You go to Amazon or eBay and select a product that you want, you add it to your cart, you go to the checkout, and you can't enter Spain in the address field. This is one of the most frustrating aspects of purchasing internationally from the US. Products are available even before anywhere in the US, and often at lower prices, but getting them to you is another matter. Sometimes a listing ships internationally, and there are times when it doesn't, and there just isn't any way to know until a seller blocks your address or your Spanish card declines when you go to checkout.
If a store does ship overseas, its shipping costs can be greater than the total amount in your shopping cart. This is where Ship7 can be of great assistance. It provides you with a free US shipping address for your purchases while you are shopping, so that stores know that you are a local customer, and later sends your purchase to Spain at a much lower rate than regular international shipping.
There are a few simple reasons that American retailers continue to attract shoppers from Spain.
The problem has been getting them across the Atlantic without paying a high shipping cost, and that's where a forwarding service comes in.
Shipping prices from the United States go up for a few reasons:
Couriers impose extra charges such as international handling, fuel surcharges, and remote area charges, often several times the shipping cost.
When ordered from three different stores, you're likely to receive three different boxes, all claiming to be an international shipment, much more expensive than sending one combined package.
Customs clearance involves additional processing times if the declaration is incorrect, and retailers are likely to compensate for this directly to the consumer.
Any customer shopping at an American retailer will likely have only one international carrier to choose from and will not have the opportunity to compare rates or select a cheaper option.
None of this is to say that shopping from America is not worth it, it's just that there has to be a smarter way to ship than the store is providing by default.
The US is not a part of the EU, so the regular customs regulations of the EU apply to anything shipped from an American retailer. VAT is charged on the declared value of the goods, and if the value of the goods is $160-$165, import duties may be applicable. The right and honest customs declaration is important here, as it can cause delays or fines at the border if the package is undervalued.
Duties are typically charged per package by the carrier (STC) after customs clearance, so you should make sure to check the latest duty rates and limits in Spain before ordering in bulk, as these may vary over time.
Even if you can't shop at a US store, you shouldn't miss out on the better prices and selection available. At the 80% discount of regular shipping costs, Ship7 offers a free US shipping address to purchase products directly from American stores and receive them at home in Spain with free package repackaging. Register for free and receive your Ship7 address in minutes.
The cost varies according to weight, size, and speed of shipping. When you combine several purchases into a single shipment with Ship7, you can usually get a much lower price than if you had purchased each package individually. Use the rate calculator before checkout to view an exact quote.
Express options will typically be received in 2-5 business days, depending on the carrier and service chosen, and economy shipping will be received closer to 6-10 business days.
Major international carriers such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, and USPS all service routes into Spain. We have direct relationships with these carriers, which is one reason they will offer lower rates that you won't find when booking directly.
The best way to save money is to bundle multiple orders into one shipment and pay for one international shipment instead of several. The total price can be reduced further by selecting economy shipping over express shipping.
Yes, in most cases. If the US is not in the EU, then standard customs rules apply, meaning that VAT is applied on the declared value of the goods. And duties may be charged if the shipment exceeds $150. The exact amount will vary depending on the type of goods and their declared value.
Some items are prohibited from being sent, such as guns and weapons, dangerous substances, flammable liquids, damaged batteries, prescription drugs, perishable food, and hazardous materials. Before ordering anything unusual, it's important to review the complete restricted items list because there may be variations in rules based on product category.
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