Mail forwarding guide: How to get your packages shipped to your new address, no matter where you move

What is mail forwarding?

Mail forwarding is the process of arranging to redirect mail addressed to one location to a different address. Traditionally, mail forwarding was to help with the transition when you move home, ensuring that you continue to receive mail sent to your old address.

However, in the age of online shopping, there are now specialist mail forwarding services that can help you get around the international shipping restrictions of some online retailers.

You might want to redirect your mail for the following reasons:

• You've moved home and some mail is still being sent to your old address.
• You want to buy something from an online retailer who doesn't ship to your country.
• A retailer charges exorbitant postage and packaging fees to send parcels to your country.
• You're travelling long-term and your address is constantly changing.
• You have a post office box that doesn't allow you to accept courier deliveries that require a signature.

How to redirect your post

If you want to get your mail forwarded to a different address, there are two main options:

• Your national postal service

  If you're moving house or business premises, you can arrange with your postal service to make sure your mail follows you to your new address. You can typically specify how long you want the redirect to be in place, usually up to a maximum of 12 months.

  However, most services won't forward your parcels on to you, particularly if you need them sent overseas.

• A specialist mail forwarding service

  A mail forwarding service is a private company that provides you with a new postal address you can use to send your packages to. The company then forwards your mail on to you. To use the service, you'll need to sign up for an account, and some (but not all) companies charge set-up and/or ongoing fees.

  For example, let's say you're an international shopper buying something online from a retailer that doesn't ship outside its own country. By signing up to a mail forwarding service, you'll be given a postal address in the same country as the retailer so your package can be dispatched to that address.

  The mail forwarding service can then store the package for you (usually for a fee) or send it on to you straight away. Some companies will also remove excess packaging from your items or consolidate multiple items into one package to help you save on shipping costs.

How to compare mail forwarding services

If you're planning a move to a new address, your best option might be to have your mail redirected for a few months by your local postal authority. However, if you're an online shopper looking to find a way to bypass international shipping restrictions, you'll need to consider the services offered by dedicated mail forwarding companies.

There's no shortage of providers to choose from, so make sure you consider the following factors when comparing your options:

• Costs

  Price is undoubtedly a key consideration, and there are several individual costs you may need to take into account, including the following:

  • Sign-up fees. Some services charge a one-time set-up fee to open an account and have your mail forwarded but others do not.
  • Monthly/annual fees. Some mail forwarding companies require you to sign up for a plan in order to use their services. Prices vary substantially depending on whether you choose a basic, mid-range or premium plan, and top-level plans can cost hundreds of dollars per year. Read up on the features of each plan so you know what you're paying for.
  • Shipping fees. This is where it gets confusing since many mail forwarding services can only give you an accurate quote for shipping costs once they've actually received your package and weighed and measured it. Pay special attention to how each company calculates shipping costs – they may calculate the price based on total weight, cubic weight (also known as dimensional weight, which measures a parcel's weight in cubic centimetres, so the shape and size of the package will affect the cost), the number of packages, the value of the items being sent or a combination of two or more of these factors.
  • Fees for additional services. Additional services like assisted shopping, repacking and package consolidation (described below) may also incur extra fees.

• Type of mail

  Some services will only forward letters and other small items, so make sure any company you choose will also forward parcels and bulky items.

• Shipping services

  Most mail forwarding companies use couriers like FedEx, UPS and DHL, but some rely on national postal services.

• Supported countries

  Check to make sure any company you're considering choosing actually ships to your country of residence.

• Delivery times

  Check estimated delivery times to find out how long it will take for your package to arrive at your door.

• Tracking

  Most companies allow you to track your parcels, but coverage can vary depending on where they are being sent.

Warehouse location

In some countries, the state in which the forwarding service's warehouse is located may influence the amount of sales tax that applies to your purchase. Check the fine print to find out whether this could increase your overall cost.

Assisted shopping

Many companies offer a personal shopper service to make purchases on your behalf with retailers that don't accept overseas credit cards. This will incur either a flat fee, a fee calculated as a percentage of the transaction amount or a combination of both.

Repacking and package consolidation

Does the company offer a repacking service to remove excess bulk and unnecessary packaging before forwarding your items? Does it consolidate multiple packages into one to cut costs?

Storage

If you want to store your items in the provider's warehouse for a short period, you'll usually (but not always) need to pay a fee. Also, check the maximum storage time limit available.

Other services

Will the service send you photographs of your item? Can they unpack a parcel and inspect it on your behalf? Are you able to ship dangerous goods? Are there any size and weight limits? Answering these questions will help you find a service that suits your needs.

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Mail forwarding to Australia

Aussie online shoppers are all too familiar with the fact that many retailers in the US and UK don't ship to Australia. However, there are several companies that can help you forward mail to Australia from the US and UK.
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As well as a plethora of specialist mail forwarding companies, you can also access Australia Post redirection via the ShopMate service. However, ShopMate is only available for parcel forwarding from the US, so if you want to forward mail to Australia from the UK, you'll need to look elsewhere.

Whichever service you choose, you'll need to sign up for an account and get an address before you start shopping. Check the fine print to find out whether there are any prohibited items, such as aerosols or flammable products, and whether you'll need any special documentation to clear customs. For example, if you're shipping items valued at more than US$2,500 from the USA to Australia, you'll need to fill out a Shipper's Export Declaration Form (SED).

Finally, don't forget that as of 1 July 2018, GST applies to low-value (less than $1,000) goods imported into Australia, so this will bump up the price of your purchase by 10%.