As an Australian, do you feel like you are limited in your shopping options and want to have access to US stores? Have you recently moved from the US to Australia and want to buy all of the products you know and love, but can’t find them?
A big downside to shopping online, especially if you don’t live in the US, is that not all online stores deliver outside of the country, and Australia is quite far. If you find something you like in a US-based online store, you just had to call it a day and pass on the option because it couldn’t be shipped to you.
However, this no longer has to be the case. These days, there are all sorts of shipping services that will help you make your dream come true, and for a good price. Here is how to shop in US stores when living in Australia.
Use an international shipping company
Often, online US stores will not ship to international countries including Australia. But there is now a solution, as various international shipping companies provide services to fill this gap, such as MyUS. MyUS is an international shipping company that allows you to shop in UK and US stores, and ship your products all over the world for a reasonable price, including Australia.
It is incredibly beneficial to shop via MyUS, as they can provide lower shipping costs, shorter delivery times, and even combine packages from different stores.
Research clothing sizes
One of the first things you should consider when it comes to buying from US stores, even though you live in Australia, is the size of clothes. Sizes are different in Australia as compared to the US, so you may have not had a full grasp of how the sizing works.
Before you start with your online shopping you should research the sizes for American clothes and see which sizes match up to that of the Australian sizes. This is to make sure you always find clothes that will likely fit you the best, without too much trouble when you’re shopping.
This is important to know beforehand because, sometimes, online shopping through US stores can be tricky as their sizing can be different from where you live.
Explore import restrictions
One of the biggest issues that people run into when they are buying products online from a different country is import tax and import restrictions. Essentially, the Australian government restricts certain products from entering the country to avoid any kind of danger or outbreak within the country.
With that said, before you make your order you need to make sure that what you are ordering is legal to be imported into the country. This is so that you won’t run into any issues when it comes to customs.
Import tax is also a very big part of this and you need to be prepared to pay an additional amount of money on top of the payment that you made for your products. This fee will depend on the price of the products that you bought, and the amount (i.e. size and weight).
Read the return policy
Return policies are yet another thing that can be very tricky when it comes to online shopping at US stores, especially when living in Australia. Shipping internationally can be very expensive and often US online stores will not accept returns from international destinations.
Before you get going with your purchase, make sure to read the return policy. If you’re buying products that you are unsure about, and they are quite expensive, you should think twice about this going through with the purchase because it may not be worth the hassle.
Beware of hidden fees
Last but not least, you should be aware of hidden fees that could be part of the transaction as many US stores require you to pay in a local currency. This is especially true if you are paying with foreign currency, as these online stores could hit you with a hidden fee at this point.
You can avoid paying foreign transaction fees by making use of things such as PayPal which will allow you to pay in dollars.
