Shopping in Guyana

Groceries and household goods are commonly bought at Municipal Markets, supermarkets and stores. Guyana Shop, supported by the Guyana Marketing Corporation, provides a formal channel for locally made and agro-processed products, with prices shown in Guyanese dollars. Clothing and footwear are sold through physical retailers and online categories such as Clothing & Apparel on SBB Marketplace. Technology products and accessories are available from electronics sellers and online categories such as Computer & Technologies and Consumer Electric. Selected cellphone accessories, including chargers, charging cables, headphones, mobile components, screen protectors and cases, have a zero customs duty and zero VAT treatment under Guyana Revenue Authority guidance from 6 February 2024; unlisted items may require separate classification. Availability is uneven across Guyana. The Bureau of Statistics collects retail price information from Municipal Markets, supermarkets, stores and other outlets in Georgetown, Anna Regina, New Amsterdam, Corriverton, Rosehall, Linden, Bartica, Lethem, Mabaruma and Mahdia. These observations help compare prices, but they do not guarantee that a product is stocked or sold at the same price in every town. Local and imported products are mixed, and regional supply should be checked with the seller before travelling or placing an order. Online shopping is available through services such as SBB Marketplace, which provides seller listings, accounts, carts, order summaries, order history and delivery. Its payment options include major credit cards, cash and MMG or MMG+. The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 12/2023 recognizes electronic transactions. An online supplier must make its identity, address, contact details, product information, payment terms, additional costs and withdrawal information accessible. A marketplace listing does not remove the need to check the individual seller's delivery area, stock, warranty and complaint process. Payment may also use cash, a cheque, money order, bank draft, electronic funds transfer, point-of-sale payment, telephone banking, internet banking, Mobile Money Guyana, Caripay or Kanoo. Availability depends on the seller, bank and account type. For card payments, an EMV chip transaction is preferable where available; protect the card and payment credentials against skimming and do not disclose one-time codes to a seller who cannot be verified. The standard VAT rate in Guyana is 14%, subject to exempt and zero-rated goods. Prices should generally include VAT. When a price excludes VAT, the VAT amount and the final price should be displayed with comparable prominence. A receipt should show the purchase price, any separately stated VAT, the date and a description of the goods or service. Keep it because it helps prove the transaction in a return or complaint. For a change of mind or a purchase purpose that has disappeared, the Consumer Affairs Act provides a return window of up to seven days when the goods are unused, undamaged and in their original packaging. A restocking charge must be below 10%. Where the statutory conditions apply, the seller should provide a refund, replacement or repair without charge within up to fourteen days. A blanket “no refund” or “no return” notice cannot remove these protections. The Consumer Affairs Unit can investigate complaints and support redress, product-safety and recall matters. Foreign online orders are not automatically covered by the same practical remedies as purchases from a Guyanese seller. Check the seller's governing terms, warranty provider, return address, return postage, delivery time, import charges and dispute process before paying. Non-commercial personal-effect shipments by air or sea may require customs documentation; Guyana Revenue Authority guidance refers to IMS4 replacing C73 in relevant procedures, with C72 potentially applying depending on the shipment. Clearance charges can be approximately G$1,500 to G$4,000 per box, and taxes may arise after inspection. Gift parcels with a customs value of no more than US$200 may qualify for a VAT exemption under the applicable list, but that does not make every such parcel duty-free. Shopping choices also have environmental consequences. Importing, manufacturing and selling expanded-polystyrene food-service products is prohibited under the Expanded Polystyrene Ban Regulations 2015. A G$10 environmental levy applies to each non-returnable metal, plastic or glass beverage container imported or manufactured locally. Biodegradable food and beverage containers are zero-rated for VAT. TimberMarket.gy offers a local timber channel focused on responsible sourcing and legality. A general nationwide ban on all single-use plastic bags is not established by the reviewed evidence, so a seller's current packaging practice should be checked rather than assumed.