How to Ship from eBay to Kenya

Perhaps one of the best-known ecommerce marketplaces, eBay is a multinational consumer-to-consumer and business-to-consumer sales platform. eBay has a massive user base from all over the world and sells everything from new and used electronics to designer clothing brands to one-of-a-kind collectibles, lending to its appeal for sellers and buyers.

For buyers who aren’t in one of eBay’s 190 markets, however, finding excellent products with no way to ship them can be devastating. Fortunately, freight forwarding services like Savo Store can help ship parcels to Kenya and customer goods ordered from eBay to Kenya, allowing customers to shop for personal and commercial products and have them delivered to their doorstep.

Why Shop on eBay?

Customers in Kenya choose to shop on eBay to gain access to a wide variety of products they may not come across otherwise. With the multinational marketplaces, eBay provides opportunities to shop for goods in the US or UK, which can then be shipped to customers in Kenya.

eBay also has plenty of advantages for all buyers, including top-notch customer service and buyer protection features, competitive pricing, a money-back guarantee, and a wide selection of rare, vintage, and high-quality products.

Sellers can offer just about anything on eBay, so buyers have an exceptional variety to choose from. You could find everything from automotive parts to new and used electronics to rare books to clothing, much like Amazon. eBay operates in several countries and offers international shipping options for sellers.

Another benefit of eBay is buying secondhand products. With a money-back guarantee, buyers can rest assured that the products they’re buying are in the condition described. If there’s a flaw or defect, the item never arrives, or it’s significantly different than advertised, buyers can put in a claim to get their money back.

Buying products in the US, UK, or other markets and shipping them to Kenya can be tricky, however. You may encounter obstacles along the way, such as overly inflated shipping prices, delivery issues, and other problems. In addition, you may not know how to go about shopping on a different country’s marketplace and having it transported to Kenya.

The Savo Store can help you buy products on eBay’s different marketplaces and have them shipped to Kenya.

How to Shop on eBay from Kenya

Here are the steps to take to shop on eBay from Kenya. This is using the ebay.com US marketplace.

1. Create an eBay Account

Log into www.ebay.com or search for eBay in your search engine.

Once you find the site, go to the top left corner and you’ll see “Hi! Sign in or Register.” Click on “Register” to get started.

You will need to input your name, email address, and password for your account. You can also register through your Facebook or Google accounts to save time and streamline the signup process.

While you can shop without an eBay account, you won’t be able to save the products you find for later. It’s best to create an account in advance so you can watch and save items as you go.

2. Search for Products or Scroll Product Categories

Now that your account is set up and ready to go, you can start shopping! You can find the products you want by either:

Shop By Category: This includes all products that fall under a specific category, such as women’s clothing or electronics.

Search: You can search for a product by its name and you’ll receive relevant results, as well as partial matches with most keywords.

3. Use Product Filters

Some categories and products on eBay will generate pages and pages of possible results. You could spend hours looking through all of them, or narrow your search results using the search filters.

The product filter options can narrow your search by Price, Brand, Item Condition, Color, or Product Specifications. You can also sort the results by Best Match, Newest Listings, Ending Soonest, Low to High price, High to Low price, and more.

4. Select the Product

When you see a product you like from the filtered product results, click on the listing and you can read about it in detail and browse photos. The listing should contain all relevant information, including sizing or dimensions, seller policies, and detailed photos.

Make sure to read the product listing description in detail to make sure it suits your needs and has all the features you want. Pay close attention to any flaws or defects the seller mentions and the condition. If you make a purchase and didn’t note these details, you may not be eligible for buyer protection.

You should also check reviews from other buyers to learn more about the seller’s reputation, timeliness, customer service, and more. A rating of 95 percent or above means the seller is generally good, but look for the highest percentage ratings you can.

5. Make Your Purchase

If you still want the product after reading the product description and reviews, you can either Add to Cart or Buy Now to make your purchase. Add to Cart is an option if you want to consolidate all your purchases into one invoice, while Buy Now applies only to that one product.

6. Input Your Shipping Address

When you’re ready to make your purchase, you can start the checkout process that includes your shipping address. This is where you want your package delivered.

To ship to Kenya, you can use Savo Store’s package forwarding service with a US address. If the seller ships to Kenya, your Kenyan postal address can be used.

Package forwarding is helpful if you plan to make several purchases from the US or UK, since you won’t need to worry about whether a seller ships to Kenya. We’ll provide you with a US and a UK address to use to ship your packages.

7. Enter Your Payment Information

eBay accepts numerous payment methods, including major credit and debit cards, PayPal, and eBay gift cards. Kenyan issued debit cards from local banks with Visa or Mastercard will be accepted.

While eBay is generally safe and protects its customers’ information, it’s best to use a prepaid Visa or Mastercard debit card or PayPal for an added layer of protection.

8. Complete Your Purchase

Once you input all the information, you’re ready to place your order! Just hit “Confirm and Pay.”

9. Order Confirmation and Delivery

If your payment is successful, eBay will confirm it and send a message on the screen saying “Your Order’s In!” You should also receive a confirmation email to the email address on file with eBay.

Now, eBay will prepare your order to ship to Kenya. The processing time can vary by seller, but most sellers process and ship orders quickly. Sellers will also provide a tracking number that allows you to follow your package in transit, provided that you selected a shipping option that includes tracking. eBay typically sends notification emails to let you know that your package has been shipped, and another once it delivers.

What Are the Costs?

Shipping directly to Kenya from eBay is an option, but it can be expensive depending on the shipping service. Shipping via a courier such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL, is also expensive for international service.

At Savo Store, our shipping rate is $15/KG, based on the actual or volumetric weight of the package - whichever is higher. This includes shipping costs, all customs clearance costs, and no surprise fees. You can get an exact quote for your shipment in advance.

How Long Would It Take?

Most eBay sellers will use the USPS to ship to Kenya. This can take anywhere from 30 to 45 days. Upon arrival in Kenya, you will be hit with a surprise customs clearance charge that is often more than the cost of purchasing the item.

On the other hand, you can ship with us at a flat rate of $15/KG inclusive of customs clearance costs. When shipping to a US address, eBay’s fast-and-free shipping program will get packages delivered within 2 to 5 days days. You can therefore use our U.S. address at checkout and we can then ship the package to you. In most cases, you’ll receive your package within 7 to 15 business days.

Ready to get started with eBay shipping to Kenya from the Savo Store? Contact us!