Package forwarding from the US to Australia: A complete guide
If you've found something in an online store that doesn't ship to Australia, you need a parcel forwarding service to go the extra mile(s). We've got all the details on the major services as well as everything you need to know about getting those goodies to your door.
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When it comes to heading into bricks and mortar stores, Australians don't really have access to the variety of retail stores seen in the US. But thanks to globalisation, the growing popularity of online shopping and more packages making their way to Australia, prices are coming down down-under.
Overseas shipping is commonplace now, but for those companies or retailers that won't ship to our sunny shores, CNET has put together a handy guide on the major parcel shipping services, and what you need to know when it comes to shipping your purchases from the US.
The Basics
When it comes to shipping boxes, you'll often see prices quoted for Cubic Weight (or Dimensional Weight). This measurement is calculated using the dimensions of a package and is designed to factor in the greater cost of shipping bulky items, even if they're not heavy. Some services will charge for whichever figure is higher out of the actual weight and the cubic weight -- so if you're shipping a big teddy bear, you'll be paying by volume, not mass.
How to calculate cubic (or dimensional) weight
Height x length x width ÷ 5,000 = cubic weight
For example: 50cm X 30cm X 40cm
= 60,000cm³ ÷ 5,000
= 12kg cubic weight
Some US-based sites, such as MyUS, multiply dimensions in inches and then divide by 139 to calculate the final weight in pounds, but you'll get roughly the same figure when converted.
Customs
According to Australia Post, you don't need to file a US Customs declaration for orders below $2,500 in US dollars. If the goods cost more than this (look at you Mr Money Bags!) you'll need to fill out a Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) form to clear the parcel through US Customs. Most sites cover these details in their FAQ.
Prohibited items
No matter which service you use, you might not be able to ship some items. These can include aerosols, matches, weapons, oils and flammable or toxic products, perishable items like food, and counterfeit goods.
Pricing
Some websites only give you rates once you've entered your package details. To give you an idea of pricing for these services, we've compared costs on shipping a 3kg package (dimensions 30 x 20 x 10cm) to the Sydney metro area. Prices below are US Dollars, unless specified as AU$.
ShopMate
The Low-Down
- Operated by Australia Post
- Free coverage for loss or damage for items worth less than AU$5,000
- Packages can be tracked once they're in Australia using Australia Post's MyDeliveries tool
- Delivery within 5-8 business days after your order arrives in the ShopMate warehouse
The Cost
Base rate: AU$24.95
Price per 500g: AU$5.95 (measured by cubic weight or actual weight -- whichever is larger)
Extra Cover: AU$2.50 per AU$100 of parcel value
Read CNET's full run-down on ShopMate here.
HopShopGo
The Low-Down
- Owned by PayPal, so you need a PayPal account to sign in
- Free warehouse storage for 30 days if you want to shop more and add to your order
- Free package consolidation (smaller items packed in a larger box to save on shipping)
- Different rates for standard and express shipping
The Cost
| Standard shipping | Express shipping | |
| First 500g | $24 | $28.80 |
| Every additional 500g | $4 | $4.80 |
| Delivery time (business days) | 6-8 | 3-5 |
Matesfreight
Shipito
The Low-Down
- Parcel forwarding for individual orders
- Premium 'Virtual Mailbox' option to get free consolidation and delivery notifications and free 90 day storage
- Aggregates prices for different shipping companies -- allows you to choose delivery method and company, though prices vary
- Includes companies such as TNT, DHL, FedEx and Priority Mail
The Cost
$1 per package + individual postage costs of different companies
Virtual Mailbox cost: $10/month or $50/year
3kg shipped to Sydney: Cheapest price is $47.54 through TNT
MyUS
PostRope
The Low-Down
- A "social shopping community" that relies on members to ship other members' items
- Put up a listing (you're a "poster") to get an item it shipped from online or physical stores, anywhere in the world
- Select the best shipping offer from other community members (called "ropers")
- Join with email or Facebook
- A 'trust economy' website relying on user feedback
The Cost
PostRope charges $2 on top of standard PayPal fees between members.
Sendle
The Low-Down
- No international shipping, but it receives an honourable mention here for cheap flat rates within capital cities and between cities
- Covers Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Adelaide and Canberra
- Door to door delivery (including pick-up from your address)
- Choose whether sender or receiver pays
- Insurance for orders up to AU$1,000
- Deliveries up to 25kg
- Delivery Monday to Friday until 5pm
The Cost
Delivery within the same city: AU$9.75 flat rate for up to 25kg
Delivery between capital cities: $16.70 flat rate for up to 10kg
Do you use a package forwarding service that we haven't mentioned here? Let us know in the comments below.