One of the biggest challenges Kenyans face when shopping from renowned online retailers such as Amazon and Aliexpress is the entire delivery process, especially one involving the guys at the customs offices.
While we already have the likes of Vitumob and Savo Store doing a pretty impressive job shipping products from the U.S. to Kenya, it wouldn’t hurt anywhere having more popular players join the party. Enter Avechi Kenya.
Avechi Kenya is tapping into the massive product portfolio that both Amazon and Aliexpress enjoy by letting Kenyans shop and actually buy stuff from the two giant retailers in a hassle-free way. What is still unclear is whether these two are the only supported international e-commerce platforms, but we hope more players will be welcomed into the playground.
You can still buy from either platform and have your product shipped to wherever you are, but as noted earlier, dealing with the customs office can be an extreme sport. This is where Avechi Kenya is stepping in to handle the entire process while you sit back and wait.
When done, the retailer will send the cleared product to your preferred pick-up point using local delivery service providers like G4S, which means you don’t have to meet the KRA guys.
How it works
The process is quite easy. What’s even better is that you get to know what the entire exercise will cost before placing your order.
To do this, all you need is to:
- Go to Amazon.com or Aliexpress.com and identify the product you want to buy.
- Copy the direct link to this product
- To get a quote of the cost, go to this page and provide your details: First and last name, phone number, email, product name, the link from step 2 above, size/color/option as well as the number of products to be shipped in.
- If you have any specific instructions you want adhered to, do provide them on the page in step 3 above and when done, tap on SUBMIT.
Avechi Kenya will send you an email within 2-24 hours detailing the costs that will be incurred to ship your requested product to your preferred destination here in Kenya. The product will be delivered within 10 to 21 days from the day of confirming the order.
Note that the quote you get from Avechi includes shipping and customs fee, but you still have to pay Sh 300 if you want the product delivered to your home. Also, the retailer says the program is still in beta, but it doesn’t mention when it will enter the stable channel.
Do you buy stuff from international e-commerce websites? If yes, how do you ship them into the country? Share your views in the comments box below.
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