Why Venezuelan customers use Selectido
Venezuela's local retail collapsed during the hyperinflation years (2017-2021), and while bodegones and dollarized shops have rebuilt some access, prices for prestige beauty, US tech, and brand-name baby formula remain far above US retail. The Venezuelan economy has substantially dollarized — most Caracas transactions accept USD cash, Zelle, or Binance — which makes Selectido a natural fit. Mall Sambil, Centro San Ignacio, and Tolón have improved, but Sephora US, Whole Foods supplements, Apple Store US pricing, and Similac/Enfamil at US retail still need a US shopper.
Important — sanctions notice: The US Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) maintains a comprehensive sanctions program against the Government of Venezuela, PDVSA, and designated officials and entities (Executive Orders 13692, 13808, 13827, 13835, 13850, 13857, 13884). The sanctions program targets the Maduro regime and state entities — it does NOT block personal-use goods to ordinary Venezuelan civilians. Selectido ships only to private individuals not listed on OFAC's SDN List. We cannot ship to government ministries, PDVSA, the military, or any designated state-owned enterprise. We screen every recipient and shipping address against the OFAC SDN List before shipping. Personal shopping for ordinary Venezuelan civilians is fully permitted under General Licenses and US law.
Top US stores for Venezuelan customers
- Sephora US — prestige beauty, fragrance (no Sephora in Venezuela)
- Apple Store US — iPhones, MacBooks at US retail (vs. dollarized but inflated bodegón prices)
- Whole Foods — USDA-organic supplements, vitamins
- Costco Kirkland Signature — multivitamins, Similac/Enfamil baby formula, bulk household
- Target, Amazon US, Walmart US — kids' clothing, household goods, electronics
- Best Buy — gaming consoles, laptops
Shipping to Venezuela
- DHL Express — preferred and most reliable. 6-10 business days door-to-door including customs at CCS (Caracas Maiquetía Simón Bolívar) or VLN (Valencia Arturo Michelena).
- FedEx and UPS — limited service to Venezuela since 2019. DHL is the consistent option.
- USPS to Ipostel — service is intermittent and we don't recommend it.
Venezuela customs: Venezuela applies IVA 16% plus customs duty on imports. Personal-use shipments under USD $100 generally clear via the régimen courier expedited regime. SENIAT (national customs) requires accurate value declaration; Selectido marks customs accurately and includes the original receipt. Note: Venezuela's economy is heavily dollarized; many recipients pay courier last-mile and customs charges in USD cash on delivery.
Two ways to shop the US from Venezuela
📹 Live video shopping — $75/hr
For items you want to see before buying. Real US shopper opens video call from inside the store. Pay in USD via Stripe.
📦 Package forwarding — $14.99/shipment
For items you order online. Free US address, we receive + photograph + forward.
💎 Bundle perk: book any $75+ session in a calendar month and the $14.99 forwarding fee is waived for that month.
Cities Selectido ships to in Venezuela
- Caracas — fastest delivery via CCS. Includes Las Mercedes, Altamira, La Castellana, Chacao, El Hatillo, Los Palos Grandes.
- Maracaibo, Valencia, Barquisimeto, Maracay — all covered; 1-3 days extra vs. Caracas.
- Mérida, San Cristóbal, Puerto Ordaz, Maturín, Cumaná, Punto Fijo — all covered.
Frequently asked questions
Can Selectido legally ship to Venezuela?
Yes, for personal-use shipments to private Venezuelan civilians not on the OFAC SDN List. The US sanctions program targets the Maduro government and designated state entities — it does NOT block personal goods to ordinary Venezuelans. Selectido screens every recipient against the OFAC SDN List before shipping.
How fast does Selectido deliver to Venezuela?
DHL Express: 6-10 business days door-to-door including customs at CCS or VLN. DHL is the most reliable courier; FedEx and UPS service has been more limited since 2019.
Can I pay in bolívares?
No — Selectido bills in USD via Stripe. Most Venezuelan customers pay with US-issued cards, Zelle (received in our US account), or family/friend US cards. Bolívar conversion is not needed since the bolívar lost most reference value during hyperinflation.
What does Venezuela customs charge?
IVA 16% plus customs duty. Under USD $100 personal-use shipments generally clear via courier expedited regime. SENIAT may require additional documentation for higher-value items.
Are baby formula imports legal?
Yes. Personal-use quantities of US baby formula (Similac, Enfamil) ship routinely and are in high demand given local market constraints.
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