Thanks for your response! What you say is true, something similar exists.
What is missing:
- checking contents & finding and sending amazon packaging slip (to know what items have arrived to release purse escrow)
- repacking to a more efficient package to forward internationally
- cheap & slow shipping methods (ie, working with a transport company to fill unused container space with these items).
You make some good a valid points.
Moreover, its seems like it would be an
extremely helpful business (helping and making it possible for individuals whom are located outside of the United States to use
Purse.io) and also one in which an
honest and respectable profit could be made.
To be successful one would probably need to be located in area within the United States were a ship transport company is located.
I've experienced long and brutal headaches in the past when attempting to find ways to ship goods from the United States to Latin America.
Before we get to the boat freight lets start with basics -
Shipping by air:
The fastest: FedEx
The most reliable: FedEx
A better service is called
Global Express Guaranteed Mail (
https://www.usps.com/international/gxg.htm) which is offered at most United States Post Offices. This service is a
partnership between the United States Post Office and FedEx. The advantages include:
1.
Much better price than going directly through FedEx
2.
2 -3 day guaranteed delivery almost anywhere in the world
3.
Money back (100%) guarantee if not delivered by stipulated date - 1, 2 or 3 days. (If package is delayed by customs that time wont count.)
There's also another service which
I'd NEVER recommend for international shipping:
UPS (United Parcel Service). Why? It's just way too expensive and when going international it's less reliable than FedEx.
There's also
DHL (Deutsche Post DHL). However,
I've NEVER considered using them for international shipping because any time I've ever been forced (buying something and receiving the item via DHL) to use them within in the United States it's invariably been a terrible experience. Packages are often lost and customer service is a at best a joke and at worst outright deception. Furthermore, DHL isn't very popular in the USA (perhaps it is in Europe and Africa) and those who have used them in the USA are often dissatisfied. However, I have no first hand experience with
shipping internationally with DHL other than once receiving a smartphone (which was lost for more than a week) from Canada to the United States.
In any event, all of the foregoing shipping services (with perhaps the exception of
Global Express Guaranteed Mail) would probably just be too expensive for forwarding items purchased through
Purse.io (or from anywhere, including eBay).
Shipping by boat:
It seems that for the mail forwarding business to be successful, effective and efficient you'd probably need to have the goods
shipped by boat and
by less well known shipping companies.
Many of these shipping companies are located in coastal areas and especially in coastal areas where there are large populations of 1st and 2nd generation immigrants such as New York City (and surrounding areas).
Often times these companies operate under the radar once the goods arrive in the destination country. For example, in New York City (and surrounding areas) there are boats which will deliver barrels (blue plastic barrels) full of goods to a recipient's front door and without making a stop a the
aduana (
customs, import tax).
Typically I see these barrels, and regardless of weight, (full of anything from clothing, laptops to rice) delivered to the Caribbean for $90 - $100 US dollars.
However, you can also send a small box or package with them. Some are more official than others and some will make a stop at customs for import tax.
You'd need to establish a rapport (and a face to face, in person, one at that) with two or three of the ship companies. It seems that many of these shipping companies come and go, relocate and change names. Moreover, unless you are a cool person (e.g., can demonstrate some connection to the destination country or at least the continent, the language or the culture) you might get -
(a)
taken advantage of and pay higher prices
(b)
no service at all because they don't trust you
(c)
outright denial by the proprietor of business that such a shipping company exists
All of the above are my thoughts regarding the shipping aspects of your idea for the Purse.io related mail forwarding business. I'll write more later regarding:
- checking contents & finding and sending amazon packaging slip (to know what items have arrived to release purse escrow)
and
- repacking to a more efficient package to forward internationally
