Price USA | Learn More | Ordering

Ordering Questions

How do I place an order or get a quote?

First go to the standard ordering form, the simple order form, or click on one of the Quick Quote buttons for the item you want to order. Once you fill in the form telling me what item you want to buy and have checked your details you submit your order. You will receive an email from me letting you know that I have received your order. It is important that you use a working email address that you have access to as we will send all order updates by email.

I check your order to ensure it is complete and correct. If I have any questions about your order I will email you for clarification. I then send you a final quote with instructions on how to pay by direct debit, credit card or PayPal. Please see the cost page for more information about these payment options.

Once the Price USA Trust has received your payment the trustee will forward your payment to my US partners who will then places your order using their credit card and delivery details. When your order arrives at my partner's address they will check it and ship it directly to you using your selected shipping method.

If I put in an order or ask for a quote am I committed to paying?

No. If you do not pay then the quote will expire after 24 hours. Of course if you just want to know how much it will cost to buy something then you can get an instant quote using the order form. If you are happy with the price then ask for a formal quote by completing the order form and submitting it.

How do I order multiple items at once?

This depends if you are ordering multiple items from the same shop or from different shops. If you ordering from the same shop, then copy and paste the web links for each item and put them in the "item details" text box along with a description and the individual prices. In the item price box put the total price. If you want to order from different stores then you will need to place a separate order for each shop.

If you are ordering multiple item from different stores then please make sure you tick the "consolidate orders" check box. My USA partner will then combine your orders into one package (if possible) which should save you money on the shipping. There is no separate fee for this service. Because my US partner has limited storage space it is not possible to consolidate new orders after the first set of orders have been placed with the store by my US partner.

Can I cancel an order once I have paid?

Yes. You may cancel an order at any stage, but you will be charged for any expenses incurred by my USA partner. With some orders it may not be possible to return the item to the store if you cancel after the store has shipped. In these cases I will let you know what your options are which may include sale of the items on eBay.

What are Quick Quotes?

This is the simple way to buy things. All you need to do is click on the "Quick Quote" button of the item you want to order. This takes you to a simplified version of the ordering page where you only need to fill in your name and address. Please remember that these are just suggestions and that the actual price of the item may have changed by the time you place your order. The actual price will be what is in the quote.

What will my order cost?

The order page provides a instant estimate of the total price via the Price Estimator on the top right hand side as you fill in your order details. This allows you to easily compare different shipping or ordering options. To use the Price Estimator you must have JavaScript turned on in your web browser.

Please remember that unless you are certain of the final shipping weight (this may be more than the actual weight because of the packing and volume) the estimator provides only an estimate. If you are having problems working out the shipping weight please use my shipping cost calculator or have a look at what past orders cost to ship from the final shipping cost page.

The quote you receive is an estimate of the final cost that you will need to pay. You will need to make a deposit (approximately 80% of the item(s) price) for my US partner to place your order. Once the item arrives at my US partners address you will be asked to pay the remained of the costs.

What are Fixed Price Quotes?

If you have selected the "fixed price quote" option on the order page and we know the actual shipping weight from past orders then we will provide you with a fixed price quote. With this option you are provided with a final price for the shipping and only need make one payment. To provide this option we need to know what the actual shipping costs will be so it is not possible to offer on every order.

With fixed price quotes if the total item price is different than what is in your quote my US partner will contact you to get your approval before placing your order. If you choose to order at the higher price you will be responsible for paying the extra cost of any price rise.

If items from your fixed price quote are out of stock and you choose to order substitutes that are large or heaver than those that are in your quote then you may be asked to pay the extra shipping cost.

What USA shops charge USA sales tax?

My US partners all live in Oregon which does not have state sales tax so all orders placed via my service are USA sales tax free.

How can I work out what the USA shipping will be?

You will first need to add the item you want to buy to the shopping cart and then proceed to checkout. Some shops will tell you the shipping cost by just entering the zip code (use the test address zip code of 97220). Unfortunately, many shops require that you enter all your billing and delivery details in first before providing you with the shipping cost. If this information is required then use the following test name and address (this is a fake address):

Jo Smith
1850 NE 92nd Ave
Portland OR 97220
email. spam@spamme.com
ph. 541-870-1500

In addition, some stores also demand that you give them your credit card details before they will tell you how much the order will cost. In most cases you can just use the following test Visa number 4111 1111 1111 1111, Expiry 10/12, CVC 789. On some store this dummy Visa number won't work. If you can't work out the shipping price then just submit the order and you will be charged later for the USA shipping.

What is your fee?

I do not charge a fee for my service. My US partners pay me to handle your order and provide customer service.

Can I claim USA only mail-in rebates?

Yes. Mail-in rebates are very common in the USA. USA rebates are normally restricted to customers that reside in the USA. This means that you will miss out on most USA rebate if you order directly from a online USA shop. Because my USA partners order from stores as an individual's they are able to process these USA only rebates.

The major problem with mail-in rebates, apart from all the extra work involved in filling them in, is the payments typically take 6 to 24 weeks to be returned. For this reason I recommend not choosing items with mail-in rebates unless the rebate is substantial, especially if you can get the item for a couple of dollars more elsewhere without a rebate.

If your order does have a USA mail-in rebate the normal process is you pay the full price (ie the price without the rebate included). When the order arrives at your address you may need to remove the UPC from the box (nearly all mail in rebates need this UPC code) and send it to my USA partner. When the rebate payment arrives you will be refunded the rebate amount minus US$10 to cover my USA partner's expenses. The reason they don't refund 100% of the rebate is there is typically a lot of paperwork involved in processing mail-in rebates (any minor mistakes can cause the rebate to be rejected). The $10 cost is charged by my partners to cover the extra work involved.

One thing to keep in mind if you are wanting to take advantage of a rebate is the conditions of the rebate. Most rebates must be submitted either by a fixed date, or within a certain number of days of purchase. Because of this it is critical that you check the rebate conditions before ordering.

If you want to take advantage of a non-cash rebate then please contact me. The cost of processing these rebates is $10 plus any associated shipping charges.

Can I use a coupon code with my order?

Yes. Just enter the code in the item details box and my USA partner will use the code. They can normally only use only one code per order. Some good places to find online coupon codes are:

• retailmenot - lots of coupons for all products.
• reesycakes - coupons for fashion items.
• passwird - more coupons and online deals.
• spoofee - more online deals and coupons. This site also has an active user forum discussing deals.

Can you suggest where to order an item from?

This is a very common question I get asked, however, it is difficult to answer as there are so many great shops in the USA. Here are some good places to begin looking.

• google - the price search engine from Google. A great place to start although it can sometime be a little overwhelming at times.
• amazon - you can find almost anything here. My USA partners have amazon prime accounts so they get free 2 day shipping on any item eligible for amazon prime. It is also a great place to visit to find out what the shipping weight of an item is. Watch out for the third party sellers as some are very poor.
• pricewatch - one of the best places to find where to order electronic goods and software, especially computer parts. It is important to remember that the cheapest company may not be the best to order from so check the reviews careful before choosing a preferred supplier.
• newegg - offer great prices and generally have good stock levels on computer parts and other electronic goods like digital cameras, etc. Also a great place to read user reviews of products.
• zappos - an excellent place to buy shoes from with a large range and great prices. Find the shoes you want here in Australia then order from zappos.
• rei - sells outdoor and sporting clothing and equipment. Great range and much better prices than we get here in Australia. Free shipping can be slow.
• walmart - the online home of the US shopping behemoth. Some great deals are available. Check out the toy section if you have kids.
• nike - a flash heavy site which favors style over function. It does have a great range of products that never seem to make it to Australia. Click here for how to order Nike ID shoes.
• ralph lauren - more than 50% saving over Australian prices. The sale items are especially well priced.
• gap - the sales items are very good value. Remember we are six months behind fashion wise with the northern hemisphere so their sale items are our new releases. Gap now ship directly, but on occasion it can be cheaper to order via my service if you are ordering from some other stores too.
• Eastbay - offer a good range of shoes. Most shoes can be shipped directly to Australia, but for those shoes that can't then my service can be of use.

What should I do if I don't know all details of my order?

It is not critical if you don't know some of the details. The essential details that are required are marked with an asterisk (*). If you are having problems finding some information then just fill in the form to the best of your knowledge and submit it. One tip for finding the shipping weight is look on Amazon as they normally include the shipping weight on most items.

If you are still unsure of the shipping weight try using my shipping cost calculator or select the "estimate shipping for me" option from the international shipping drop down. I will provide you with an estimate of the shipping cost in the final quote email. You will then be send a final bill or given a refund when the item arrives at my US partner's address. If you have an approximate idea of the shipping weight it is a very good idea to choose the appropriate shipping weight. Don't worry that you will be overcharged if you estimate too high since in the end you are only ever charged the actual shipping cost - if the estimate is too high then you will be refunded for this excess.

The most important thing to do is to provide enough detail so that my USA partner knows what you want without any possible confusion. It is critical that you include a description of each item, the direct weblink (url) to each item, the price of each item, and any other information required (i.e. size, colour, number, etc). Not including this required information will mean that I have to contact you before I can send you a quote and this will only delay processing of your order.

My USA partners are all located in Oregon (OR). You may need this information to estimate what USA shipping will be applied. If you need a USA address to work out the shipping then please use the USA test address shown here.

How do I find the best place to buy my item?

This is a difficult question to answer as it depends on many factors. As a general rule of thumb don't just select a store on the basis of the lowest price. Often the cheapest suppliers are very unreliable and carry little or no stock. Try to choose suppliers with good reputations - saving $5 on an order is of little consolation if your order takes two months to arrive. I strongly recommend checking the reputation of your chosen online store at the following sites before placing your order.

• resellerratings.com
• bizrate.com

Another good idea is to do a google search using the companies name. Keep in mind that many bad companies pay people to write good reviews in sites like resellerratings.com. Don't just rely on the overall score for a store, but read reviews. In particular, watch out for reviews that describe the store using a "bait-and-switch". These scams seems to be most common in certain product categories (such as photographic equipment), while in other categories these scams never seem to occur (e.g. clothing and shoes). Since I check all the orders I will pick up a lot of these scam sites, but it is always best to make sure yourself. The most important question to ask is would you be happy to order from this store yourself if they would ship directly. If the answer is no then you should be very careful about selecting this store.

Is my order insured for loss and/or damage?

Yes. If your order doesn't arrive then a replacement to be ordered and shipped to you (delivery protection).

My US partners also offer an optional warranty (return protection) to cover the shipping costs involved in making a warranty repair, or for returning an item damaged in transit. If you have not purchased the return protection you can still return the item for repair, you will just need to pay the shipping costs involved.

Can I order from eBay?

Yes. This is something that my USA partners do, but the process is a little different to ordering from a standard online store.

• My USA partners won't order from all sellers - basically the seller has to be reliable (ie above 98%). They reserves the right to not order from any eBay seller if they have any doubts about them. The basic question to ask is would you order from this seller yourself if they would ship to Australia.
• With eBay auctions you need to give at least 48 hours notice. This is so my USA partner has time to place a bid as well as allow you enough time to make payment. With eBay auctions you fill in the order form the same as any other order except that the value you put in the price field is the maximum that you are willing to bid to on the item. My USA partner will bid up to your maximum price. If they are able to buy it for less then you will be refunded any savings. My partners uses a sniping service to place the order at the last few second so that you should get the item for the cheapest price possible.
• If the auction exceeds your maximum bid, or if the item sells before my USA partner can bid (i.e. a "buy it now" sale), then you will be refunded your payment minus a $US10 fee. This covers the costs incurred by my USA partners of going through the bidding process.

In general, buying from eBay is normally only worthwhile if the item is expensive or unique. For most other items you can purchase the same item from a normal online store for less.

How can I track where my order is?

I send you an email at each stage of the order process so you should always know what is happening. If you wish to check at what stage your order is at you can also enter your order number and email address in the "Track Order" box at the top right hand side of this page. You will be emailed the latest status.

Once your item has been shipped by my USA partner you will receive an email with the UPSP or UPS (courier) tracking number if available. Tracking numbers are only provided by USPS for express and priority mail packages. All UPS (courier) packages have tracking numbers.

Can you combine my orders so that I pay only one shipping fee?

Yes. Just select the "consolidate orders" option on the order form. My US partner will then repack your order and ship them as a single package. Please keep in mind that this option may cause your shipment to take longer than separate shipping since my USA partners have to wait for all your items to arrive before they can ship.

What items can't I order?

Basically anything illegal or hazardous. My US partners also reserves the right to not buy goods, or to not buy goods from certain suppliers, if they have concerns as to the legality, morality, or reliability of the goods or store. If you have any questions about ordering a particular item, or using certain suppliers, then please Guns, gun parts, alcohol and pressurized cans are all examples of items that can not be shipped. My US partners will also not order prepaid credit cards.

My order has arrived, but it is not what I ordered?

My USA partners sells and ships to you what was ordered by them from the store. They do check the orders, but because of the huge range of things ordered they can't always tell if an item sent to them is actually what you wanted. If the wrong item has been shipped to you please contact me to arrange for the item to be sent back to the original store to be replaced or swapped.

Why was my order opened by your USA partner?

My USA partner needs to check that the items delivered to them match what you wanted. It is also a legal requirement that they know what they are shipping. To do this they may need to open the packaging. You should be aware that since the items are bought by my USA partner as an individual from a store that they will no longer be considered new. Of course they won't have been used, but this means that what you receive will be described as being in an "as new" condition (i.e. pre-owned, but unused).

Some of my items have sold out since I placed my order. What happens now?

If more than 20% of the items you want are no longer available I will contact you. You will then have the choice of ordering what is still available, ordering something else from the same store, placing a new order at another store (this will require a new order), or canceling the order. If you choose to take a refund you will be charged a fee to cover the costs involved with your order to date. This fee is waived if you use your credit to place a new order.

Sometimes companies don't tell my US partners that an item is out of stock and they only finds out when the order arrives. In these cases they ship what has arrived and you will be refunded for what was missing.

Why am I not given the original invoice from the store?

You are not buying the item from the original store, but from my USA partner. They buy the goods from the store in their name so they need to keep the original tax invoice for their own tax records. This is exactly the same as if you bought an item from a store here in Australia - they will provide you with an invoice, but they will not provide you with a copy of their invoice from their wholesaler (i.e. who they bought the item from).

Normally a copy of the store invoice will be of no use to you since it is both from the USA and not in your name. It will almost certainly not allow you to make a warranty claim here in Australia. Your invoice is the invoice my USA partners supplies you when your items are shipped since that is who you have bought the item from.

Can I get a copy of the store invoice?

Yes. If you would like a copy of the store invoice, just include "please send me copy of store invoice" in the extra details box. Because of the extra work involved for my US partner there is a US$5.00 fee for this service if requested at the time of placing the order.

The fee for a copy of the store invoice made after the order is paid is US$15 unless your item is broken and you need the store invoice to make a warranty claim here in Australia. If you need the store invoice to make a local warranty claim here then this fee will be waived, but you must determine first that an USA invoice in another persons name will allow you to have a item repaired in Australia since in most cases it will not.

iPhone Ordering Questions

Can I order a 4G or 4GS iPhone from the USA?

No. My USA partners can no longer acquire iPhones because Apple USA now only sells them activated (ie with a 2 years contract to AT&T).

Update. You can order unlocked iPhones, but they are expensive and you are most likely better offer buying here in Australia.