As Singaporeans increasingly turn to international online shopping for better deals and wider variety, the demand for reliable delivery services has never been higher. But with so many options—ranging from traditional local couriers to specialized cross-border services like Buy&Ship—how do you choose the right one?
In this guide, we break down how Buy&Ship compares to typical local delivery providers in Singapore, highlighting everything from pricing, delivery coverage, and consolidation features to user benefits.
What Is Buy&Ship?
Buy&Ship is an international parcel forwarding and consolidation service that enables users to shop from overseas stores and have their purchases shipped to Singapore at affordable rates.
With 11 global warehouses (including Japan, Korea, the US, UK, Australia, and more), Buy&Ship empowers Singaporean users to:
- Access international e-commerce platforms
- Consolidate multiple packages into one shipment
- Ship globally at transparent rates from just SGD $9/lb
- Track shipments in real-time
- Enjoy free parcel protection (with optional Buy&Ship Plus upgrade)
Local Delivery Services in Singapore: A Quick Overview
Local services like SingPost, Ninja Van, Qxpress, J&T Express, and Lalamove primarily serve last-mile domestic deliveries. These platforms are optimized for:
- Local e-commerce platforms (e.g. Shopee, Lazada, Carousell)
- Business-to-consumer (B2C) parcel delivery
- Same-day or next-day delivery within Singapore
They are not designed for overseas forwarding, and typically lack international warehouse support.
Key Comparison: Buy&Ship vs. Local Delivery Services
📦 1. Delivery Scope and Use Case
| Feature | Buy&Ship | Local Delivery Services |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-border forwarding | ✅ Yes (11 overseas warehouses) | ❌ No |
| Local/domestic delivery | ✅ Yes (final mile in SG) | ✅ Yes |
| Parcel consolidation | ✅ Supported | ❌ Not available |
| Suitable for overseas shopping | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
✔ Verdict: Buy&Ship is tailored for global e-commerce, while local services handle within-Singapore logistics only.
💰 2. Pricing Transparency
Buy&Ship:
- Starts from SGD $9/lb
- Flat rate based on actual weight (not volumetric)
- No hidden fees
- Combine multiple packages into one to save on shipping
Local Couriers:
- Charges based on distance, weight, delivery speed
- Often priced per item or per trip
- Not suitable for international orders or consolidation
✔ Verdict: Buy&Ship offers better control and predictability for international shipments.
🧾 3. Customs & Tax Handling
Buy&Ship:
- Provides declaration support
- Helps you monitor your CIF value for GST compliance
- Automatically flags packages that may incur import taxes
Local Services:
- Not equipped to handle customs clearance
- Operate only within Singapore’s borders
✔ Verdict: Only Buy&Ship helps manage import-related responsibilities for overseas shopping.
📦 4. Package Consolidation
Buy&Ship:
- Receive packages from multiple countries
- Consolidate them into a single international shipment
- Helps reduce shipping costs and packaging waste
Local Couriers:
- Handle individual shipments only
- No support for multi-parcel consolidation
✔ Verdict: Buy&Ship wins on cost-efficiency for users who shop from multiple stores abroad.
🔒 5. Parcel Protection and Tracking
Buy&Ship:
- Free basic protection against loss/damage
- Optional Buy&Ship Plus for higher coverage and return privileges
- End-to-end tracking from warehouse to your doorstep
- Email and app push notifications
Local Services:
- Limited insurance for domestic damage
- Tracking provided, but mostly for local handover
- No international origin updates
✔ Verdict: Buy&Ship provides greater peace of mind for high-value or fragile international purchases.
🌍 6. Supported Retailers and Countries
Buy&Ship:
- Supports shipments from Japan, Korea, the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Italy, Taiwan, China, Thailand, and Hong Kong
- Works with most major global e-commerce sites: Amazon, Rakuten, iHerb, Uniqlo, Musinsa, etc.
Local Couriers:
- Serve local marketplaces only (Shopee, Lazada, Qoo10, etc.)
- Cannot forward from overseas sellers
✔ Verdict: For international shopping, Buy&Ship offers far wider retail access.
When Should You Use Buy&Ship?
- When shopping on foreign websites that don’t ship to Singapore
- When you want to combine multiple parcels into one international shipment
- When looking for clear, weight-based pricing
- When buying during overseas mega sales (e.g. Rakuten Super Sale, Black Friday)
- When you want optional return protection and tracking transparency
When Are Local Couriers Better?
- When delivering items within Singapore only
- For same-day or express delivery of local purchases
- For Carousell or food delivery-type use cases
- When shipping small, light items within the island (documents, local parcels)
User Scenario Comparison
| Scenario | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Buying skincare from Korea and a shirt from Uniqlo Japan | Buy&Ship |
| Sending a birthday gift across town | Ninja Van / Lalamove |
| Shopping from Amazon US and iHerb | Buy&Ship |
| Returning a local Shopee order | Qxpress / J&T |
Final Verdict: Different Services, Different Strengths
Local delivery services in Singapore are excellent at handling domestic logistics. They’re fast, affordable, and tailored for local e-commerce platforms.
But for international shoppers, Buy&Ship offers a completely different—and highly specialized—solution. With multi-country warehousing, transparent fees, and the ability to consolidate shipments, Buy&Ship bridges the gap between global shopping and local convenience.
You don’t have to choose one or the other—just choose the right tool for the right job.
Start Your International Shopping Journey Today
Ready to shop from overseas stores and enjoy reliable delivery to Singapore?
➡️ Sign up for Buy&Ship and explore global deals with peace of mind