Bringing Britain to You: Parcel Forwarding for UK Ex-pats
Living abroad offers incredible experiences, but you can still miss the UK’s tastes, brands, and conveniences. Fortunately, UK parcel forwarding services make it easy for British ex-pats to get a steady supply of their favourite goods and products from back home. So, avoid international shipping hassles and high costs by having your UK parcels forwarded to you abroad.
The Comforts of Home Wherever You Are
Maybe you crave PG Tips and Jaffa Cakes from back home. Perhaps you want the latest designer UK fashion and homeware from British designers delivered to your door. Or you need a steady supply of vitamins, medicines, and healthcare items from trusted UK brands.
A UK parcel forwarding provider gives you a dedicated UK address and will then consolidate and forward your packages to your home abroad. To maximise cost and time savings, use a full-service provider offering parcel consolidation in addition to standard mail forwarding.
Your British Treats Delivered Intact to the US with Parcel Repacking
Branded British foods can make life much more enjoyable when living abroad. But importing those biscuits, sweets, teas, and crisps stateside can be tricky. Without careful handling and repacking, your parcels face damage, spoilage, or confiscation by US Customs.
Perhaps you set your heart on crumpets from Warburtons, Jaffa Cakes by McVitie’s, and Cadbury chocolate bars. But receiving a box of inedible mush is a letdown. This “melted chocolate syndrome” is a common hazard of direct UK-to-US shipping.
Through no fault of the retailers, temperature fluctuations, rough handling, and delays can wreak havoc on your parcel’s contents. Chocolates melt. Baked treats crumble. Tea bags tear open.
This is where an expert parcel forwarding service comes in. Trained staff carefully open your package when it arrives and inspect all items for damage and spoilage. They repack goods into fresh packaging with insulated liners and ice packs to keep things cool and intact.
Avoid Customs Red Tape and Taxes
Importing items into the UK also involves clearing customs regulations. Your shipment may get stuck for days or weeks in slow bureaucracy. And if forms are filled out improperly, heavy duties and taxes apply. However, established stock import services know how to correctly classify and declare your goods so they breeze through customs inspections. Plus, there are no surprising taxes or lengthy holds that may destroy perishable items.
Parcel Consolidation Optimises UK Import Shipping
With reliable mail forwarding, you’re no longer at the mercy of inconsistent international shipping. The tastes and conveniences of Britain can be regularly delivered right to your expatriate doorstep. With parcel consolidation, if you regularly order from multiple UK retailers, your parcels are collected at the service’s warehouse until you request an optimised bulk shipment.
Benefits of parcel consolidation include:
- Consolidated shipments of multiple packages for lower costs
- Faster delivery for multiple packages vs. individual parcels
- Reliable handling of fragile, perishable, or valuable items
- Door-to-door delivery and unpacking services
- Temporary storage of parcels if required
- Online package tracking and notifications
- Customs assistance for smooth international transit.
Four Tips to Find the Best UK Parcel Forwarding Service
You want to use a UK parcel forwarding service, but finding a truly reliable provider can be daunting. Follow these tips to select the best service for your needs.
- Verify Licenses and Certifications. Legitimate forwarding and logistics companies should have all legally required licenses and registrations for operating their UK and international services. Check that they are an official IATA cargo agent and use HMRC-authorized procedures. This ensures compliance with customs and shipping regulations.
- Look for Experience. Select a service with extensive experience, specifically in UK to US exporting and shipping. Look for longstanding services with dedicated UK facilities. They should demonstrate expertise in navigating customs, freight forwarding, and delivering the range of items you’ll be importing. Make sure they provide detailed shipment tracking and status updates and have robust security and insurance policies in place.
- Compare Shipping Rates and Services. Evaluate the complete range of shipping options offered to find the best value. Seek a service with reasonable consolidation rates and discounts for higher volumes. They should provide additional services like unpacking, temporary storage, and last-mile delivery to maximise convenience.
- Check Track Record and Reputation. Look for recommendations and positive reviews from current customers importing to the US from the UK. Unless recommended by someone you trust, it’s best to avoid new companies without an established track record.
A Taste of Britain No Matter Where You Live
Don’t let living abroad mean completely giving up your favourite items and brands from the UK. Partnering with a mail and parcel forwarding and consolidation service means whatever you want from the UK can be delivered to you in perfect condition without any stress from customs or unexpected tax charges.