Buy Crikey: Bulk buys make shipping cheaper for internet buys

YouShop gives Kiwi customers addresses to have goods shipped to in the US and UK. Photo / Thinkstock

Have you ever browsed overseas websites dreaming of being able to buy so cheaply or to have such choice? I'm guilty of doing that on Zappos.com.

A steady stream of parcels from such retailers is making its way here via NZ Post's YouShop and other transhippers such as BuyUSA.

YouShop gives Kiwi customers addresses to have goods shipped to in the US and UK. Parcels are repackaged and forwarded — for a charge.

Kirsty Leigh, who runs Makeupobsessives.com, uses YouShop to have her makeup sent from Sephora.com. Urban Decay eye shadow, which isn't available here, cost US$54 plus a US$22 YouShop charge. Many of Leigh's Facebook and Twitter followers order five or six items at a time, making it more cost effective.

The top categories of goods shipped through YouShop is clothing and accessories, says Joe Brophy, manager solutions development at NZ Post. That's followed by shoes, automotive accessories, electronics, beauty products, home and kitchen, and toys and games.

The No1 retailer YouShop customers in both countries use is Amazon. Other names include Gap, Zara, eBay, Boots the Chemist, Create and Craft, Sephora and Clarks.

Check if the item can be bought in New Zealand. Sometimes it is available through importers such as Fishpond.co.nz and MightyApe.co.nz, or in shops.

It doesn't work for everyone. A friend who shipped Lego here found that once the YouShop price was factored in, the cost was much the same as you'd pay on sale here.

YouShop, which has 82,000 customers, is due to open a warehouse in China this year.

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