NZ Post offers online purchase delivery

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YOUSHOP: The service charges $23 to send a 500-gram package from its US address to a customer's home.

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NZ Post has introduced a new service that allows Kiwi shoppers to have purchases from United States online stores delivered to a US address and then to New Zealand.

YouShop enables purchases from American online stores that won't deliver to New Zealand or that impose high shipping charges.

It mirrors similar services offered by overseas-owned shopping forwarders, such as Prezoom backed by US courier I-Parcel, which launched a service last week to help New Zealanders buy online from US merchants.

YouShop charges $23 to send a 500-gram package from its US address to a customer's home, while Prezoom charges $19.50, but NZ Post hopes to capitalise on its locally known brand. A message on its website reads: "Know your parcel is in good hands by using New Zealand Post."

Spokesman John Tulloch said NZ Post worked with Singapore Post, which had warehousing in Portland, Oregon, to provide YouShop.

It did not plan to market the service until next year but it was available now through NZ Post's main website.

- © Fairfax NZ News