Personal Shopping vs. Package Forwarding: Which One Do You Need?
Two different Shipbird services solve two different problems. Here's how to tell which one fits what you're trying to do.
Shipbird runs two separate tracks, and picking the right one up front saves a step later.
Personal Shopping: you don't have the item yet
Use Personal Shopping when you've found something at a US retailer but can't check out yourself — the store won't ship internationally, doesn't take your card, or you'd rather someone inspect it before it leaves the country. Send the product link, we buy it with a US card, inspect it at our Austin hub, and ship it out.
You pay the item cost, a tiered Personal Shopping fee, and discounted shipping.
Package Forwarding: you already own it
Use Package Forwarding when you've already bought the item and just need a US address to receive it at. Your Shipbird suite becomes the delivery address; once it lands, we consolidate and ship it onward.
You only ever pay for shipping — no item cost, no purchasing fee, since you already own what's in the box.
The quick test
Ask yourself: has the purchase happened yet?
- Not yet, and you need us to make it happen → Personal Shopping.
- Already bought, just need it forwarded → Package Forwarding.
Either way, the shipping rate underneath is the same discounted FedEx Express pricing — the only thing that changes is whether Shipbird is also doing the buying.
See what it'll cost to ship
Up to 72% off FedEx list. Get a live estimate on the calculator.