The Wise Guide: shopping smart abroad

I love to shop. I’m great at it, I can find something in any store I walk into, my DHL delivery guy and I are on a first name basis, and this habit/talent is ruining my life and my future one purchase at a time.

Help.

But enough about me (seriously, PLEASE HELP). We’re here to talk about you, and how you can get smart when shopping abroad. Not just when you’re on holiday, or you’ve moved somewhere and are getting situated, but online too. Because we all love an online shop. Especially when the thing you ordered looks absolutely nothing like the pictures and you know in your heart of hearts you’ll be too lazy to return it. Sigh.

On with the tips.

Shop around the smart way

Overseas shopping online

1) Look for shops with free international shipping

Ever filled up your cart with goodies, gone to checkout and then seen the shipping fee but pressed order anyway because you just spent an hour finding the perfect crop top and have now grown emotionally attached to it? Well, some sites offer free international shipping, so do some digging before you invest your time, your heart and your money.

2) Take customs into consideration

Depending on where you order from there are likely going to be custom fees. I’m talking about customs duty, excise duty, import VAT bla bla bla.

3) Customer forms… BORINGGGGGG

While we’re on the topic, customs forms are also a thing. They ensure that whatever it is you’re shipping is allowed into the country and they help to calculate if and how much of the above has to be paid.

4) Use a multi-currency card

Oh hello, you beautiful, beautiful rectangle. Using a multi-currency card means you can pay for your treats like a local and avoid crazy exchange rates. You know who offers a multi-currency card? It’s us. We do. Yup.

5) Make sure the site’s legit

When you’re treading in unfamiliar territory you may make an oopsie or two. So look into whether or not the site you’re on is legit. Look at reviews, social media presence and use tools like the Google Transparency Report or McAfee’s WebAdvisor. There are more technical things you can do too, like verifying a website’s trust seal, but I don’t know what that means, and I don’t care to find out because I'm lazy.

6) Don’t forget some products are banned you naughty little thing

In the UK things like knives, drugs, rough diamonds and sausages are a no no.

Shopping when abroad tips

1) Luggage room

Think about leaving space for your shopping spree in your case and don’t forget to look at your luggage weight allowance. I have never, ever been to an airport without having to pay more for my luggage because I love an outfit change. Do not be like me.

2) Avoid tourist traps and being over charged

If you’re hitting up tourist sites, there’s a chance you may be getting taken for a nasty ride and overcharged for certain things. Ask a local or your hotel or even Google.

3) Use a multi-currency card

A tip so nice, I’ve dropped it twice.

4) Some places are still all about the cash

In London you can pay for pretty much anything with a tap of your card, your watch, your phone, you get it. But some destinations still prefer cash. When I lived in Berlin a lot of places gave me a “what do you think you’re doing” look when I pulled my card out.

5) Bargains baby - some products are cheaper abroad

Did you know that a lot of luxury brands are actually cheaper abroad? That’s down to import tax, duty tax, and other charges that add up when shipping products around the world. And it’s not just the luxury stuff. Example: Uniqlo in Japan will be WAY cheaper than