I buy a lot of things on line from the UK and US and have them shipped to Brazil with no problem. That is, save for the significant shipping costs and import taxes. I was thinking of starting to use Mercado Livre for some orders, and am curious what experiences others have had with it. Or, are there other on line stores in Brazil that are even more dependable, trustworthy and with better value?

Originally posted by LondonColin That is, save for the significant shipping costs and import taxes.

Do your things ever "slip by" without getting taxed. I have a friend who buys sports supplements from Europe in he said only 1 out of every three shipments actually gets taxed. This made me think about giving it a try. My mother could forward the goods from her US address.

Tell more about your experiences sending stuff here please.There are quite a few things that I need that are 4x the price here!

I have bought a few things from Mercado Livre without problem, but the last order was a big problem. Ordered some special sheets from a company through ML. Sheets never arrived. After a lot of hassle with ML, they said they'd refund the money. After a long wait, money not refunded. Sued them in special justice, and thought they'd just come clean (it was only R$300), but they hired lawyers to dodge paying. I won case in 2nd audience...it was really more about not letting them rip me off than getting the money back.

Good advice to check out the supplying company, if you are buying through ML. Check with Procon or like.

I think I am reluctant to buy through ML again. I don't have any problems ordering things directly from large, reputable companies, but caution is always advised.

On the good side, a new law just went into effect to strengthen consumer protection for on-line purchases. If someone does screw you, the onus is on them to prove otherwise.

good luck