I order and it is shipped to the DR , either there will be no charge for shipping or they will refund the shipping to me if there is a charge. I was directed to:

.....

So now you know what I know so far,
Thanks for going through the process, Windy..
 
  • Like
Reactions: windeguy

JLSawmam

Happy on the North Coast
Sep 8, 2018
946
753
93
Next I went to an upper level person who said to check FREE AmazonGlobal Standard Shipping option during checkout.
Then they asked for the Postal Code which is 57000 for Puerto Plata Province including Cabarete
https://inposdom.gob.do/codigo-postal/?provincia=puertoplata Although that postal code might work, it might not. This link will help you find the postal code for your neighborhood. You can change the location to other cities,..I have it saved for Puerto Plata. TBH, we still don't know if the postal code is of any value in this process.
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
44,759
7,310
113
https://inposdom.gob.do/codigo-postal/?provincia=puertoplata Although that postal code might work, it might not. This link will help you find the postal code for your neighborhood. You can change the location to other cities,..I have it saved for Puerto Plata. TBH, we still don't know if the postal code is of any value in this process.
Thanks. I had to provide that to Amazon already and was familiar with 57000 being the postal code for Puerto Plata province. Today I will look into what if anything Amazon can do for me "direct".

As for what johne mentioned: What is a Q code? I have heard of QR codes, but not Q codes. And I have no idea how that would help regarding shipping from Amazon.
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
44,759
7,310
113
Looking at shipping from Amazon to DR today, just as test cases, first a TV to see what shipping costs are shown. Not showing options to ship free for TCL TVs to DR directly with Amazon - Strike One

Looking at a computer monitor, a 27 inch monitor that is $109 USD costs $84.31 USD to ship.
Would they really refund that $83.41 USD back to me as was mentioned in my customer support conversations?
Hmmm. Probably strike two
 
Nov 9, 2023
701
651
93
SC
I guess the bottleneck in the DR is the lack of a streamlined aduana/handling/home delivery service for direct imports. Something similar to IOSS and dedicated local couriers would make it a lot easier for customers. You order, you pay and it gets delivered to your door without extra added costs.
The (Miami) forwarding system is a bit outdated and expensive for todays standards of e-commerce imo.
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
44,759
7,310
113
I am able to find some items that ship free from Amazon, just not ones that I want or need at the moment
And the order amount has a $49 USD threshold for shipping free to the DR on items that qualify.

The real problem I think is that the DR has ridiculous duty on some things like TVs and electronics. Lawn sprinklers? Not a problem if you buy over $49 worth.
So for some limited subset of Amazon products, this could work.
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
44,759
7,310
113
Here is another example of what I found for a folding beach chair which they would ship while another similar one they would not ship:

$65.90 cost for item. No Import Charges & $74.02 Shipping to Dominican Republic
Would I get the 74 bucks back because I am a Prime member...
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
44,759
7,310
113
I had a phone call with a very nice Amazon support rep in India who assured me 100% that if I am charged any shipping to the DR that Amazon will refund the charges after I contact them that the item has arrived. He was very clear that an Amazon Prime member would be refunded any and all shipping charges.

Now, who is going to prove that out?
 

JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
Jan 7, 2016
15,016
11,116
113
Thanks. I had to provide that to Amazon already and was familiar with 57000 being the postal code for Puerto Plata province. Today I will look into what if anything Amazon can do for me "direct".

As for what johne mentioned: What is a Q code? I have heard of QR codes, but not Q codes. And I have no idea how that would help regarding

Much easier to get Q code photo on line from ai..free shipments to DR. Explains in detail if interested.

What is Q code? I've never heard of the term. Maybe he meant PLUS code?
 

cavok

Silver
Jun 16, 2014
11,250
5,167
113
Cabarete
https://inposdom.gob.do/codigo-postal/?provincia=puertoplata Although that postal code might work, it might not. This link will help you find the postal code for your neighborhood. You can change the location to other cities,..I have it saved for Puerto Plata. TBH, we still don't know if the postal code is of any value in this process.
I've had items shipped to me in Cabarete with FedEx and DHL and they both required the 57000 zip code on their shipment form.
 

JLSawmam

Happy on the North Coast
Sep 8, 2018
946
753
93
I've had items shipped to me in Cabarete with FedEx and DHL and they both required the 57000 zip code on their shipment form.
That sort of proves my point. The link I gave shows the postal code for Cabarate is 57600 (as is Sosua), so FedEx and DHL didn't really need an accurate code, but rather just a number in that box on their form. As long as it works, right?
 

cavok

Silver
Jun 16, 2014
11,250
5,167
113
Cabarete
That sort of proves my point. The link I gave shows the postal code for Cabarate is 57600 (as is Sosua), so FedEx and DHL didn't really need an accurate code, but rather just a number in that box on their form. As long as it works, right?
I think they just need a general idea where in the DR it's going(?). I think the DR only has postal codes for provinces or maybe even regions(?). There might be some areas in the DR where they don't deliver.
 

JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
Jan 7, 2016
15,016
11,116
113
I think they just need a general idea where in the DR it's going(?). I think the DR only has postal codes for provinces or maybe even regions(?). There might be some areas in the DR where they don't deliver.
The plus code will put a delivery person on your front porch.
 

JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
Jan 7, 2016
15,016
11,116
113
Are you saying you know for sure that they will deliver everywhere in the DR, even way out in the campo or up in the mountains?
No, I am not saying that.

I'm saying that a PLUS code is about as exact as you can get for a location.

I don't know if Amazon even uses them, but they do exist, and they are very accurate.

Try it on your PC or cel phone in Google maps.
 

cavok

Silver
Jun 16, 2014
11,250
5,167
113
Cabarete
No, I am not saying that.

I'm saying that a PLUS code is about as exact as you can get for a location.

I don't know if Amazon even uses them, but they do exist, and they are very accurate.

Try it on your PC or cel phone in Google maps.
I put +57000 on Google Maps and on my laptop and got nothing(?).
 

JD Jones

Moderator:North Coast,Santo Domingo,SW Coast,Covid
Jan 7, 2016
15,016
11,116
113
Too big of an area. Don't try it with the zip code, get your PLUS location from Maps then try a search for that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cavok