Originally Posted by ukmd (Post 12940074)

Has anyone used Stackry or other such US forwarding services? They take parcels from Amazon US and other US stores then mail them onto the UK. They are based in NH, so no sales tax. Grateful to know if they are reliable etc. ....

Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 12940109)

[1] I've never heard of Stackry, [2] I'm not sure why anyone resident in the US would need such a service, or even be aware of it. ..... You might do better asking in the "Moving back to the UK" forum. :unsure:

That said, I I suspect that much of the "forwarding" business is going to countries in Africa, Latin America, eastern Europe, and other such places, where there is a poor choice of consumer products. There have been such export businesses in Florida, shipping to the Caribbean, and California, shipping to Asia and Oceania l, for decades.

Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 12940109)

[1] I've never heard of Stackry, [2] I'm not sure why anyone resident in the US would need such a service, or even be aware of it. ..... You might do better asking in the "Moving back to the UK" forum. :unsure:

That said, I suspect that much of the "forwarding" business is going to countries in Africa, Latin America, eastern Europe, and other such places, where there is a poor choice of consumer products. There have been such export businesses in Florida, shipping to the Caribbean, and California, shipping to Asia and Oceania, for decades.

Originally Posted by Jsmth321 (Post 12940115)

These kinds of company do a lot of business to Canada as well, a lot of US retailers wont ship to Canada, and we lack the selection US has.

But anyhow they seem to have good reviews overall on Canadian forums. I never used a forwarding service myself as I had always lived within 20 minutes of the border so would ship to a package place along the border and go pick up myself, pre-COVID those places were printing money, now not so much.

Originally Posted by ukmd (Post 12940133)

Am curious what were these places along the border? Were they mailboxes or physical houses?

Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 12940142)

Because Canadians drive over the border to collect things that they cannot have mailed to their home address in Canada and/or to avoid import duty and/or excessive shipping costs. Approximately 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the US border, so collecting their stuff is only a half day trip. :)

Originally Posted by ukmd (Post 12940143)

Are they mailboxes or official businesses that operate as pick up points as a side hustle? Just curious I never heard such a thing

Originally Posted by ukmd (Post 12940143)

Are they mailboxes or official businesses that operate as pick up points as a side hustle? Just curious I never heard such a thing

Originally Posted by Jsmth321 (Post 12940146)

Most are dedicated business doing nothing but specializing in accepting parcels for Canadian's and other shipping needs some are located within a business like a gas station as a side hustle.

They charge a per package fee, usually $2-$4 so it's pay as you go, some people do rent official USPS post office boxes. ....