How to Shop in American Stores with Professional Prostobox Buyers and Why You Might Need It
What Is «Shopping with Prostobox Buyers»?
Through the «Shopping with Prostobox Buyers» service, buyers purchase items in stores using your links. This can be especially relevant for stores that do not accept non-US cards for payment.
If you prefer to shop in stores on your own, simply order items to our warehouse in Delaware.
How Much Does the «Shopping with Prostobox Buyers» Service Cost?
The commission for the purchase service by operators is listed in the Services and Prices section on our website. As of December 8, 2021, the cost of purchasing from regular stores is 10% of the order value, but no less than $10 USD; purchasing from finicky stores is 15%, but no less than $15 USD.
What Is Included in the Buyer's Commission?
Carrying out the purchase of items from the store according to the order placed by the client, receiving the purchases at our warehouse in the US, and registering the received order in the client's personal account.
In addition to the cost of the items and the commission, you also pay for delivery of the package to your country according to the tariffs and chosen delivery service.
Can I Combine Items Purchased through the «Shopping with Prostobox Buyers» Service and Incoming Packages Purchased Independently in One Outgoing Package?
Yes, of course! You can place both items purchased through our buyers and incoming packages paid for independently in US stores into an outgoing package.
What Are the eBay Auction Purchase Terms?
The minimum commission for each eBay lot is 10% of the value of each lot, but no less than $10. We also charge an additional commission for participating in the auction and for the make offer option in the amount of $5 per lot. This payment is non-refundable. If the auction is canceled or the offer is not accepted, the purchase commission is refunded minus the $5 fee.
What Price Should I Specify for eBay Items if the Item Is Sold at Auction?
Enter the price you are willing to bid up to in the «Price» field on the order form.
We will raise your bid gradually using a sniper robot. For example, if the current lot price is $50 and you are willing to pay up to $100 for the lot, enter $100 in the order form. If we purchase the lot for a lower amount, the difference will be returned to your balance.
Do You Charge a Commission for Each Store in the Order?
Yes, the commission is charged for each individual store in the order.
How Do I Place an Order?
Register and add links to the items that the buyers should purchase for you. Specify the required size and color if the item offers such options, and pay for your order. You can also specify alternative sizes or colors in case the desired option is unavailable at the time of purchase.
Our professional buyers will make purchases in stores using your links in the order queue as quickly as possible.
Do Buyers Place Orders for Items with Custom Design (custom)?
Yes. You need to provide a link to an already assembled version of the item in the item addition form. Parameters such as color and size must also be specified, even if they are already included in the link.
We also recommend taking a screenshot of the product page at the final stage and providing us with a link to the screenshot in the comment for the ordered item. This will help ensure during order processing that the item is correctly placed and verify all details upon receipt at the warehouse.
Are There Stores You Do Not Work With?
Yes. See the list of stores in our «blacklist».
The reasons for stores being added to this list vary. However, it is usually the stores' desire to protect their brands from shipping to other countries, which is why they block cards and mail forwarding company addresses.
Another common reason for stores being added to this list is a poor order tracking and processing system, resulting in frequent mix-ups with ordered items. This list may also include outright unscrupulous stores.
You can try to make purchases in some of these stores yourself (using the «Virtual Address» service), but we cannot guarantee successful order processing by stores on this list. From time to time we review the list and remove certain stores (for example, if the store has changed its policy on shipping to mail forwarding company addresses).
Do You Work on a Prepayment Basis Only?
Yes, we start working on your order only after it has been fully paid.
Is There a Tax in the State Where Your Warehouse Is Located?
Our warehouse is located in the completely tax-free state of Delaware; purchases to it are not subject to tax. There is no tax on purchases to our warehouse.
How Can I Find Out the Cost of Delivery from the Store to Your Warehouse?
You can top up your balance only for the order amount + our commission. When purchasing your order, buyers will, if necessary, deduct delivery on credit from your balance. The negative balance must be settled before sending the package.
How Do I Pay for an Order?
Top up your balance for the order amount using any convenient method and pay for the order. Immediately after payment, your order is sent to a free buyer for purchase.
How Quickly Do You Purchase Orders?
Buyers are in different time zones and purchase your orders 24/7. Usually within a few hours of payment. In some cases, orders may be processed by non-Russian or European but American operators. Such orders are purchased in the afternoon, approximately from 17:00 Moscow time.
Can I Speed Up Order Purchase?
Yes, of course. To speed up order purchase during placement, select the "Purchase as soon as possible" service and pay for it. The service costs 15% of the value of items in one store or one eBay lot, but no less than $15.
Promo codes for free purchase do not apply. Orders placed at night from 22:00 to 08:00 Moscow time may not be purchased within 1-3 hours but will be purchased after 08:00 in the priority queue.
I Placed an Order with a Buyer, but Some Items Show the Status «Out of Stock». What Should I Do?
If an item is out of stock, you can replace it with a similar item or a different color (size). You can also decline replacement by removing the unavailable item from the order. In this case, funds for the canceled item will be instantly returned to your balance.
Please note that we do not wait for your replacement decision and purchase all items that are currently in stock. Therefore, please keep in mind that replacements will be purchased from stores as a separate order, which means the store may charge us delivery again, which we, in turn, will have to charge you.
If you are against possible charges in such cases, simply cancel items that are unavailable in the order.
I Placed and Paid for an Order. What Happens Next?
Approximately 4-7 business days after placing your order, the items will be delivered to our warehouse. Your order always shows different statuses: that the order has been fully or partially purchased, and that the store has partially or fully shipped the item to the warehouse.
Please note that delivery times from stores to our warehouse are approximate.
Do You Provide Tracking After the Store Ships the Order?
No, we do not provide a tracking number from the store.
The Order You Purchased Has Still Not Arrived at Your Warehouse. What Should I Do?
If more than 10 business days have passed since purchase and your order has still not arrived, please submit a ticket. Our buyers will determine the reason and, if necessary, contact the store to resolve the issue.
All Items from the Order Have Arrived at the Warehouse. What Is Required from Me?
Proceed to creating the outgoing package.
Do You Inspect Items Upon Arrival from the Store?
Through the «Shopping with Prostobox Buyers» service, we provide the purchase service and subsequent receipt of the package at the warehouse. Unfortunately, we do not verify or check the order for color, size, configuration, or under-delivery by the store. When registering a package with items purchased through operators, the list of items received in this package is indicated by warehouse operators according to the report provided by the store on shipping items in this package.
To check items received at the warehouse, you can order the photo or video service for package contents. It is arranged by clicking the camera icon next to the package (before sending the package for assembly). After submitting the request, our operators will take photos (video), and you will be able to check the contents and compliance of the received order.
Since fulfilling photo/video requests is additional work, payment is made according to the rates in the Services section.
Is Return or Exchange Possible?
Unfortunately, returns to the store and exchanges are not available for the «Shopping with Prostobox Buyers» service. The only exception is in case of mismatch between the ordered and received item or obvious defects (if detected based on ordered product photos while the package is at the warehouse).
Why Do We Recommend Buying Through Prostobox Buyers?
- Prostobox Buyers have completed specialized training and understand American shopping better than any third-party buyer.
- Prostobox is responsible for the quality of the buyer's work and takes on possible errors ourselves.
- To avoid errors and mishaps, work with the buyer is conducted only through the Prostobox personal account.
- There are multiple buyers, and they purchase orders 24/7, which is important during sales.
- Buyers speak English and can correspond and call stores.
- Buyers purchase items using US credit cards.
- Buyers have access to several additional US addresses for ordering from finicky stores.
- Buyers are aware of store discounts and apply them to orders.
- Buyers know how to purchase on eBay auctions.
- Buyers can fill out the declaration for you. The service is paid and costs $5.
