Is AliExpress Mexico Reliable? Your Step-by-Step Tutorial
AliExpress has an incredible selection and low prices, but with great deals can come potential risks. We've got the best tips so you can shop with confidence.
Can I buy from Amazon USA while in Mexico? It’s a common question for online shoppers searching for better deals or products that aren’t on Amazon Mexico — despite the massive presence of the e-commerce giant, you can’t always find what you’re looking for.
So in this article, we’ll explain, step-by-step, how to buy from Amazon USA from Mexico, including import and customs costs, delivery times, whether you need to create a new account or not, and whether it's better to buy in pesos or dollars.
Let's get started!
Good news: yes, you can buy from Amazon U.S. while you’re in Mexico.
Simply log onto the Amazon USA website (amazon.com), and shop as you would on the Mexican site — the shopping process is exactly the same.
You’ll need to bear in mind that delivery times will be slightly longer, but we'll get into that later.
Then there’s the currency — on the Amazon United States site, the stores charge in dollars, but your bank will set the dollar exchange rate, which can affect the final price of your product.
Want to take advantage of offers and deals exclusive to Amazon United States or buy something not yet available in Mexico, it’s super-simple — simply shop as you would on your Amazon.mx account.
But if you’re new to Amazon, here’s your step-by-step guide to buying from Amazon U.S. from Mexico:
Step 1: Visit the Official Amazon Website
If you’ve already got an Amazon Mexico account, you won’t need to create a new one — just visit Amazon.com and enter your usual login details. Your shipping addresses and payment details will still be the same.
If you don’t have an account, you’ll need to create one. The site will be in English, but you can change it to Spanish in the top righthand corner next to the login and sign-up button. Once it’s in Spanish, the whole site will change, even online support.
Step 2: Search for the Product You Want to Buy
Now you can get shopping!
The easiest way to search for what you want to buy is by using the handy search bar at the top of the page in the middle of the screen.
For products that can be shipped to Mexico, you can filter by selecting “International Shipping” / “Ship to Mexico” on the left of your results.
But the products in this search might not actually ship to Mexico, so it’s worth checking the product description — you might see a message saying “This item does not ship to Mexico”.
To avoid disappointment, be sure to only buy products that do ship to your state.
Step 3: Add Your Product to the Cart
Once you’ve found what you want to buy from Amazon USA, click “Add to Cart” — in your cart, you’ll see it’s been added, with the total amount to pay.
When you’ve added everything you want to buy to your cart, simply click “Proceed to Checkout” to select your shipping address, delivery option, and your payment method.
Step 4: Confirm Your Purchase
When you’ve entered your shipping and payment details, it’s time to confirm your purchase and buy!
Make sure you’re happy with the product and price, checking that it can be shipped internationally to Mexico, then click “Buy Now”.
You’ll then land on a screen that says “Order placed, thanks!”, and you’ll receive an email with links to track your order(s) and the estimated delivery date in Mexico.
Step 5: Delivery Day
When you receive your purchase in Mexico, the process is complete!
Check your product(s) are in good condition, aren’t damaged, and are working properly — if there is any damage or an incomplete order, you’ll have to go through the return process (something we’ll cover in another article!).
Shopping on Amazon is as fast and secure as shopping on eBay, Etsy US or Best Buy — or any trustworthy e-commerce site with a good reputation.
A word of caution: not all products on Amazon are created equal. It depends on the quality of the product and the seller, since Amazon is simply an e-commerce platform, not always the actual vendor.
That’s why we recommend reading the reviews of each product you want to buy — the product descriptions might not always tell the whole story.
Thinking about buying from Amazon USA while in Mexico but worried about import taxes and customs fees? We’ve got all you need to know:
Taxes When Buying Abroad:
General Import Tax (arancel): A percentage tax applied to the price of the product and shipping costs.
Value Added Tax (IVA): An additional percentage is based on the value of the item and shipping.
Note: The tax rate you'll pay depends on what product(s) you're buying.
How Does Amazon Facilitate Your Purchase?
Advance Tax Payment. Amazon covers these expenses for you in advance. You'll see a charge called "Import Fee Deposit" when confirming your purchase.
Refunds. If the amount estimated by Amazon is higher than the actual customs cost, they'll refund the difference.
Additional Charges. If the amount you paid upfront isn't enough for import taxes and fees, your package will wait at customs. The delivery company will let you know, and you'll just need to pay the difference. Once you do, they'll take care of everything and get your package to you.
Delivery time when buying from Amazon USA depends on what type of shipping you choose.
You'll usually have two options: standard shipping or priority shipping, each with a different price. You need to decide if you want your purchase to arrive quickly (and pay a bit more) or pay less (and wait a few more days).
Here are the details:
Cost | Delivery Time | |
Standard Shipping | From 6.99 USD | 7 working days |
Priority Courier Shipping | From 16.99 USD | 5 working days |
Costs vary based on the volume and weight of the package, along with the potential taxes we mentioned earlier.
With these additional costs, buying from Amazon U.S. is usually more expensive than from Amazon Mexico.
It’s also worth noting that your Amazon Prime benefits can’t be used outside Mexico, since they’re regional.
No, you don't need to create another Amazon account to buy from the U.S. while in Mexico.
With your existing profile, you can shop in any store (except Amazon Japan), so you have the advantage of keeping your banking data, delivery addresses, preferences, and any benefits you've gained.
Amazon USA defaults to payments in dollars, so purchases are automatically calculated in dollars.
But there’s a downside — whether you choose Amazon's Currency Converter system or your bank handles the conversion, it will be above the market average.
So, what's the best option?
We recommend making your purchase in dollars when buying from Amazon U.S. in Mexico.
You can use a dollar debit or credit card from your bank or, if you want to save on exchange rates, use DolarApp.
There are a couple more things to keep in mind. Some payment methods available on Amazon Mexico, like using Oxxo stores or topping up your account balance, won't work on the US site.
Also, remember that not all products on Amazon USA can be shipped to Mexico. For example, Amazon Alexa is available in the U.S. store, but Amazon doesn’t ship them to Mexico.
We hope this guide has made buying from Amazon USA while in Mexico a breeze! We've covered everything you need to know, from costs and customs fees to how to pay.
Want to be a pro at international shopping? Check out our blog for more tips, whether you're buying from home or abroad.
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