As more Singaporeans shop from Japan, Korea, the US, and beyond, the demand for affordable and flexible international shipping continues to grow. While local couriers like Ninja Van, SingPost, and Qxpress excel in domestic delivery, they’re not designed for cross-border shopping.
In this updated 2025 comparison, we’ll break down how Buy&Ship stacks up against traditional couriers—covering pricing, shipping scope, customs handling, and real-world use cases.
🌐 What Is Buy&Ship?
Buy&Ship is a global parcel forwarding service that lets Singaporeans shop from international stores and ship products back home. With 11 warehouse locations across Asia, North America, and Europe, Buy&Ship enables users to:
- Shop directly from sites like Amazon US, Rakuten, Coupang, iHerb, and more
- Combine packages from multiple sellers or countries
- Pay transparent, weight-based shipping rates (from S$9/lb)
- Track shipments via dashboard and app
- Get optional insurance via Buy&Ship Plus
🚚 What Are Local Delivery Services?
Local couriers such as Ninja Van, SingPost, Qxpress, J&T Express, and Lalamove provide fast, islandwide delivery within Singapore. Their services are ideal for:
- Next-day shipping from Shopee, Lazada, or Qoo10
- Delivering documents, food, and small parcels
- Handling returns for local e-commerce platforms
But here’s the catch: these providers do not support cross-border shopping.
🔍 6 Key Differences: Buy&Ship vs Local Couriers
1. Delivery Scope
| Feature | Buy&Ship | Local Couriers |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas shopping support | ✅ Yes (11 warehouses) | ❌ No |
| Local last-mile delivery | ✅ Included in service | ✅ Yes |
| Parcel consolidation | ✅ Supported | ❌ Not supported |
| Forwarding from global stores | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
👉 Verdict: Buy&Ship is purpose-built for international shoppers. Local services are great for domestic use only.
2. Pricing Transparency & Value
- Buy&Ship: Flat-rate from S$9/lb, no volumetric weight charges, simple consolidation.
- Local couriers: Charges vary by size, urgency, or distance. No tools for combining items.
💡 Example: A 3-lb parcel from Japan (e.g. skincare, books, stationery) = S$23 total via Buy&Ship.
3. Package Consolidation
Buy&Ship lets users combine multiple purchases from different merchants or countries into one shipment—cutting both shipping fees and packaging waste.
Local couriers don’t offer this capability.
Verdict: For sale events (Rakuten Super Sale, 11.11), Buy&Ship saves you more.
4. Protection & Tracking
- Buy&Ship: Real-time tracking, loss/damage insurance, optional Buy&Ship Plus for high-value items.
- Local couriers: Limited to basic tracking within SG and minimal coverage.
Verdict: Buy&Ship is safer for fragile or expensive international orders.
5. Countries & Retailer Support
| Platform | Supported by Buy&Ship | Supported by Local Couriers |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon US | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Rakuten Japan | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Coupang Korea | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Shopee SG | ❌ Local only | ✅ Yes |
| Carousell / Lazada | ❌ Local only | ✅ Yes |
6. Customs Handling
- Buy&Ship: Offers guidance and pre-declaration for customs.
- Local couriers: Do not manage cross-border customs.
🛍️ When Should You Use Buy&Ship?
- Shopping on international sites that don’t ship to Singapore
- Buying during big sale events (Rakuten Super Sale, 11.11, Amazon Prime Day)
- Wanting to combine packages from different sellers
- Looking for clear shipping fees with no surprises
- Needing help with customs declarations or returns
📦 When to Use Buy&Ship
- Same-day delivery within Singapore
- Local marketplace orders (Shopee, Lazada, Carousell)
- Delivering documents or food within the island
- Low-cost local shipping for non-international needs
📸 Real-World Scenarios
| Scenario | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Shopping overseas-only brands | ✅ Buy&Ship |
| Black Friday / Amazon Prime Day deals | ✅ Buy&Ship |
| Consolidating orders from multiple sites | ✅ Buy&Ship |
| Wanting clear pricing & customs support | ✅ Buy&Ship |
When to Use Local Couriers
| Scenario | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Same-day document delivery | 🚚 Ninja Van |
| Shopee or Lazada local orders | 🚚 Qxpress |
| Sending parcels across town | 🚚 J&T Express |
| Local food or gift delivery | 🚚 Lalamove |
📸 Real-World Use Cases
| Use Case | Best Delivery Service |
|---|---|
| Buying K-beauty from Olive Young + Uniqlo JP | ✅ Buy&Ship |
| Sending cake to a friend across the island | 🚚 Lalamove |
| Purchasing tech from Amazon US | ✅ Buy&Ship |
| Returning defective Lazada item | 🚚 Qxpress / J&T |
Quick Stat: Singapore’s Cross-Border Spending in 2024
🧾 According to Statista, 43% of Singaporeans made at least one cross-border online purchase in 2024. That number is expected to exceed 50% in 2025.
This means more shoppers need international-friendly shipping solutions—not just local delivery.
Conclusion: Choose the Right Tool for Every Delivery
While local couriers remain crucial for everyday Singapore deliveries, Buy&Ship is the clear winner for global eCommerce needs. With transparent pricing, international support, parcel consolidation, and customs-ready services, it’s the best tool for modern cross-border shopping.
Start Shopping Globally Today
Want to access more brands, better prices, and smarter shipping from 11 countries?
👉 Sign up for Buy&Ship Singapore
🛍️ Start building your global shopping cart with confidence and cost control.