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Guide

How to Buy From US Stores That Don't Ship to Your Country

If a US store won't ship to your country, you have three options: check whether the store has its own international checkout, use a package forwarder (a US address that sends your parcels on to you), or use a personal shopper who buys the item and ships it for you. A forwarder usually costs less if the store accepts forwarding addresses and you are happy to manage the order yourself; a personal shopper costs more but handles the whole job.

This guide explains how each route works, what each one really costs, and how to choose.

Three routes

Your Three Options

Option 1

Check the store's own international shipping

Before anything else, check whether the store will ship to you after all. Many US stores only show their international options once you set your country.

Look for a country or currency selector, usually at the top or bottom of the page.
Read the store's shipping or "international orders" help page.
Some stores show international shipping only at checkout, after you enter your address.

Good for: stores that already ship to your country. You deal with one company and get the store's normal customer service.

Watch for: a smaller product range for international buyers, higher shipping costs, and duties and taxes that may be charged on arrival (see the cost section below).

Option 2

Use a package forwarder

A package forwarder (also called a parcel forwarder or freight forwarder) gives you a US address.

You sign up and get a US address, usually a warehouse.
You buy from the US store yourself and enter that address as the delivery address.
The store ships to the warehouse.
The forwarder ships the parcel on to you, often combining parcels from several stores into one box.

Good for: people who buy often, from stores that accept their card and forwarding addresses, and who are happy to manage each order themselves. A forwarder will usually cost less than a personal shopper.

Watch for: stores that refuse forwarding addresses, cards the store won't accept, and problems you solve yourself (more below).

Option 3

Use a personal shopper (buy-for-me service)

A personal shopper is like a friend in the US who buys the item for you. You don't need a US address, a US card, or an account with the store.

Good for: people who want one company to buy, check, pack, ship, and deal with the store if something goes wrong.

Watch for: it costs more than a forwarder, because you are paying for the work. Our service fee is explained below.

Option 2, in more detail

Where Package Forwarding Falls Short

Some stores refuse known forwarding addresses

Retailers can recognize the warehouse addresses forwarders use, and some cancel those orders, sometimes days after you pay. Some say so in their own policies.

"We do not ship to freight forwarders."

Apple's Australian online store, shopping help, checked 2026-10-05

You still need a card the store accepts

A US address does not fix a card that the store declines. See what to do when a US store declines your international card.

Problems are yours to solve

If the item is wrong, damaged, or needs a return, you deal with the US store yourself, from abroad.

Some forwarders also sell a buy-for-me add-on, where their staff place the order for you. For example, Shipito's pricing page lists Assisted Purchase at an $8.50 fee plus a 4.3% processing fee and an 8% commission on the purchase cost (Shipito pricing, checked 2026-10-06). Compare a package forwarder with a personal shopper.

Option 3, in more detail

How a Personal Shopper Works With Us

Big Apple Buddy is a personal shopping service based in New York. We buy from US stores for you, check the item, pack it, and ship it to your door in over 75 countries.

Shop or ask
Browse products from popular US stores in our catalog, with no VPN, and check out straight away. For eligible items not in our catalog, send us a link for a quote.
We buy it
We place the order with the US store ourselves, and it is delivered to our facility in New York. Each store decides whether to accept an order.
We check it
We do a careful visual check that the right item and variant arrived with no visible damage. We don't open sealed manufacturer boxes. If something looks wrong, we send you photos and wait for your decision.
We pack and ship it
We repack items from different stores together, prepare the customs paperwork, and ship with FedEx or UPS, with tracking.

Choosing

Which Route Fits You?

Find your situation in the left column.

Your situation	Route that usually fits
The store offers shipping to your country	Buy direct from the store
The store ships inside the US only, accepts your card, and accepts forwarding addresses, and you want the lowest cost	A package forwarder
You buy from US stores often and are happy to manage a US address and each order yourself	A package forwarder
The store declined your card	Try the steps in our card declined guide first. If none work, a personal shopper
The store cancelled an order sent to a forwarding address	Another store that ships to you, or a personal shopper. See what to do when a store won't ship to a forwarder
You want one company to handle the purchase, checks, packing, shipping and any store problems	A personal shopper
The item contains batteries, or is a perfume or aerosol	Check with the service first, whichever route you use (see below)

If the store ships to forwarders and you are happy to manage it yourself, a forwarder will usually cost less than a personal shopper. It comes down to whether your time is worth the difference.

Costs

What It Really Costs (the "Landed Cost")

The landed cost is everything you pay until the item is in your hands. Whatever route you choose, add up these parts:

Cost	Buy direct	Package forwarder	Personal shopper (Big Apple Buddy)
Item price	Store price	Store price	Store price
US sales tax	Varies by store	Some forwarders advertise none	May apply (some stores charge New York sales tax); we try to buy from stores that don't charge it
US delivery to the warehouse	Not needed	Often charged by the store	Often charged by the store
Service or handling fees	None	Forwarder's fees (receiving, consolidation, storage, membership; varies)	Service fee (separate from item price, shipping and taxes): $30 for the first item if the order's product total is under $200, $50 at $200 or more, plus $15 per additional item. See /pricing/.
International shipping	Store's rate	Carrier rate by weight and size	FedEx or UPS rate by weight and size, quoted for your address
Customs duties and import taxes	Set by your country	Set by your country	Set by your country. VAT or GST is collected at checkout where required; otherwise the carrier may collect import charges on arrival.

US sales tax

Some forwarders advertise no US sales tax on orders sent to their warehouse. Some stores charge New York sales tax on orders delivered to our facility; we pass the store's price through as charged and try to source from stores that don't charge it.

Shipping is priced by weight and size

International carriers charge for the space a box takes up as well as its weight, so a light item in a big box can cost more than you expect. This is true with any service.

Customs duties and import taxes

Customs duties and import taxes are set by your country. Where required, we collect VAT or GST at checkout, so you see it before you pay. Otherwise, any duties or import taxes are usually collected by the carrier when the parcel arrives, and we warn you about this in red at checkout. More in our customs duties and import taxes FAQ and our guide to shopping from Australia.

Your bank

Your bank may add a currency conversion or foreign transaction fee. Check your card's terms.

Our service fee

We charge a service fee for handling everything for you. Our service fee, separate from the item price, shipping and any taxes, is $30 for the first item when the order's total product cost is under $200, or $50 at $200 or more, plus $15 for each additional item. You see the item price, shipping and our fee before you pay. Our pricing page has the full schedule.

Before you buy

Check First: Items That Are Hard to Ship

Some products are restricted for international shipping, or not allowed into some countries. This applies to every route: buying direct, a forwarder, or a personal shopper. Check before you buy if your item is in one of these groups:

Batteries

Especially lithium batteries, loose or packed with a device.

Perfume, nail polish and aerosols

Many are classed as dangerous goods for air shipping.

Food, supplements and plant or animal products

Many countries have their own import rules.

Electrical goods

US products are made for US plugs and voltage, and may not meet your country's safety standards.

With Big Apple Buddy, some products, including certain batteries and aerosols, are restricted or cannot be exported, and we check this before you order.

The people behind it

Who Looks After Your Order

For over 10 years, customers have worked directly with our founder and CEO, Phillis, and her team, who look after each order from purchase to delivery. Big Apple Buddy is rated 4.5 from 693 reviews (Trustpilot, as of 2026-10-06).

Common Questions

How can I buy from a US store that doesn't ship to my country?

You have three main options. First, check whether the store has its own international checkout. If it doesn't, use a package forwarder, which gives you a US address and sends your parcels on, or a personal shopper such as Big Apple Buddy, which buys the item for you and ships it to your door. A forwarder usually costs less; a personal shopper handles the whole job.

Is a package forwarder cheaper than a personal shopper?

Usually, yes. If the store accepts your card and ships to forwarding addresses, and you are happy to manage the order yourself, a forwarder will usually cost less. A personal shopper charges a service fee for doing the buying, checking, packing and shipping for you.

Will I pay customs duties on a US order?

Possibly. Customs duties and import taxes are set by your country, whichever route you use. With Big Apple Buddy, VAT or GST is collected at checkout where required; otherwise the carrier may collect import charges on arrival.

What does Big Apple Buddy's service fee cover, and how much is it?

Big Apple Buddy's service fee covers buying the item, a visual check, packing, customs paperwork, arranging shipment, and contacting the store if something goes wrong. The shipping charge itself is separate. Our service fee, separate from the item price, shipping and any taxes, is $30 for the first item when the order's total product cost is under $200, or $50 at $200 or more, plus $15 for each additional item. The full schedule is at bigapplebuddy.com/pricing/.

Can every product be shipped from the US?

No. Some products, such as certain batteries, aerosols and perfumes, are restricted for international shipping, and some goods are not allowed into some countries. Check before you buy, whichever service you use. Big Apple Buddy checks this before you order.

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