Did you know that a lot of the US online stores don't offer international shipping at all, or just very limited worldwide delivery? You can argue that you don't care because every product you need is available in your country. And, you are right, some shoppers have no motivation to shop outside of their borders...

But, we are going to provide you with a few examples of popular US stores you can shop from even if they don't offer international shipping, we will also explain to you, how does package forwarding work, how much does it costs, and also, we will introduce you to a fulfillment service.

Table of Contents

-       The Most Popular US Stores

-       How Does Package Forwarding Work?

-       What Are The Benefits Of Package Forwarding?

-       What Are The Costs Of Package Forwarding?

-       Fulfillment – Useful Service for Starting Business Owners

-       Package Forwarding & Fulfillment FAQ

-       Summary

The Most Popular US Stores

You probably heard about 'the big three' already – Amazon, Target, and Walmart. These are one of the biggest online retailers in the US market. Unfortunately for international customers, only Amazon offers international but very limited shipping. Besides this, Amazon has a lot to offer for sellers, so if you want to become an Amazon seller, fbamasterclass.io can help you to learn more about the opportunity. At Target.com, there is a high chance that you won't be able to access their website at all and the only thing you can do to shop there from outside of the US is by using a Shop For Me service (assisted purchase) by Planet Express (more about them later in this article).

Online shopping in the United States is no longer just about the above-mentioned online stores. In the picture below, you can find other stores including those selling electronics, footwear, tools, food supplements, fashion, and dozens of more product categories.

How Does Package Forwarding Work?

Package forwarding is relatively simple. It can be described in 3 simple steps:

1. You get a US & UK address from Planet Express so you can order products from the US and UK stores.

2. When placing an order, you use the US address and wait for the notification email from Planet Express informing you about the package delivery to their warehouse.

3. You complete the customs declaration form online and select the delivery method from the USA (the UK eventually) to your country.

What Are The Benefits Of Package Forwarding?

There are several benefits of using a package forwarding service (besides providing you with international shipping).

1. When Planet Express receives your package, you will get 2 free photos of it so you can check its condition.

2. You can request package consolidation for merging several packages (from different online stores) into one package, and thus save more on shipping costs.

3. You can place Repack & Special requests – they help you reduce the weight and volume of the package, remove the invoices from the package, separate the package, check its condition – simply whatever you can think of 

With these additional services, you can be sure that the seller (for example from eBay) sends you exactly what do you want.

What Are The Costs Of Package Forwarding?

There are 3 basic types of costs when using package forwarder. The first is the price of the shipping. The second is the costs of the additional services mentioned above (these costs are completely optional). And the third, are the costs for import fees like duties and taxes. These depend on your local customs authorities.

The shipping costs are also much cheaper than using a courier like USPS, DHL, or FedEx on your own because package forwarders can negotiate better rates with carriers. Feel free to calculate the shipping costs by using the postage calculator on the Planet Express website. The price varies depending on the package weight & dimensions, delivery method, and the country of delivery, so keep that in mind.

Fulfillment – Useful Service for Starting Business Owners

If you belong to those who want to penetrate the US market with your e-commerce, you will probably have to take care of some storage space. Renting a whole warehouse is expensive. That's why fulfillment centers exist. Planet Express offers fulfillment services in both of their warehouses. You simply rent just a part of their warehouse and they will take care of the rest – they store your stock and take care of expedition & logistics across the USA (or the world). The only work you will have to focus on will be business development and marketing. Planet Express fulfillment is suitable especially for smaller to medium size businesses.

Summary

We believe our quick introduction into package forwarding & fulfillment services broadened your horizons. Now you know how to take full advantage of these services when shopping and do business online. Don't hesitate to contact Planet Express customer service in case of any questions.