Amazon Shopping Guide

How It Works

1. Find Your Product: Search by product name in our Amazon Tool or browse Amazon.com, or let our team handle the buying through assisted shopping
2. Copy the URL: If you found the item on Amazon.com, copy the full product page URL (short a.co and amzn.to links also work)
3. Paste in Our Tool: Go to the Amazon Tool and paste the URL, or pick the item from the search results
4. Get Instant Quote: We pull the product details from Amazon and show the cost with shipping to Kenya. Items bought through the tool are delivered to our Texas US warehouse and shipped from there

What We Extract

• Product name and description
• Current Amazon.com price, in US dollars
• Weight and dimensions (estimated when Amazon does not list them)
• Product images
• ASIN (Amazon product ID)

If the Tool Can't Price an Item

If a listing can't be added, or you're shopping at another store:

• The tool only adds Amazon Prime listings, or listings with free Amazon shipping
• For other listings, or items from any other US store, send the product links in a Shopping Request (Get Quote > Shopping Request in your account)
• Add specifications such as color, size and quantity, or upload a Word document with your list
• Our team reviews the request and sends you a quote (assisted shopping fees apply)

Quote Includes

• Item price
• Texas sales tax (8.25%) and our 5% purchase fee
• Freight insurance: 5% of the item price, required on items over $200 and optional at $200 or less
• Shipping to Kenya by air, or by ocean when it costs less for your order
• Total in USD and KES, with a breakdown of every charge

Why Verification Matters

Accurate product details ensure correct shipping costs and smooth delivery.

What to Check

Weight

• Amazon's listed weight may include packaging
• Shipping is charged in kilograms, on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight
• Heavier items cost more by air; ocean freight is priced by volume (cubic feet), so it can cost less for heavy or bulky items
• If weight seems wrong, contact support before ordering

Dimensions

• Length × Width × Height, in inches
• Used for volumetric weight calculation
• Especially important for bulky, lightweight items
• We use whichever is higher: actual or volumetric weight

Price

• Verify the price matches Amazon's current price
• Prices can change between quote and purchase
• The tool uses the Amazon.com price at the moment you add the item
• If an item has been in your cart for more than 30 minutes, re-add it to get a fresh price

Product Condition

• New, Used, Refurbished
• Seller rating and reviews
• Return policy and warranty
• The tool accepts Amazon Prime listings, and other listings only when Amazon shipping is free

If Details Are Wrong

1. Check the item's details in your cart before you pay
2. If Amazon doesn't list a weight or size, the tool estimates it and marks the item for review by our team
3. Shipping on items with estimated measurements is confirmed after the package is weighed at our US warehouse
4. Contact support for guidance

Add to Cart Method

1. Add your first item (the tool then opens checkout)
2. Go back to the Amazon Tool and add the next item
3. Continue for all items
4. Review cart before checkout
5. Pay once for everything

Benefits of Multiple Items

• Single checkout process
• Shipping calculated on the combined weight of the whole cart
• Adding items can lower your shipping cost per item
• One minimum charge for the whole shipment, not one per item
• The cart shows how much more weight fits under the minimum charge

One Shipping Method per Order

Your cart ships as one consolidated shipment:

• The shipping method you choose applies to the whole order
• Air is the default, with delivery in 7-14 working days
• Ocean (75-90 days) is offered when it costs less than air for your order

Consolidation Opportunity

• If you buy on Amazon yourself and ship several packages to our US warehouses, choose to consolidate when you create your pre-alert
• You have up to 7 calendar days (or 5 business days, whichever comes first) from your first tracking number to add more; after that the group is closed to new packages
• Each package travels as usual, and we combine them in Nairobi before pickup or delivery
• If the group's combined shipping cost is below the minimum charge, you pay the minimum once
• Items bought together in one Amazon Tool cart already ship as one shipment, by air or ocean

Large or Bulk Orders

For larger orders:

• Air is priced per kg of chargeable weight
• The minimum charge applies once per shipment
• Ocean can cost less for bulky items
• Contact support for bulk orders

Some items can never be shipped through any carrier. Review our full prohibited goods policy before ordering anything from Amazon, and see how to return prohibited items if something gets flagged at the warehouse.

Strictly Prohibited (Cannot Ship)

Dangerous Goods

• Weapons and ammunition
• Explosives and fireworks
• Flammable liquids/gases
• Toxic/poisonous substances
• Radioactive materials

Illegal Items

• Counterfeit goods
• Illegal drugs and substances
• Pirated media
• Items embargoed or restricted for shipment to Kenya

Perishables

• Fresh food and produce
• Live animals and plants
• Refrigerated items
• Items requiring temperature control

Restricted Items (Checked Before Shipping)

Electronics with Batteries

• Standalone batteries: Not accepted, including spare and rechargeable batteries and battery packs
• Power banks: Not accepted, including portable chargers
• Laptops/phones: Accepted, because the battery is built into the device; batteries over 100Wh are not accepted for air
• Not sure?: Contact support before ordering

How Battery Checks Work

1. The Amazon Tool checks each product for batteries and dangerous goods when you add it
2. Prohibited items can't be added to your cart
3. Items that may contain restricted materials are flagged, and our team reviews them before purchase
4. For packages you ship yourself, answer the battery and liquid questions on your air pre-alert
5. Standalone lithium batteries cannot be shipped by air

Supplements & Cosmetics

• Perfume and cologne over 500ml count as flammable liquids for air cargo
• Quantity limits apply
• Ask support before ordering medicines or supplements
• Keep products in their original sealed packaging

Liquids

• Declare liquids on your air pre-alert so they get special handling
• Flammable liquids such as fuel, lighter fluid and paint cannot ship by air
• Must be properly sealed
• Aerosols and compressed gas cannot ship by air

Price Breakdown

Product Cost

• Current Amazon.com price
• In US dollars, as listed on Amazon.com
• No Amazon delivery charge: the tool takes Prime listings, or listings with free shipping, delivered to our Texas warehouse
• Texas sales tax of 8.25% on the item price, because Amazon Tool orders are bought for delivery to our Texas warehouse

Shipping Cost

Calculated based on:

• Weight: In kilograms, using the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight
• Volume: Dimensions converted to volumetric weight
• Method: Air (per kg) or Ocean (per cubic foot), each with a minimum charge
• One shipment: Your whole cart is priced together, with one minimum charge. Pickup has no delivery fee, and home delivery is charged separately

Additional Fees

• Delivery fee: Only if you choose home delivery in Kenya; it is not part of the checkout total
• Customs duties: Only if they apply to your items; see our customs and import duties guide
• Purchase fee: 5% of the item price, shown as the service fee in your cart
• Freight insurance: 5% of the item price, required on items over $200 and optional at $200 or less (tick "Add freight insurance" in your cart)

Exchange Rate

• USD to KES conversion
• Uses the live exchange rate
• Shown at checkout next to your KES total
• You pay the KES amount shown when you pay

Credits Applied

At checkout:

1. Coupon code discount, if you enter one
2. Earned and promo credits, applied automatically to the shipping charge
3. Wallet balance, if you choose to use it for all or part of the order

You see the final amount before you pay.

Prices Can Change

• Amazon prices can change at any time
• If an item has been in your cart for more than 30 minutes, the cart suggests re-adding it for a fresh price
• Shipping is recalculated whenever your cart changes
• Shipping on items with estimated measurements is confirmed when we weigh the package at our US warehouse

Step-by-Step Process

1. Review Cart

• Check all items and quantities
• Check the shipping method (it applies to the whole order)
• Remove items or change quantities if needed
• See the order summary and total

2. Pickup or Delivery in Kenya

3. Add Receiver Information

• Select a saved receiver or choose "+ Add New Receiver"
• Enter the receiver's first name, last name and a valid Kenyan phone number
• The receiver's email is optional
• Can be you or someone else

4. Review Order Summary

Check everything:

• Items and quantities
• Shipping method for the order
• Sales tax, purchase fee and freight insurance
• Receiver details
• Cost breakdown
• Credits applied
• Grand total in USD and the KES amount to pay

5. Choose Payment Method