Assisted Buying – What is it, who uses it and why?
What is Assisted Purchase?
If you live in a country outside of the United States, but want to buy American items or shop online through US business websites, you need a credit card that is accepted by US credit card POS systems. Even credit cards issued by well-established banks may not be accepted by these systems.
That’s where Assisted Buying comes in.
Assisted shopping is a service offered by some US parcel shipping companies as part of their boutique services to help global customers who do not have US credit cards or credit cards accepted in the US to shop American products.
The way the service works is that the customer transfers money (WesternUnion, MoneyGram, PayPal or wire transfer) to the agent of the US parcel shipping company with the details of what the customer wishes to purchase and, at receive the money, the agent makes the purchase. .
Who uses assisted shopping?
Customers requesting this service are buyers from around the world outside of the United States who enjoy American brands, products, and items. A vast majority of them shop online, while others seek to purchase specific items directly from US companies but cannot. Some of these global customers are cash customers, meaning they don’t have credit cards, while others simply have credit cards that aren’t compatible with US POS systems.
Most customers naturally also take advantage of parcel delivery services to have their purchases shipped to them. This provides a kind of seamless international service offering, which works well for both the customer and the shipping company.
Why is assisted purchasing used?
It is used as a means or means of converting cash into credit purchasing power, in order to complete a purchase transaction. Most often used to shop for American electronics, fashion apparel, housewares, gaming systems, sporting goods, sportswear, exclusive name brand items, sale items, and one-of-a-kind deals only found in the US .
How much does the assisted purchase cost?
Rates are set individually by the US package delivery company offering the service. Sometimes the fee is a percentage of the value of what is purchased, while others charge a simple fee of $25.00 up to a certain amount.
How to Order Assisted Purchase?
These services can usually be requested by contacting the carrier directly via email, phone, or website. Most businesses require the customer to provide details such as the customer’s name, contact and forwarding information, what they want to buy, how much the items cost, and any details needed to ensure the correct item is purchased. In addition, the customer must provide a money control transfer number for payment pickup.