UK delivery from USA

[irvineg]

How do I get purchases delivered to a UK address from some American www sites who only deliver to USA addresses?

[nicola_red]

The short answer is you can't.  If a site says they won't ship, they won't ship.  You could use the 'contact us' facility on the site to ask them to make an exception I guess.  In this case I usually ask a mate in the US to order, transfer the money to them via paypal and then get them to send the item on to me. 

[cassimer]

You generally need a friend in the us to help. And remember if your friend or a company do ship to the uk, customs can and will withhold/open up your package and charge you the appropriate tax. Can work out very expensive.

[metagirl]

the ask a friend is only real option - and it can be expensive when customs get a hold of the packages - you will end up paying domestic (USA) delivery charges/ delivery to UK / and customs charges - good luck!

[metagirl]

oh - and if your friend delivers the packages himself, the post office in America will try to get more 'insurance' and custom charges before package can be sent -

your package can then still be kept in a "holding" area in UK if they feel appropriate custom charges haven't been paid. this happened to me and unfortunately, my package was waiting for me for weeks before I found out that it was there. the royal mail and affiliates are not always forthcoming so track your packages when you can.

[flaming]

If you did have a friend in the U.S. he/she mighn't stay a friend after all that!   Even if  your item got here, just suppose it was broken on delivery or developed a fault later.  Your peace of mind and your wallet  would be shattered, sending it back and so on. The U.S. firms know all the pitfalls and would only ship unbreakable items which have a chance of pleasing the customer. 

If the item is available in New York you could go and get it, combining it with a cheap flight/shopping hol., getting other things as well.  I believe you could bring back a certain value of things, otherwise why would people go on these shopping sprees?

[catanory]

if u get a friend/colleague to deliver to the uk for you... they should wrap the item as though it's a present, enclose a birthday card also!! - and them package that complete item - thus avoiding customs charges :o)  they should post the delivery/invoice papers to you separately!!