Via Springah on twitter: AusPost are launching a service so you can buy things that ship to US addresses only and they will forward them here.
"Shop like you live in the USA"
http://shopmate.auspost.com.au
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Via Springah on twitter: AusPost are launching a service so you can buy things that ship to US addresses only and they will forward them here.
"Shop like you live in the USA"
http://shopmate.auspost.com.au
Seems pricey, min $25 postage per item, but I don't know how much the US based forwarders cost people?
Perhaps might help someone here :)
http://shopmate.auspost.com.au/
Actually, I'd say that's a great price, even for things that do ship to Australia. Much better value than eBay's global shipping.
they're offering 20% off shipping rates for November with coupon code "ShopMateLaunch"
Gonna wait for the Black Friday sales end of the month and use it :)
So you don't pay the US postage, just whatever they cost you? It could make buying on TFW easier, since a lot of dealers only ship to the US.
The problem is that you are unable to consolidate packages, like any decent shipping forwarder does.
Still, it's a start.
Now make one for Japan!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bidoofdude
I wonder if it makes bbts and ttfsource shipping cheaper considering from them to the auspost warehouse is free for orders over $150
Doh!Quote:
Originally Posted by Trent
Sounds interesting, potentially devastating on the wallet, but interesting nonetheless.
Perfect timing for Amazon cutting us off.
It still wont help us with Hasbro site for new stuff and SDCC items, as that site require credit cards with US billing addresses.
Surely you pay the US postage? :confused: But that's negligible compared to postage to Australia, and makes eBay items with free US shipping a great option.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bidoofdude
Well I think it's a very interesting step, clearly the income source for Auspost these days is parcel shipping.
I've done the numbers and assuming I can get a mate in the states to make the purchase for me, the cost of shipping the knights of unicron set from the states to here with this service is about $78.50, which is about a $20 saving on having him ship it using usps.
unfortunately a lot of that $20 saving has been eaten up in the last couple months with the dollar tanking.
Probably a good timing for competition...
Watch the Wreckers at DHL
http://mobile.news.com.au/travel/tra...-1227112130491
that ladies and gents is why I take extra care packing parcels. I don't think I'd mind so much if there was someone there to catch them and place them neatly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tropisetron
It explains some of the gashes I've seen in my BBTS boxes over the years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bidoofdude
You'd pay US postage costs, but it'd be cheaper and for sites like Amazon that have free US shipping options that *might* mean $0 (depends if those free shipping options have any exclusions)Quote:
Originally Posted by Sky Shadow
What? Is amazon stopping shipping to Australia?Quote:
Originally Posted by griffin
Unfortunately, those are airport workers doing the throwing into the DHL truck, so it isn't just DHL... it would be all parcel freight (including Australia Post) that gets the same "thrown" treatment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tropisetron
Quote:
Originally Posted by DELTAprime
It was mentioned here, so I'm giving it a little time to see if it is permanent or just a glitch that gets corrected, before I post it in the news section.
They certainly must know about foreign companies keeping their monopolies in place in Australia with the many shipping restrictions of items, and the cost differential of the "Australia Tax" on those monopoly items.
It mentions a "Bundling discount", but you will have to time the purchases so that they arrive at the AusPost warehouse at the same time or within a few days to get the discount.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trent
Sounds like that US Postbox scheme that I signed up to several years back but never used. You buy items and use a designated shipping address from AusPost, and when they arrive, AusPost contacts you with the international postage price and then you pay.Quote:
Bundling discount: If your parcels arrive and you pay for them on the same day, then your first parcel will be charged the full shipping costs and we will offer you a discount of AUD10.00 on each subsequent parcel.
Once your shopping arrives at your US address, we’ll let you know what the shipping charges to Australia will be. You can pay with Visa or MasterCard.
Not sure how much time they'll give you to wait for multiple parcels to get the Bundling discount though, but there is a fee if it sits for more than 21 days unpaid (so I guess in theory, you could wait 7-10 days for other parcels to arrive, and then get a new quoted shipping rate with the discount).
Not bad.
They even assess your items to see if they can be repacked to a smaller shipping carton, to save you international shipping. (plus $5 repacking fee)
Normal Customs fees apply, if over AU$1000.
And just be aware of the weight and dimensions restrictions... which shouldn't be a problem on Transformers purchases (but could be for other things).
This could certainly be a worthwhile replacement for Amazon if they remain cut-off from international shipping.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bidoofdude
This is what I'm looking forward to... and if Hasbro Shop ever allows for paypal payments, SDCC items could be so much cheaper.Quote:
Originally Posted by CoRDS
New Zealand Post launched a similar service in November 2012 and I use it almost extensively now for all USA purchases, as it has been in most causes cheaper to pay for USA to USA postage and then USA to New Zealand, than direct.
However the 'base fee' for the New Zealand version is 1/2 the cost of this, and the 500g is is a few dollars cheaper - minimum cost is $17.25 + they also offer a multiple parcel discount of $6
True consolidated shipping is also coming soon.
Never used it for Amazon or HTS parcels you can't be sure that those stores will use a small outbox or spilt the shipment
Also, take time to read their shipping restrictions and their Rates and Fees.
Fortunately the batteries in Transformers toys aren't Lithium based, but if they ever do, those might have a problem.
I would say that Megatron guns have the potential to be prohibited if they open up the box and see one... so perhaps avoid using this service if you are buying a Megatron gun from America.
Hmmm... they don't allow food items. :(
(I sometimes like to buy limited edition themed items, like Christmas or Halloween candy)
Amazon has free shipping within US and looks to allow you to use different shipping addresses (like for gifts), so should be possible.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zippo
Hasbro Toy Shop though, last time I checked, won't sell to anyone who doesn't have a US billing address to the Credit Card they use. That was two years ago, so maybe check to see if it is still in force.
Nice to have that option there for you, with the more limited and more expensive domestic range than we have here.
This is so exciting, particularly with the ebay Global Shipping Program that costs a lot and doesn't combine purchases.
Brilliant
So many options now.....
All those US ToysRUs exclusives... might now be easier, without having to deal with their problematic and unreliable iParcel 3rd party shipping.
(and US Target exclusives too)
I think I'm actually salivating at the thought of what this opens up for me... :p
Won't this make harvey norman angry that auspost is encouraging people to buy items from the us??? we'll hear them badger the gov for import tax again...
I registered, and it gives an Oregon postal address to use.
To get around the restriction of some places that don't ship to POBox addresses, they use a "Suite" number at their Oregon address that then relates to each account/person.
its still the case as of a month or so ago when I tried to order the Kreon set.Quote:
Originally Posted by griffin
From the ShopMate website FAQ, for sites like HTS, you might be able to add the ShopMate US address as one of your billing addresses, allowing those sites to process your credit card...Quote:
Originally Posted by griffin
Quote:
How do I order from a US merchant that does not accept Australian credit cards?
You should contact your bank or credit card provider to see if they can add your ShopMate address as a secondary billing address on your account.
What is the address, it will be interesting to see if it is the same warehouse is NZ PostQuote:
Originally Posted by griffin
14601 North Bybee Lake Court
Suite NZxxxxxx
Portland, OR
I used my address for one item from Amazon via free postage. I knew it wouldn't be spilt into multiple shipments but was worried about the external box size. For those types of items, I would use it again if Amazon didn't ship direct.
Yep, same address, but Suites start with SM (probably our country code for their sorting process).
Maybe it was an American company that set up that warehouse, and then solicited joint-ventures from postal companies around the world, to be their middleman for shipping.
Amazon still list Australia as a country it will send toys to. Maybe it's a matter of Hasbro and others following Lego's example. Also remember theres shipping differences between Amazon and the various companies that are "Fulfilled By Amazon". I refuse to use Amazon any more for toys because they have a bad habit of mangling the packaging.
As long as Hasbro doesn't crack down on BBTS I'm ok with them crippling Amazon.
Without knowing how many toys Amazon sell; I looked through quite a few other brands that I have some interest in and then some I don't. My estimate that 95% of all toys Amazon sell, no longer ship to New Zealand.
Maybe it got too hard for them, maybe the companies are cracking down on things. Who knows.
On topic, good to know its the same address.
Be interesting to hear the experience you have. As I said, I wouldn't go back to shipping direct to New Zealand vis USPS anymore after using this service. I just have to be a tad selecting on what I ship there and when I purchase it
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulbot
Mine does a flat rate $8 per parcel, and can also consolidate orders.
Who's that?Quote:
Originally Posted by reillyd
creating an account was easy enough, now to take it for a test spin
and of all places to place an order... kmart.com :rolleyes::p
it's also interesting to see the free shipping offers that the major retailers like kmart, walmart, TrU, target etc offer
Yeah, a lot of the majors have that now to compete... and I'm hoping that helps offset the postage charged by ShopMate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinnertwin
I saw that Channel Ten mentioned it on the news tonight, and maybe other news programs... so that should give it some legs to kick it off with.
This is a great idea and I'm happy to support it :) but yeah I think it will give the Australian retailers something else to complain about :rolleyes:
I think those same guys must work for Australia post too!! :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Tropisetron
This is the condition of the box I received yesterday which had my copies of TF Box Art in it :mad:
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/...ps92d375cd.jpghttp://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1c990362.jpg
Fortunately they only suffered minor dinging on the corners (mostly due I think to the gift wrapping protecting them more). Two things could of helped this box to arrive intact and in good condition. 1. Amazon US should of shrink wrapped the books to cardboard to reduce movement in the box like I've had amazon Japan do with the generations books and 2. the fwits like in this video could take more care with stuff that doesn't belong to them :mad:
It's not DHL or Australia Post... it's the airport luggage-handlers (in that video), who have no accountability or responsibility to treat the "luggage" with any element of care. Particularly if *their* bosses have them on a tight schedule or don't pay them enough to take pride in their work.
It's probably why Australia Post stopped having "fragile" stickers, because they know how the airport workers operate... and figured that they couldn't do anything about it, or couldn't risk the airport workers refusing to handle their freight in retaliation.
The Parcel I just got from amazon was smashed in, all the transformer packaging in it was ruined beyond belief and crushed in. Yet some how every figure was not damaged the slightest. Yet the boxes for them look like a truck ran them over. I should of taken a picture, it was terrible.