As more Singaporeans embrace cross-border eCommerce — from Japan’s Rakuten to Korea’s Musinsa and the US’s Amazon — many shoppers are faced with a key decision: Should you use parcel forwarding or proxy shopping services?
While both services help you get items that don’t ship to Singapore, they operate quite differently. In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between parcel forwarding and proxy shopping, explain when to use each, and introduce how Buy&Ship Singapore bridges the gap between convenience, affordability, and accessibility.
📦 What Is Parcel Forwarding?
Parcel forwarding is a shipping service that gives you a local warehouse address in another country (e.g. Japan, US, Korea). When you shop online, you use this address during checkout, and your parcel gets forwarded from that warehouse to Singapore.
🔑 Key Features:
- You shop on your own at any international site
- You input the forwarder’s warehouse address at checkout
- You pay the seller directly and manage the order yourself
- You consolidate multiple parcels before forwarding
- Shipping is usually charged by weight
✅ Ideal For:
- Shoppers who are comfortable buying online
- Stores that accept international credit cards
- People who want more control over what they buy
🛍️ What Is Proxy Shopping?
Proxy shopping is a concierge service where the platform or agent buys products on your behalf. You don’t place the order directly; instead, you submit a product link and payment, and the proxy service does the rest — from purchase to shipping.
🔑 Key Features:
- The service purchases items for you
- Great for websites that don’t accept foreign credit cards or require local phone numbers
- Proxy platform handles returns, seller communication, and checkout
- More helpful for non-English/Japanese/Korean sites
✅ Ideal For:
- Sites that don’t accept Singapore-issued cards
- Language barriers (e.g. Korean fashion platforms, Mercari JP)
- Limited-edition or auction-based items
- Buyers who prefer full-service handling
🔍 Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Parcel Forwarding | Proxy Shopping |
|---|---|---|
| Who places the order? | You | The proxy service |
| Who pays the seller? | You (directly) | Proxy service |
| Useful for checkout issues? | ❌ Limited | ✅ Handles complex cases |
| Language support needed? | ✅ You manage it | ❌ Proxy handles it |
| Order flexibility | ✅ Full control | ❌ Limited to requested item |
| Can consolidate packages? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Ideal for which users? | Experienced online shoppers | Shoppers with access issues |
| Common platforms used | Amazon US/JP, iHerb, Rakuten | Mercari, Zozotown, Qoo10 JP |
🇸🇬 What’s Best for Singapore Shoppers?
✅ Use Parcel Forwarding If:
- You’re buying from big-name retailers like Amazon, Rakuten, Walmart, Musinsa
- You want to combine packages from different stores
- You prefer managing your budget, payments, and discounts
✅ Use Proxy Shopping If:
- The website doesn’t allow foreign cards or emails
- You want to buy from Japanese marketplaces like Mercari or Korean local stores
- You need help navigating a language-specific interface or seller communication
💡 Pro Tip: Some platforms like Buy&Ship offer both services to cover all shopping needs.
🚀 How Buy&Ship Singapore Fits In
🧭 With Buy&Ship’s Parcel Forwarding Service, you can:
- Shop from 11 supported countries: Japan, Korea, US, UK, Italy, Thailand, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong
- Ship to local warehouses and consolidate up to 30 days free
- Enjoy clear weight-based pricing with no surprise fees
- Add protection with Buy&Ship Plus for high-value items
Shipping Rates (Standard):
| Weight | Cost |
|---|---|
| First 1 lb | S$9 |
| Each add’l lb | S$7 |
| UPS Option | S$10 base + S$6/lb |
📲 Track packages via mobile app and receive notifications every step of the way.
🔄 Buy&Ship’s Proxy Service: Expanding Fast
Originally known for its parcel forwarding expertise, Buy&Ship has in recent years expanded into proxy shopping services — especially in markets like Japan and Korea. This development allows shoppers to request purchases even from sites that don’t accept foreign cards or require local details.
The response? User numbers are growing rapidly, thanks to its transparent pricing, reliability, and smooth user experience.
While the core service remains forwarding, proxy capabilities are expected to expand further to meet growing demand. Stay tuned as Buy&Ship continues evolving to support more shopping scenarios for Singapore users!
💬 Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
| If you want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Full control + own checkout | ✅ Parcel Forwarding |
| Help with checkout/payment/language | ✅ Proxy Shopping |
| Fastest, lowest-cost option | ✅ Parcel Forwarding |
| Rare or marketplace-only items | ✅ Proxy Shopping |
💡 Pro Tip: Combine Both for Maximum Flexibility
Use Parcel Forwarding for everyday retail and Proxy Shopping when needed — and always compare total costs including service fees, shipping, and any customs or GST.
🛍️ Whether you’re buying cosmetics from Korea, sneakers from the US, or collectibles from Japan, understanding the difference will save you time, money, and frustration.
✨ Final Thoughts
Parcel forwarding and proxy shopping serve different purposes, but both are powerful tools for cross-border shopping. With Buy&Ship’s reliable warehouse network, low flat rates, and real-time tracking, parcel forwarding is often the smarter choice for most Singaporean shoppers.
Ready to take control of your overseas shopping?
👉 Sign up today at www.buyandship.com.sg