Screenshot of the vPost website

Navigating Overseas Shopping with vPost.

MyInternationalShopping is an Amazon Associate and we can earn compensation when you click on some links. 

Singaporean online shoppers often face limitations when dealing with international retailers. Some stores either don’t ship to Singapore at all, or charge exorbitant fees, and these costs mount up if you wish to buy multiple items. vPost, a service by Singapore Post, aims to bridge this gap by offering package forwarding solutions to shoppers in some East Asian countries..

Singapore and Cross border shopping

According to the The JP Morgan “Global e-commerce trends report” 2021

In Singapore, a significant 78 per cent of online consumers have shopped with international merchants, and cross-border e-commerce….

Singaporeans are more likely to buy with
international merchants than domestic ones – meaning
cross-border e-commerce is a vital part of online
shopping culture in Singapore

JP Morgan

So, what is vPost?

vPost provides Singapore residents with personalized overseas mailing addresses in various countries, including the US, UK, Japan, China and Australia amongst others. You can use these addresses during checkout on international online stores. vPost then receives your packages, consolidates them if desired, and ships them collectively to your Singaporean address, potentially at a lower cost than individual shipping.

How vPost Works:

  1. Create a free account on the vPost website to obtain your personalized overseas addresses.
  2. Shop online at any international store that accepts your chosen vPost address during checkout.
  3. Aggregate packages at the vPost warehouse to potentially reduce shipping costs (optional). Consolidation is not offered but you can pay for 2 or more packages on one invoice and you will only pay the same price for both as the lowest price one.
  4. Pay the shipping fee and choose your preferred delivery option once notified by vPost. vPost offer Air Economy and Air Standard services.

Currently, vPost accepts these payment methods:

  1. Credit/Debit Cards (Visa/Mastercard) – Except AMEX (American Express)
  2. Locally issued credit cards
  3. PayPal

Additional Information:

  • vPost offers free storage for up to 30 days, allowing you to combine shipments and potentially benefit from sales., after that storage is charged at SG$1.50 per day.
  • An automatic repacking service optimizes packaging size for potentially lower shipping costs. This is done if there is a difference of more than 2kg between chargeable and volumetric weight.
  • vPost occasionally offers promotions and partnerships with international stores, potentially providing additional discounts or free shipping. This can be found on their Deals and Promotions page.

Before using vPost:

  • Review customs regulations and restrictions to avoid issues with your purchases. In Singapore GST will be payable on all import goods, the current rate is 9%. Singapore Customs link.
  • Compare individual and consolidated shipping costs to determine the most economical option.
  • Utilize the vPost online portal or SingPost mobile app to track your packages.

The Goods and Service Tax (GST) is calculated based on the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) of all packages in an invoice.

vPost can be a valuable tool for Singaporean online shoppers seeking to access a wider range of products and potentially reduce shipping costs. However, it’s crucial to weigh the pros and cons, including potential customs fees and additional processing times, before making a decision.

Which countries can vPost offer me an address? vPost offers addresses and shipping to places in these locations:

  • USA
  • UK
  • China
  • Japan
  • Malaysia
  • Thailand
  • Taiwan
  • Australia

Be sure that you are in one of these locations before you sign-up. If you need a forwarder from another country, try this comparison tool.

Are there any alternatives?

Yes, plenty of other companies offer forwarding alternatives, this include Aramex, with their MyUS service, FishisFast, Forward2Me and many others specific to the region like BuyandShip Malaysia.

Who are Singapore Post?

Singapore Post, established in 1819, serves as the republic’s designated Public Postal Licensee. It offers a comprehensive suite of domestic and international postal services, including mail collection, sorting, and distribution.

Additionally, Singapore Post caters to the needs of corporate and individual customers through its courier brand, Speedpost, which provides express doorstep delivery solutions. The organization operates an extensive network of post offices, self-service kiosks, and parcel lockers across Singapore, and maintains a presence in 13 countries worldwide.


Posted

in

,

by

Tags:

Comments

Leave a Reply