Shopping online at Falabella Chile with an Argentine ID: how to do it and pick up your money for free.

It's becoming easier and easier for Argentinians to shop in Chile at affordable prices. That's because Falabella , a Chilean department store that operated in our country until 2021 and marked a milestone, has enabled online payments for citizens with ID and free in-store pickup .

It's well known that on the other side of the Andes, you can find technology, clothing, and sneakers for up to a third of the price in Argentina, making it irresistible to save money and travel. Added to this is the quality factor: there's a wider variety of brands, models, and options for every budget.

Falabella Chile

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If your intention is not to go on vacation (especially in winter), you can purchase through the Falabella Chile website , quickly cross over to the neighboring country, and pick up the order you made from Argentina at a Falabella or Sodimac branch, the one closest to your location.

According to Los Andes' check, the option is not yet available for Argentines at other popular stores like Ripley's or Paris.

The first step is to register on the Falabella website ( www.falabella.com/falabella-cl ). In addition to your name and email address , the site asks for two important pieces of information as an Argentine : your DNI ( National Identity Document) and a phone number with the +54 option. This is the main change, as previously a Chilean RUT (Tax Identification Number) was required.

Afterwards, you can browse the entire website and choose the product you like to add to your shopping cart. Remember that the only items prohibited from importing into Argentina are white goods.

Buy online at Falabella Chile with an Argentine ID

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Now all you have to do is pay and set up your pickup. You'll need to specify an address in Chile: you can simulate any street and number in the city you're currently in or near.

For example, for Mendoza residents who are just stopping by for the day, one option is to pick up at the Falabella branch in San Felipe (Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 1150). If you're buying technology (an iPhone), the Sodimac store in the same city (Tocornal 2810) is also listed.

If you're traveling further afield within the Fifth Region, other options include the Falabella store in Viña del Mar's Marina Mall and the one on Independencia Street in Valparaíso . The website tells you the pickup timeframe.

Buy online at Falabella Chile with an Argentine ID and free in-store pickup.

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When paying online at Falabella, Argentinians can only choose between credit (a single installment) and debit cards.

It allows you to “kick” consumption later and define the currency.

You pay for your purchase in Chile with your credit card (always in one installment) and place a "stop debit" between the statement issue date and its expiration date. The next step is to settle the balance with the dollars previously deposited in your account or with dollar bills at the bank teller window. This way, you'll access the official rate, avoiding the 30% tax on Income Tax and Personal Assets.

How do you calculate your purchase price in Chile in dollars? If the pair of pants costs 20,000 Chilean pesos, divide it by the dollar exchange rate (for example, 950 Chilean pesos) and you'll get the total. In this case, 21 dollars is what will appear on your credit card statement.

Simply pay with your debit card and pay for your expenses with dollars deposited in your account (MEP, for example). This way, you'll access the official quote from the bank issuing your card.

A recommendation is in order here. Configure your savings account via home banking to be debited in dollars. By default, it's usually Argentine pesos, which would lead to a currency conversion and the annoying 30% charge on Income Tax and Personal Assets.

Shopping in Chile: How to collect the "dollar card"