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Living overseas

Living overseas - shopping online from UK

11 replies

Clueless2727 · 16/04/2013 16:08

Sorry, lots questions today.

Looking at taking lots of bits with me when move to singapore in couple of months, but a lot of the UK companies I shop with online in uk deliver to singapore (m and s, debenhams, next, brastop). Know delivery more, but seems ok, guess just issue is if stuff doesn't fit and needs returning.

Question is does anyone use international shipping and does it work ok?

Also, i buy lots little bits from ebay and amazon. Can see that there is an ebay, but who do you use instead of amazon to buy all sorts of misc bits?

Thanks

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butterfliesinmytummy · 17/04/2013 00:16

M&S doesn't ship to Singapore but there are lots of M&S shops here (clothes, groceries and frozen, no chilled foods). We use the Book Depository for books but bookshops here, although a bit more expensive, are really good. We also have TopShop, Dorothy Perkins, Warehouse, Monsoon, Karen Millen, Zara, Body Shop, Mothercare etc etc. Boden delivers and knocks VAT off adults clothes, I also shop at Toast who deliver and Figleaves, Poetry etc.

Singapore has a VPost system where you are allocated a UK shipping address and then SingPost will deliver it to you from there. You pay standard shipping and any import duties but it's a pretty good system and free to join. You can also do the same shipping from the US, Europe and Japan.

I don't know who I would use instead of Amazon - what types of things are you looking for? You can get absolutely anything in Singapore and by the time you've paid international shipping from the UK, you're as well buying it here.

I tend to come to the UK in the summer with an empty suitcase (pack one case inside another) and stock up on summer sales stuff (esp for the kids) - it's not as if I'm ordering clothes from the UK during the winter....

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Clueless2727 · 17/04/2013 11:53

Thanks, think mainly clothes as i'm tall and dd very tall and broad for her age so worried i will struggle with her, but planning to return home in summer so can stock up then. Use amazon all the time, toys, sticker books, baking things. Guess will be able to buy most stuff in singapore just need to get head around fact will be more expensive. Vpost system sounds good
Thanks for advice

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Cerisier · 17/04/2013 13:39

Amazon is great, I also use The White Company, Debenhams, John Lewis, Boden and Charles Tyrwhitt.

I find for some things, like good towels, it can be cheaper to order from John Lewis and have them delivered to Singapore than to buy them here.

Watch out in M&S-the prices are about double what you'd pay in the UK and the range is small. I can get all the basics for DH though which is good.

Forward2me.com do a delivery service where you get a parcel delivered to them and they forward it on to you wherever you are in the world. This is useful for ordering from companies who won't deliver to Singapore. A friend has used it successfully and recommended them to me. I have registered but haven't needed it yet.

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Saltedcaramellavacake · 17/04/2013 16:42

You mention sticker books. You cannot get a good range of (Usborne like) sticker books here and if you do find them they are upsettingly expensive when you know they would cost £3 on Amazon and be delivered to you with the click of a button rather than a taxi/car/MRT based trawl of several shopping malls. Bring some!
You can get pretty much everything in SG - it's just a question of money and how much time you like to spend in shops.

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specialsubject · 17/04/2013 19:19

day trip to Malaysia?

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NotTreadingGrapes · 17/04/2013 19:23

I buy tons of stuff online.

British corner shop for your marmite and salt and vinegar crisps, M and S, John Lewis. Almost everyone ships these days.

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NotTreadingGrapes · 17/04/2013 19:23

Book depository free worldwide postage for bookery.

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Cerisier · 18/04/2013 07:06

I use expatfoodhall.com for delivery of basics here as such as Robinsons orange squash and bits I can't find in Jelita Cold Storage. Just had another delivery this morning. Yummy.

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Clueless2727 · 18/04/2013 22:12

Going to definitely stock up on sticker books, uv suits and shoes, but i buy most of mine and kids clothes from h and m. Sure we'll be fine.

So hard to imagine what live will be like in singapore as never been there. Am sure it"ll be fine.

Thanks for hints, i've bookmarked the delivery cos you guys have mentioned

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WeeNoggi · 19/04/2013 06:39

Cerisier !!! I've been looking for a service like forward to me for months!! Thank you so much!!!