2021 Amazon.com Overseas Shopping Guide — Beginner's Guide

Hello everyone, today we will explain the account registration and shopping process on shopping websites (mainly Amazon US) in the cross-border shopping process. This step is quite important and has many details. Unlike domestic shopping websites where you can simply log in with a phone number, foreign websites have different registration methods, payment methods, and some US-based shopping sites may not support Chinese credit cards, Chinese shipping addresses, or forwarding addresses. Some websites are even inaccessible to Chinese users. So, let's start with typical large cross-border shopping websites that people use frequently. I will explain in detail, unlike some online tutorials that only cover registration and purchase processes. Website registration is relatively simple, but it's also important to understand product sales attributes, after-sales service, purchase rules, and other key information to ensure cost-effective and efficient shopping.

First, let's talk about the relatively familiar large shopping website: Amazon US. You can search Baidu for an introduction to Amazon. It offers a wide variety of products, good after-sales service, a strong reputation, and a global presence. Amazon accounts in the US and several European countries are universal, meaning you can use your US Amazon account to log in to Amazon websites in European countries. Amazon accounts in China, Japan, and India are independent and require separate registration on their respective websites.

Step 1: Open a web browser, enter the URL, and go directly to the official website: https://www.amazon.com

Step 2: The language on the Amazon US and Amazon Japan official websites can be changed to Chinese on the homepage. Look in the upper right corner of the page. Changing the language makes browsing easier.

Step 3: Register an account

Step 4: Add a shipping address

If shipping directly from the US to China, fill in the address in pinyin, as shown below:

Step 5: Add payment information

Amazon US offers various payment methods. The most commonly used are credit cards (UnionPay is also supported) and Amazon US gift cards.

The account registration steps above are basically complete.

Below is a detailed demonstration of the purchase process on Amazon US: buying a watch

Find the product you want to buy:

Click "Buy Now". It will ask if you want to use or purchase a membership. Click "No, thanks"!

Payment page, shipping address, delivery time: (Select the forwarding address you previously registered. Choose the shipping speed based on your needs, then proceed to the next step.)

Order summary page: It's a good idea to double-check all the information before confirming payment!

Purchase complete. Now you can view order information and manage the order.

Shopping Tips (Very Practical):

Payment: You can buy Amazon US gift cards on Taobao. After purchasing, enter the code on the Amazon US gift card page to add the balance (consider this if you shop on Amazon US frequently). For your first purchase with a new account, please use a credit card. Remember this, don't ask why! After your first purchase, you can use gift cards. The exchange rate is often better than using a credit card, saving you money on regular items!

Membership?: If you buy a lot from Amazon US, consider purchasing a membership. If you buy infrequently, it's not recommended (you can try a free month, just remember to cancel). I'm not talking about the $119/year membership (it used to be $99, now it's $119, which is quite expensive). I'm talking about the Student membership. Where can you get a student membership? On Taobao, of course (for a small amount of money)! It usually lasts for half a year and offers great benefits like free two-day shipping on eligible items, streaming services (music, reading, movies, etc.), and access to exclusive deals.

Cashback: When using a credit card on Amazon US, you can go through cashback websites that offer high rates for certain product categories (more details in a later article), use a credit card that offers official cashback, or use a UnionPay card after registering for the "UnionPay Global Shopping" promotion.

Locking an Order: Sometimes a product has a great price but limited stock, and you need time to think. How can you hold the order without being charged? Simple: use a credit card with a limit lower than the product price (or adjust your card's overseas payment limit). The order will be placed but show a payment failure. It will be held for a few days without being cancelled, giving you time to decide whether to proceed with the payment.

Things to Note When Shopping on the Website:

1. Payment Issues: You can pay for an order using a combination of a credit card and a gift card, or use just one. If your credit card limit is insufficient and the payment fails, the system will show Revise Payment Method in red. Don't panic; just click to select a different payment card or option.

2. Shipping Issues: Amazon usually ships in-stock items promptly. If an item is in stock but not shipped, contact customer service or send an email explaining the situation, and it will usually be resolved quickly. If there's a delay, Amazon will notify you by email. If you no longer want the item, you can cancel the order. For third-party sellers, items might be shipped from abroad to the US, which can be slow. If you haven't received the item or a tracking number for a long time, first contact the third-party seller through the website. If the issue isn't resolved, contact Amazon customer service.

3. Identifying the Seller: There are three types: Amazon direct, pure third-party sellers, and third-party sellers whose items are fulfilled by Amazon (FBA sellers).

Amazon direct is labeled as Ships from and sold by Amazon.com

Third-party seller, fulfilled by Amazon: ship from Amazon, sold by (third-party name, not AMAZON)

Pure third-party seller: ship from (non-AMAZON, third-party name), Sold by (non-AMAZON, third-party name), as shown below,

Consider the seller type when purchasing. Third-party sellers can be small individual sellers or large companies (like ASHFORD, jomashop) that have stores on Amazon US. Sellers are located worldwide, not just in the US. It's possible you buy an item shipped by a Chinese seller to the US, and then you ship it back from the US.

4. Gift Card Usage: Do not use gift cards to buy virtual items (digital downloads, software, game CDKs). Amazon requires a US credit card for these purchases. Using a fake credit card or address can lead to account suspension or being flagged as suspicious, causing order cancellations, card clearing, and account bans. Recharging a gift card and then using it for prohibited items, unusual logins, changing shipping addresses, or making large purchases can trigger Amazon's risk control system, leading to problems and losses.

5. Product Attributes: Some product specifications differ from domestic ones. They may offer more choices. Here are key points. US weight is in pounds: 1lb = 450 grams. Length is in inches: 1 inch ≈ 2.54 cm. Pay attention to unit conversion.

Shoes: Shoes are not just sized by length; width is also a factor, as shown below:

X-Narrow: Women's S or AA

Narrow: Women's N or A, Men's N or C or B

Medium: Women's M or B, Men's M or D

Wide: Women's W or D or C/D, Men's W or EE (2E)

X-Wide: Women's XW or E or EE (2E), Men's XW or EEE(3E) or EEEE(4E)

Shoe length generally refers to US sizes. Convert inch length. You can also refer to the size chart on the brand's domestic official website. Regarding shoe width, because there are many overweight people in the US, standard shoe widths are generally suitable for Chinese people. However, some Americans need wider options, so width variations are common. How to choose? Buy according to your domestic shoe size. If you don't usually need extra-large sizes and your feet are not wide, choose M(D) standard width. If your feet are wide or chubby, choose wide or extra-wide. This mainly applies to athletic and casual shoes. For mid-top or high-top boots and leather shoes, sizes can vary by brand. Don't fully trust the size chart on Amazon US; search online for advice from people who have bought the same product.

Clothing: Buying clothes in the US isn't just about height and weight. Consider chest, arm length, and waist measurements. Pay attention to size charts and don't choose blindly. Children's clothing is divided into big kids, little kids, etc. Check relevant size information carefully.

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