Buy from US Stores and Ship to the UK or Australia — a Complete Guide
REI, Nike, Patagonia, Carhartt — US brands are cheaper at source and often won't ship internationally. Here's how to buy any US product and ship it to the UK or Australia.
American brands often sell at prices that make UK and Australian buyers feel like they're being taxed twice. Add the fact that many US retailers — particularly outdoor, sporting goods and fashion brands — don't ship internationally at all, and you end up paying a premium at your local importer just to access products that cost significantly less at the US source.
This guide explains which product categories have the biggest price gap, which US stores are worth buying from, how import duties work for UK and Australian buyers, and how to use a US forwarding address to access any American retailer.
Why Are US Prices Often Lower for UK and Australian Buyers?
Several factors combine to make US retail prices genuinely lower — not just in nominal terms, but after currency conversion:
Best Product Categories to Import from the USA
Outdoor and Technical Gear
This is where the price gap is widest. REI, Backcountry, Sierra, Moosejaw and Steep & Cheap carry US-brand gear at prices that simply don't exist in UK or Australian retail. A Patagonia Nano Puff jacket sells for $199 USD (≈£158 / A$310) in the USA; the same jacket through Patagonia UK retails at £180–220. Outdoor Research, Black Diamond, MSR — the difference compounds across a full kit.
REI in particular runs a co-op dividend model where members receive 10% back annually, and their sale events cut already-competitive prices by 20–50%. None of this reaches international buyers through normal channels.
Workwear and Durable Fashion
Carhartt, Dickies, Wrangler and Levi's are made in or sourced through the USA and are genuinely cheaper there. A Carhartt Detroit jacket costs $89–110 USD in the USA. UK retail prices for the same jacket run £90–110 — which at current exchange rates represents a 20–30% premium. For volume buyers (construction crews, tradespeople, agricultural workers), the saving across ten jackets pays for the forwarding service multiple times over.
Sneakers and Streetwear
Nike SNKRS app exclusives, Jordan brand drops, and New Balance limited collaborations release in the USA first, if at all. UK and Australian resellers often charge 40–80% premiums over US retail for hyped releases. Buying at US retail through a forwarding address is the fastest path to market price.
Supplements and Sports Nutrition
The US supplements market is the world's largest and most competitive. Brands like Optimum Nutrition, Dymatize, Cellucor and dozens of smaller labels sell at US prices that can be 30–50% lower than UK GNC or Australian supplement stores. Protein powders, creatine, pre-workouts and vitamins all ship well and consolidate efficiently.
Technology and Electronics
US electronics prices are often lower than UK or Australian retail, particularly for cameras, audio equipment and gaming gear. Note that voltage standards differ (110V vs 230V) — ensure compatibility or buy dual-voltage items.
Books and Media
US book retail prices are frequently lower than UK/AU equivalents. Academic textbooks, art books, niche technical manuals and specialty publications are often dramatically cheaper from Amazon.com or specialty US retailers.
US Stores That Don't Ship to the UK or Australia
Many American retailers restrict international shipping entirely or to very few countries. Common offenders include:
- REI — US domestic shipping only
- Costco.com — US members only
- Nike SNKRS — region-locked drops
- Home Depot — US shipping only
- Lowe's — US domestic only
- Bass Pro Shops — limited international options
- Academy Sports — US only
- B&H Photo — partial international
- Many independent sneaker boutiques — US domestic preferred
A US forwarding address from Resendify makes you a US customer for all of these retailers. You receive a real street address in the USA, shop as normal, and we handle the international leg.
Understanding Import Duties: UK and Australia
UK Customs
Since Brexit, the UK applies its own import rules. Key thresholds:
- Under £135 total order value: VAT (20%) is collected at the point of sale by the retailer or marketplace. No additional duty at the border for most goods. Customs handling fees may apply from the carrier.
- Over £135: VAT is assessed at the UK border and typically collected by the courier before delivery. Customs duty also applies depending on the product category. Clothing: 12% duty. Footwear: 8–17%. Electronics: 0–3.7%. Outdoor equipment: 2.7–12%.
Practical implication: keeping individual shipments under £135 avoids duty and simplifies clearance significantly. If you're ordering multiple items, consider splitting across multiple shipments or using consolidation to reduce the declared value by shipping only what you need.
Australian Customs
Australia applies GST (10%) to all imported goods, collected through different mechanisms depending on value:
- Under AUD $1,000: GST is collected by the seller at point of sale if they are registered for Australian GST. Many US retailers are not registered, so this may not be collected until border clearance.
- Over AUD $1,000: Formal customs entry required. GST assessed plus applicable customs duty. Clothing: 10% duty. Footwear: 10%. Electronics: generally free.
The AUD $1,000 threshold is relatively generous. A single order of outdoor gear that doesn't breach it clears quickly and cleanly. Resendify provides accurate item-level customs documentation for all shipments.
How to Use a US Forwarding Address
- Sign up for Resendify and receive your US warehouse address (with your name and unit number).
- Shop any US retailer as you normally would. Enter your Resendify address as the shipping address. Most US retailers accept any US address without restriction.
- Your orders arrive at our US warehouse. We log, photograph and secure each parcel in your account.
- Consolidate if needed. Multiple orders from different retailers can be combined into one international shipment, significantly reducing per-item shipping costs.
- Request forwarding. Choose your speed — economy, standard or express — and we ship to your UK or Australian address with full tracking and customs documentation.
Shipping Times: USA to UK and Australia
- USA → UK: Economy: 7–12 business days. Express: 2–4 business days.
- USA → Australia: Economy: 10–18 business days. Express: 3–6 business days.
For non-time-sensitive purchases — outdoor gear, clothing, supplements — economy shipping delivers excellent value. For sneaker drops, limited editions or gifts, express is worth the premium.
The Case for Buying at the Source
If you regularly buy US brands, the arithmetic is clear. The average UK or Australian buyer of outdoor gear, workwear or sneakers spends £300–800 per year in categories where US prices are 15–40% lower. A forwarding service that costs less than £50/year and saves £100–300 on purchases more than pays for itself on the first order.
Get your US forwarding address with Resendify and start shopping American at American prices, delivered to your door in the UK or Australia.
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