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The Benefits Of Buying Goods From Abroad Online

1 April 2009, 16:05

Most of us like a good bargain or two, but when it comes to surfing the internet there really are plenty to be found.

But while many of us are used to shopping online when it comes to buying items from sellers and businesses in our own country, not as many people as eager to buy goods from abroad.

That's a shame because you can get some even better deals if you know where to look.  The main reason for this is due to the exchange rate.  Even though you will be paying more for the delivery charges (as Airmail will no doubt be your method of delivery) you will often benefit from the goods you want being priced in a different currency.

The best way to go about shopping online is to have a tab open on your browser which has a currency converter ready to use on it.  That way, when you find something that you like you can immediately tap the price into the currency converter and work out how much it would be in British pounds.  When you do this don't forget to add on the delivery charge to get an accurate picture of what you would be paying out.

The wonderfully named website the Pink Fridge has a short article which lists some points to bear in mind when you are thinking of buying from America in particular, and you can read it by going to http://www.pinkfridge.com/s_shoppingonline/buy-USA.htm.

So is a sometimes more beneficial exchange rate the only plus point when it comes to looking beyond our borders for goods that we want to buy?

In short, the answer is no.  The cost of living in some countries is much lower than it is in the UK, where it is renowned for being very high.  What's more, you can also get access to many goods that you cannot get in the UK.  It's pretty clear that every country will have stores that are unique to that country, and if they have goods that are only sold by themselves you will be missing out on a great deal if you limit your online shopping experience to your own country.

Some people wonder about security when it comes to buying from abroad, but the same rules apply as they would if you were buying from a British online store.  When you arrive at your online checkout, make sure there is a padlock symbol showing in your browser to show that you are viewing the payment pages over a secure connection.  If you don't see this, or there is no https:// before the website address, then do not buy anything from the site.  If you do your details may not be safe.

It really comes down to basic security details.  Once your order is processed you will probably have to wait a little longer to receive it as it is coming from abroad as you would if it were coming from somewhere inland, but in most cases you won't have to wait too long.  What's more the thrill of receiving goods you paid for in a different currency and saved a lot of money on in the process is worth waiting for!

 

Comment

  1. I’ve bought things online before from abroad but I must admit I don’t do it very often. I think when I have done it, it has been computer gadgets and bits and bobs from China and places like that. It tends to be on eBay too because you can get some good prices there even with the extra postage you pay. I haven’t tried any other sites though. Having read this, maybe I should.

    — JamieK · Oct 28, 04:56 PM · #