Shopping in Antigua and Barbuda

St. John's Market Complex and the public market offer fresh produce and local sellers. Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay concentrate duty-free shops, clothing, swimwear, jewellery, watches, perfume, cosmetics, souvenirs and some electronics. English Harbour has boutiques, while V.C. Bird International Airport has more than ten retail and duty-free outlets. Supermarkets, community shops, pharmacies and hardware stores operate across the country, although the range on Barbuda and delivery options there require separate confirmation. Epicurean in Friar's Hill and Jolly Harbour sells groceries, hygiene products, health and beauty items, baby products and household goods; its listed opening hours are daily from 07:00 to 23:00 and 07:00 to 21:00 respectively. Gourmet Basket and Island Provision Group supply local and imported products for retail and wholesale. Clothing is available from boutiques, duty-free brands, vendors and craft sellers, including handmade soap, straw baskets, hats and leather or textile goods. Check the receipt, material, authenticity and return conditions because sellers do not provide one general quality guarantee. ACT/RadioShack and Courts sell technology and appliances, but stock, warranties, spare parts, repairs and delivery depend on the retailer. Local online shopping includes the AllMart app, which lists more than 150 local providers and offers groceries, clothing, beauty, baby and pet products, gifts, delivery and pickup. Some businesses take orders through their websites or WhatsApp. Swift Deals can arrange purchases from abroad with local pickup or delivery. The Digicel E-Store allows guest or account orders, normally delivers within 72 hours after purchase confirmation, provides tracking and may require identification at handover; delivery fees depend on the order. For overseas shops, OEC package forwarding and Ubuy can provide access to products not sold locally, but forwarding does not remove customs or import charges. Confirm the seller's terms, delivery address, import costs, damage process and return options before ordering. The Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) is the legal tender, with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank peg of EC$2.70 to US$1.00. Cash and card acceptance depend on the seller. Visa, Mastercard and SugaPay are officially accepted for GoAB e-services, but current retail coverage for SugaPay is unclear. For imported goods, the total cost can include the item price, freight, Import Duty, the Revenue Recovery Charge, Environmental or Disposal Levy, National Solid Waste Management fees and ABST. The standard ABST rate is 17% from 1 January 2024, while some goods are zero-rated or exempt. A temporary 0% measure for food and school supplies applied on 10 and 11 April 2026; confirm any current measure and product list with the Inland Revenue Department or the Customs and Excise Division. Customs and Excise requires imported and exported goods to be declared. A non-commercial air or sea shipment may require the invoice, waybill or bill of lading, airway bill, package details and value information, followed by examination, assessment, payment and release. A Customs Broker is required when an entry has more than six lines or a value of at least EC$5,000, subject to the applicable rules. Check whether the goods require an import licence. Residents may have an EC$700 duty-free allowance for personal effects in non-commercial quantities under the applicable customs declaration rules; duty-free shop purchases are subject to separate travel conditions, so keep receipts and travel documents. The Prices and Consumer Affairs Division oversees prices for essential goods and receives consumer complaints. Price-controlled goods must be clearly marked, but no single controlled price applies to every product. Transport, origin and quantity can change retail prices. Under the Consumer Protection Act 2025, sellers must provide relevant information in English before payment and display the price. Goods should be of merchantable quality, match their description and be fit for a disclosed purpose. For defective or materially misdescribed goods, contact the trader promptly with the receipt, photographs and warranty; repair, exchange, refund or monetary compensation depends on the circumstances. Antigua and Barbuda does not provide a general change-of-mind cancellation right, and deposit or layaway cancellation fees should be checked before signing. A sign such as no refund or all sales final cannot remove statutory rights. If the trader does not resolve a complaint, contact the Prices and Consumer Affairs Division with the purchase date, cost, supplier, receipt or other proof and the remedy requested. Consumer Protection Inquiries can be reached at +1 268 462-4347 and Pricing at +1 268 462-0834; the office is in St. John's at Corn Alley/Redcliffe Street and is listed as open Monday to Thursday from 08:00 to 16:30 and Friday from 08:00 to 15:00. Product safety concerns can also involve the Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards. Check labels, warnings, English instructions, expiry dates, lot numbers and electrical compatibility before using a product. Single-use shopping plastic bags are prohibited with listed exceptions, so carry a reusable bag. Expanded polystyrene and several other plastic products are also covered by restrictions, while recycling services remain developing and fragmented; verify disposal or take-back options before buying large electronics, batteries or substantial packaging.