Shopping from US retailers is a great way to access exclusive brands, bigger sales, and products that aren't available in your home country. But if you order each item individually, international shipping costs can quickly eat into your savings. The secret to US shopping success is to think bigger!

Rather than placing one order at a time, experienced international shoppers build a shopping haul, purchasing from several US retailers before shipping everything together in a single box. With a little planning, you can reduce shipping costs, avoid unnecessary packaging, and get much better value from every shipment.

What is a shopping haul?

A shopping haul is simply a collection of purchases you make over time and then ship together in one package. Instead of paying international shipping on every order, you can shop from your favorite U.S. retailers, send everything to your Stackry locker, and have your packages consolidated into a single shipment. It's a great way to save on shipping when you're shopping from multiple U.S. stores. Here's how Stackry works.

Why build a US shopping haul?

Planning your purchases offers several advantages.

Save on shipping

Shipping one larger parcel is more cost-effective than paying for multiple international deliveries. The more purchases you combine, the lower the shipping cost per item becomes.

Shop more retailers

Building a haul and shipping everything to Stackry gives you the freedom to shop wherever you find the best price. Instead of relying on a single retailer, you can mix and match purchases from different stores. And with Stackry's 45 days of free storage you can take your time.

For example:

• Clothing from Columbia
• Beauty products from Sephora
• Electronics from Amazon
• Homeware from Walmart
• Collectibles from eBay

Take advantage of sales

US retailers run promotions throughout the year. When you build a haul, rather than rushing to ship each purchase immediately, you can take advantage of:

• Black Friday
• Cyber Monday
• Prime Day
• Memorial Day sales
• Labor Day sales
• Seasonal clearance events

With 45 days of free storage at Stackry, we'll hold your parcels securely for you while you create your haul; this allows you to maximize savings across multiple stores before arranging international shipping.

Choose products that work well together

Some products are particularly well suited to haul shopping. Popular choices include:

• Clothing and footwear
• Beauty and skincare
• Toys
• Home accessories
• Sports equipment
• Books
• Gaming accessories
• Collectibles
• Fashion accessories

Compare prices before buying

The cheapest product isn't always the cheapest overall. So, before you buy, compare:

• Product price
• Sales discounts
• Shipping costs
• Taxes
• Import charges

Sometimes, buying from two different retailers can work out cheaper than buying everything from one, especially if the US retailer offers free delivery to your personal US delivery address.

Time your purchases

Planning ahead often leads to bigger savings; if several retailers are expected to run sales within the same month, it can make sense to wait and purchase everything during promotional periods rather than paying full price. More savvy shoppers keep a wish list throughout the year before placing larger orders during major sales events.

Be aware of oversized items

Shipping costs are often based on both weight and parcel size. So, while a television or surfboard may be a lot cheaper to buy, bulky products can increase international shipping costs significantly. If your goal is to maximize value, focus on products that offer high value relative to their size and weight, and make sure you factor in the shipping costs when calculating the overall price of your haul.

Plan for customs and taxes

Remember that international purchases may be subject to VAT or GST, customs duties, and/or import processing fees. The amount depends on your country's regulations, the value of your shipment, and the type of goods you're importing.

Checking local customs guidance before placing larger orders can help avoid surprises, but if you're unsure, ask a Stackry adviser for advice. You can also learn how duties and taxes are collected for your country.

Parcel forwarding with Stackry

One of the easiest ways to build a US shopping haul is by using Stackry's parcel forwarding service. Instead of shipping every purchase internationally, your orders are first delivered to your personal US shipping address. Once everything has arrived, you can decide when you're ready to send your haul home.

Stackry also offers features that help you make your shipment as efficient as possible, including:

• Package consolidation, allowing multiple purchases to be combined into one shipment
• Package repacking, helping reduce unnecessary retail packaging and potentially lowering shipping costs
• Storage, giving you time to wait for additional purchases before shipping
• Multiple international carrier options, so you can choose the delivery speed and price that best suits your needs
• Shipment tracking, so you can monitor your parcel throughout its journey

Whether you're buying from two retailers or ten, parcel forwarding makes it much easier to organize your shopping and avoid paying for multiple international deliveries.

Shop smarter, not more often

Building a US shopping haul is one of the easiest ways to get more value from international shopping. By planning your purchases, comparing prices across retailers, and timing your orders around major sales, you can often save both money and time.

If you're buying from multiple US stores, using a parcel forwarding service like Stackry makes the process even simpler, allowing you to consolidate purchases into one shipment and enjoy the best of US shopping without paying for multiple international deliveries.