Monday, February 21, 2011

How to avoid Amazon shipping restrictions: "This item cannot be shipped to the address you selected" and "We are not able to ship this item to your default shipping address"

Part 1: Amazon Shipping Restrictions
Part 2: Overcoming Amazon Shipping Restrictions and shipping outside the US


Amazon Shipping Restrictions


Amazon has the following Shipping restrictions:
Warranty issues and manufacturer restrictions prevent us from shipping certain products to all geographical locations. In addition, some items too big to ship to a P.O. box must be shipped to a street address. You'll be notified while placing your order if we're unable to ship specific items to the address you've selected. Below are some general guidelines for items shipped by Amazon.com to the following destinations:


If you are purchasing an item from Amazon Marketplace, read about Marketplace shipping restrictions.


Books that require special handling because they are extremely heavy (for example, multi-volume sets) can be shipped only to locations within the U.S. Please also check the product detail pages for this and any other item-specific shipping restrictions.






Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico Addresses



Some items from our Tools & Hardware, Electronics, and Outdoor Living stores can't be shipped to Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico if they are extremely heavy, oddly-shaped, or considered hazardous. Additionaly, some items from our Health and Personal Care store cannot be shipped to these destinations. Check the item's product detail page for eligibility and available shipping options. Only specific shipping options may be available for some addresses. Available shipping options will appear at checkout when you enter a shipping address.


APO, FPO, and DPO Addresses



Most items can be shipped to APO, FPO, and DPO addresses, except:


  • cell phones and service

  • computers

  • furniture

  • grocery items

  • outdoor living items

  • Target@Amazon.com items


Additionally, some apparel, baby, camera and photo, electronics, health and personal care, housewares, jewelry, software, sports, and tools and hardware items cannot be shipped to APO, FPO, or DPO addresses. An error message will appear at checkout if you enter an APO, FPO, or DPO address and the item isn't eligible to be shipped to that address. Check the item's product detail page for eligibility.




DOS Addresses


Many items can be shipped to DOS addresses, except:

  • Food items (for humans and/or pets)

  • Some liquids

  • Heavy items

  • Items that look like weapons

For a full list of shipping restrictions at a specific DOS address, please contact the DOS facilities staff at that location or review the DOS restrictions beginning on page 26 here: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/88704.pdf



U.S. Protectorates



Only the following items can be shipped to U.S. Protectorates:

  • baby items

  • books

  • DVDs

  • music

  • software

  • toys

  • VHS videos

  • video games


Prisons


Amazon.com delivers to penitentiaries, but we strongly suggest you contact the prison first to confirm that they accept deliveries and to note any special regulations the prison might have. Some prisons don't allow delivery of hardcover books. Others place a limit on the number of items contained in a package.


We're unable to affix any special labels or instructions to the packages and on the outside will indicate only the destination address, our company name, and our return address. We also cannot allow gifts to be sent anonymously to inmates; the sender's billing address will appear on the order invoice.


Because inmates cannot sign for deliveries, packages must be sent via U.S. Mail. While Amazon.com often sends packages via U.S. Mail, we also use UPS and FedEx. There is no way for customers to request a specific shipper. To avoid delivery problems, you might consider having the items shipped to you and then shipping them to the penitentiary via U.S. Mail.



Overcoming Amazon Shipping Restrictions and shipping outside the US

Amazon.com accepts international debit and credit cards, so there are no problems paying for your items. But when ordering from Amazon.com you may get one of the following error messages:
Important Message: "This item cannot be shipped to the address you selected"
Important Message: "We are not able to ship this item to your default shipping address"
Important Message: "Item cannot be shipped to the selected address"
Important Message: "We're sorry. This item can't be shipped to your selected destination. You may either change the shipping address or delete the item from your order by changing its quantity to 0 and clicking the update button below. ( See geographical restrictions.)"
Important Message: "We're sorry. One or more items can't be shipped to your selected destination. Please sign in to change the shipping address or delete the item(s) from your order."
Important Message: "We're Sorry. Due to shipping restrictions, the following item(s) cannot be shipped to the shipping address you have selected."

Amazon.com: Item cannot be shipped to the selected address


It is easy to overcome this limitation and ship to your country. Just get a virtual address in the USA using a company like Shipito. Shipito allows you to forward your packages from their virtual USA addresses. They have multiple locations in the USA in California, Nevada and Oregon. If you use their warehouse in Tualatin, Oregon you will be able to avoid any sales tax, consolidate your packages (if needed) and send them to your country by USPS Priority Mail Express International USPS Priority Mail International, Polonez Parcel, USPS Flat rate box and Flat rate envelope, FedEx, FedEx MPS, Fedex Freight, Shipito Air Mail, DHL Express, TNT.
Shipito shipping calculator: Shipping methods for Australia

I've received 30+ packages from Amazon.com using my Shipito virtual USA address. Here is one of them:

My package from Amazon in the Shipito warehouse (before package forwarding)
My package from Amazon in the Shipito warehouse (before package forwarding)


9 comments:

  1. Hi,
    Is it possible to filter search results for product deliverable to a certain address?
    Such a feature exists in eBay.
    Thanks,
    Amnon

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have now worked out that if a product is sold by amazon they will ship to Australia - if it is supplied to amazon by someone else then they wont. eg. if looking at some shoes, when you select the size it will tell you if the product is sold by amazon or not. If you only purchase products sold by amazon, you can have them shipped no problems

    ReplyDelete
  3. Because of the package consolidation, it might be cheaper to use freight forwarders.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Any other options besides using parcel forwarders?

    ReplyDelete
  5. An elaborate write-up... I am stunned! Most posts I have
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  7. I have tryed to order things for 2 years , NEVER EVER BEEN ABLE TO ; SHIPPING ERROR , ERROR , CANT SHIP , CANT SHIP , WHAT A JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKE , WORST PLACE ONLINE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on ebay i have bought over 90 items , NEVER EVERY ANY ISSUES FROM ANY PLACE WORLD WIDE , AMAZON STINKS , its the WORST , PLEASE FIX !!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been purchasing there and shipping overseas for 6+ years. Never had any problem, although I have tried 7 parcel forwarders.

      Delete
  8. Moved to Idaho and can't get anything shipped from Amazon. Do they know that Idaho is in the United States?

    ReplyDelete