Shipping forwarders from USA - guide & feedback
PriceUSA is a company that orders items on your behalf, and then forwards the package to you from their American business/address.
It is different to those Post Box forwarding companies that forward items that you've ordered yourself and posted to their American address. The reason why PriceUSA is a useful option, is because some American businesses (like Hasbro's online store) won't ship to American addresses WITHOUT an America billing address (the address your credit card statements go to).
PriceUSA also prefers deposit/transfers... so you don't use a credit card, unless you want to, so you don't have to worry about giving out credit card details, or worrying about who may access them when places keep them on file. Those transfers can even be made at one of three banks, essentially making the payment instant, speeding up the process.
Now that I've successfully used this service, I'm here to give instructions on how to use it.
I recently purchased several items from the Hasbro Online store (mostly NYCC exclusives, because BBTS weren't stocking them), and all it ended up costing me was an extra $20. I paid Hasbro's (retail) prices, plus American shipping, plus International shipping, which was quoted to a price that only ended up being $20 more. Not bad for 7 toys in a big box.
(NOTE - it isn't a set fee, so can be more or less for other orders that are bigger or smaller)
Items I bought from Hasbro America (price in brackets is the FINAL cost each item ended up costing me)
DOTM orange voyager ironhide - us$20 (A$38.25)
Rescue Bots Boulder - US$12 (A$23)
Rescue Bots Walker cleveland - US$6 (A$11.50)
Rescue Bots Cody Burns - US$6 (A$11.50)
NYCC Nerf Bumblebee edition - US$25 (A$47.80)
NYCC Cuponk Transformers - US$20 (A$38.25)
NYCC Bumblebee & Arcee set - US$30 (A$57.40)
Shipping within America from Hasbro - US$12.92
Delivery Protection fee - US$3.30
Shipping to Australia - US$83.07 (actual postage was US$60.71)
Total charged to me - AU$227.55 (based on their adjusted exchange rate, which they quote as being 3cents off the official rate)
(they charge a deposit before placing the order at Hasbro, and then charge you the rest when it arrives at their US address)
As you can see, prices for items that were released here still ended up being cheaper than our regular retail prices, while those items not released here, are cheaper than what you could possibly find on ebay.
Recommended for items not released here, or not expected here... and since they are US Retail prices, it's quite possible to still get anything from there for less than the prices here. Especially when Hasbro has free shipping offers.
THE GUIDE ON HOW TO DO THIS, using the Hasbro online store as an example.
Go to their site - https://www.priceusa.com.au/order/?mod=order
Fill out your details (you don't need to pre-register to this site, just fill out your details each time you order).
Now open up a new Window or Tab, to the Hasbro Online store and search for Transformers (or whatever else you want)
http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/
OR, look at the Transformers Product listing, and click on any that are listed as being sold by Hasbro.
http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/e...atchallpartial
(be prepared for items being sold out, as they often remain in the store for some time after they are sold out)
Now, copy the link, product name, and price, of each item, into the "Ordering" box on that PriceUSA page.
For example, the SWTF Quadchanger would look like this:
STAR WARS TRANSFORMERS DARTH VADER to STAR DESTROYER Figure - US$39.99
http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/Product...D=29520&BR=495
And continue with all items you want in that "order details" box.
When you are done with all the items you want, it is time to work out the Prices and Shipping amounts, for that second section on the PriceUSA page.
So add to your cart on the Hasbro online store, all the items you are wanting PriceUSA to purchase on your behalf.
Note the total price of the items, and add it into the PriceUSA page.
Next, note the shipping amount that the Hasbro online store quotes for postage within America (it's a standard rate to anywhere in America). Add that into the PriceUSA page on the "shipping in the usa" box.
DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE ALL YOUR ITEMS ARE LISTED IN THE HASBRO CART, SO THAT YOUR PRICES ARE ACCURATE TO PRICEUSA.
Finally, you will need to select a shipping estimate to Australia on the PriceUSA page.
Since you won't know the exact weights, just select "estimate cheapest" or "estimate fastest" shipping options.
If you are ordering from a different site that lists weights, select the applicable shipping amount.
If you have any extra details or requests, add them into the extra details box as well.
Have a second look over the order page, and if everything is filled out, click on the "get quote" button.
(close up the other window/tab of the Hasbro online store, as you no longer need it - they will now order for you)
You should end up getting an automated email saying that it has been received, and that it will be manually checked within the next business day.
Within that time, an email will then be sent to you to verify if everything is available, and give you a total price of the order. They will also say how much to pay first as a deposit, and give you details of bank accounts at Westpac, NAB, and Commonwealth.
They also give a link to their site, if you want to pay with a credit card or paypal.
As soon as you make payment, they will send 2 or 3 emails to confirm it, and that they are placing the order for you.
They may then email you to let you know that the items were shipped from Hasbro. (they keep you informed of every step)
Within a week, you should get another email to say that the items have arrived at their American address, and that you now have to pay the balance before they repost it to you. (it's quite possible that they might recalculate the amount owing at this time, if their international shipping estimate was way off - as they would only know the actual amount when they receive your package)
When you make that payment, you'll get an email to confirm it, and then within a day or two, another email with the tracking number of you package.
Now you just have to wait for it to arrive, or follow it by its tracking number.
I've been hesitant in promoting this service, because it just seems too good to be true. Or I feel like maybe I accidentally got under-quoted, and now everyone else will feel like they are being shafted with their real prices.
So as with any purchase, take care... and if you do use them, post your feedback here. Because if they are this good all the time, I'm certainly going to be importing more items from the Hasbro Online store in future, especially the occasional exclusive items they sell.
