How to Change Country on Amazon: A Comprehensive Guide
Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer, offering products from all around the globe. However, sometimes you might want to switch to another country’s Amazon site to access different products or prices. Unfortunately, changing your Amazon country can be a daunting task, especially if you are not familiar with the process. In this article, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of changing your Amazon country, highlight common issues and their solutions, compare local and international sites, provide alternatives, and give real-life user stories to inspire and inform you.
Step-by-Step Tutorial
The first step is to go to Amazon’s Country Settings and sign in to your account. After that, follow the instructions below:
- Click on the ‘Settings’ dropdown menu and select the ‘Change Your Country/Region’ option.
- Choose your new country/region from the list provided and click ‘Update’.
- Review and agree to the new terms and conditions (if any).
- Verify your new billing information or add a new payment method (if required).
- Update your shipping address to reflect your new country/region.
Please note that changing your Amazon country may affect your saved addresses, payment methods or gift card balances. You will also need to re-enter your Amazon password before the switch is complete.
Common Issues and Solutions
Changing your Amazon country may present some challenges, including issues with address verification, blocked payments, or gift card restrictions. In the following section, we will outline some common problems and provide solutions to overcome them.
Address Verification
If Amazon cannot verify your new address or postcode, you may experience problems during checkout. To avoid this, ensure that your address is correctly formatted and that all required fields are filled in. You may also need to provide additional information, such as an identification number, before your address can be verified.
Blocked Payments
Amazon may block your payment methods if they are not recognized in your new country/region. To fix this, you should update your payment information to match your new region or add a new local payment method, such as a credit card or bank account. Some countries may also allow you to use Amazon gift cards purchased in your original country, so check the rules for your new region.
Gift Card Restrictions
Amazon gift cards may not be redeemable in all regions or may only be used for a specific category of products. Before changing your country, check the restrictions for gift cards in your new region. To avoid losing your balance, you can either spend your gift card before the switch or contact Amazon customer support to enquire about transferring your balance to your new account.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you have more questions about changing your Amazon country, the following FAQs may help:
- How long does it take to change my Amazon country?
- Will my Amazon Prime membership carry over to my new country?
- Can I use my existing Amazon account to shop in another country?
- Can I change my Amazon country back to my original location?
The process of changing your Amazon country usually takes less than 24 hours. However, it may take up to 72 hours to complete. During this time, you may not be able to access some Amazon services.
Your Amazon Prime membership may not transfer to your new country. You will need to sign up for a new Prime membership in your new region, if available. Some Prime benefits, such as Kindle books or Amazon Music, may still be accessible from your original country.
Yes, you can use your existing Amazon account to shop in another country. However, you will need to follow the steps outlined above to change your country/region settings. You will also need to pay attention to local shipping fees, taxes, and customs rules, which may differ from your original country.
Yes, you can change your Amazon country back to your original location at any time following the same process described above.
Comparison of Local and International Sites
Amazon’s local and international sites may vary in product selection, prices, and shipping options. Depending on your needs, you may want to compare different sites before deciding to change your country.
Accessing items from different countries
Some Amazon sites may offer items that are not available in other countries, or may offer them at different prices. For example, an electronic gadget or a book may cost less in the US than in the UK, or may have a different release date. To access such items, you may need to switch to the relevant Amazon site and follow the steps outlined above.
Using local payment options
Some Amazon sites may accept only local payment options or may have different payment fees. For example, while Amazon UK accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, it does not accept PayPal. Similarly, Amazon India may offer cash on delivery (COD) as a payment option, which is not available in many other countries. To avoid issues, consider checking the payment options before changing your country.
User Stories
If you are still unsure whether changing your Amazon country is the right decision for you, here are some inspiring user stories to help you make up your mind.
Mark’s story
Mark is an avid collector of rare vinyl records and often shops on Amazon for his next purchase. One day, he noticed that the Japanese Amazon site offered some of the rarest records he had been searching for at a lower price than in his home country. Despite his initial reluctance to change his country, he followed the tutorials provided on the internet and switched to Amazon Japan. Now he has access to a wider selection of records at lower prices and adds new albums to his collection every month.
Amy’s story
Amy is a frequent traveler and often shops on Amazon for her travel essentials. She found that changing her Amazon country before traveling to a foreign country allowed her to access items that were not available in her home region, such as adaptors or insect repellents. She also found that purchasing these items locally on Amazon, rather than a local store, saved her both time and money.
Alternatives
If changing your Amazon country is not feasible or desirable for you, there are several alternative methods to purchase items from other countries.
Mail forwarding services
Mail forwarding services allow you to purchase items from another country and ship them to a designated address. These services usually charge a fee for their service, and you may also need to pay additional taxes or customs duties. However, they offer you access to items that may not be available for delivery to your country.
Local Amazon sites with international delivery
Amazon operates in many countries, and some of these sites offer international delivery to certain countries. This means that you can purchase items from another country’s Amazon site and have them shipped directly to your address. This option may be less risky than using mail forwarding services, but you may still need to pay shipping fees and customs duties.
Conclusion
In conclusion, changing your Amazon country may provide you with access to a wider selection of products at better prices. This article has provided you with a step-by-step tutorial, highlighted common issues and their solutions, compared local and international sites, shared user stories, and presented alternative methods to purchase items from other countries. Whatever your decision, we hope that this article has helped you make an informed choice and made the process easier for you.