My top American online stores and private shopping clubs where I make most of my purchases

I have received 33 packages from my package forwarding company (parcel forwarder, freight forwarder) Shipito to this date. I've started with smaller packages of 3-8 kg and ended up getting packages of 9-18 kg. I've been buying all kind of stuff from electronics and toys to clothing and shoes. Most of my purchases have been coming from 3 online sources:

• Amazon USA,


• private shopping clubs (fashion sale, private sale, sample sale, flash sale sites),


• sports online stores

.

Amazon USA

Personally I prefer to use amazon.com more than any other US shop. There are several reasons for that:

• Amazon is the largest online store in the USA.


• Accepts international debit and credit cards.


• Ships to freight forwarders (also know as mail forwarders, package forwarders, parcel forwarders) like Shipito.


• Very good customer service and at refunds.


• International shipping available for many countries including Russia. Although products sold on the Amazon marketplace are not shipped worldwide. And even products sold by Amazon itself sometimes can not be shipped outside the USA.


• You don't need to pay any sales tax (9.5% in California) when shipping from Amazon to the Oregon or Nevada warehouses of Shipito.*

* Note Tualatin, Oregon is a no sales tax location, so you will not pay any sales taxes when shipping to the Tualatin warehouse of Shipito. The warehouse of Shipito in Nevada allows to avoid sales tax as well, but currently this is only valid for shops that do not have any physical presence in Nevada. There are also several Californian warehouses of Shipito; you will have to pay the sales tax when shipping to any of them in many cases.

My overall experience with Amazon is very positive. However there is a group of sites where prices for clothing, shoes and many other items are more attractive every day.

American private shopping clubs (fashion sale, private sale, sample sale, flash sale sites)

I buy most of my clothing and shoes from USA private shopping clubs (also known as fashion sale, private sale, sample sale, flash sale sites). These sites are usually an invitation only clubs (see the invitation links below). They organize flash sales events for its members that typically last 1 to 3 days. Members can buy fashion, designer clothing and shoes for men, women, kids at discounted prices (typically 40-90%). You can also buy jewerly, cosmetics and many other types of good there. My favorite private shopping clubs:

• RueLaLa,


• Gilt,


• TheClymb,


• Zulily,


• Ideel (20+ orders for the past 3 years!),


• Myhabit

While you may use Assisted Purchases from Shipito or any other service when making purchases in online stores, such services won't work well with flash sales that private shopping clubs offer. So it is really great that the above mentioned private shopping clubs support international debit/credit cards and ship to freight forwarders like Shipito.

Although there are plenty of private shopping clubs, they offer fashion and designer clothing mostly. So I still have to shop for many sporting goods elsewhere.

American sports online stores

I make purchases in several trusted sports online stores and outlets:

• Sierra Trading Post,


• Department of Goods (outlet),


• Altrec (and Altrec outlet),


• REI (and REI outlet),


• Backcountry.

I buy sports clothing, shoes and gear mostly on sales or in the outlets.

Share your experience

How do you like American online stores and private shopping clubs mentioned in this article? Do you prefer to make purchases elsewhere?

See also:

• Invitations to private shopping sites offering International Shipping
• All our purchases at Ideel private shopping club (private sale club, sample sale site, flash sale site, designer sale site, fashion sale site)