How to buy in USA online stores: MyMallbox

If you live outside of the United States of America, I'm sure there has been at least one time when you wanted to buy a product to a store based there, only to find out that they don't ship to your country. Or that they do, but the package will probably get into customs because of the high value of it (I'm looking at you, Spanish customs and Colourpop packages).

What is My Mall Box

The first order I did to an American website was of course Colourpop, and it got into customs. I even paid to get it out and delivered, but import was denied because the label didn't meet European Union standards (that's the reasoning they gave me, but I know people who got their packages directly so... what is the truth @ ADTpostales?). That was the last time I ever tried to shop directly to an American website, because a girl I know introduced me to MyMallBox. It is very easy to use and understand, but I wanted to make sure I didn't leave anything out, so I followed these questions to explain it, which are clickable links:

• What is MyMallBox exactly?
• How do I sign up to MyMallBox?
• Okay, but how do I shop in American websites?
• My package has arrived to my American address, now what?
• How do I make sure my package doesn't get stopped in customs?
• How long does it take to my package to arrive home?
• Great! So can I buy everything I want with them?

I've shopped through MyMallBox so many times that I'm almost reaching a point or forgetting: every Naruko product reviewed here (like the retinol, BHA serum, or different masks), every Colourpop lipsticks (like Are N Be or Surprise) the Melt Cosmetics order, my most recent one to Glossier... I used MyMallBox, so I'm telling you from experience. All images are resized to fit the design, if you click on them you'll see them full size.

But what is MyMallBox exactly? If you've ever done any kind of online shopping you've probably heard of Shipito... well, this is a similar service, only completely free. Because yes, it's free to sign up and you don't have to pay for storage, you only have to pay for shipping. But let me explain you from the beginning.

MyMallBox how it works

MyMallBox provides you with an address int he United States, stores the package, allows you to ask for a repackage if the original package is too big or heavy and then ships you your products. Yes, it is as easy as it sounds. Since MyMallBox's headquarters, or warehouse, or however you want to call them, are in Delaware, you won't pay any taxes when you buy from American websites, because Delaware has a 0% tax pay (in New York they pay more than 8%, California around 6%... I will never understand the American tax system but anyway).

MyMallBox Price

How do I sign up in MyMallBox? The first thing you need to do is register in MyMallBox. You can sign up with your google or facebook account, but I highly suggest keeping social media away from any personal information.

MyMallBox registration sign up

You can register through this link here which is my referral link, and you'll get 5$ you can spend in your orders (to pay for shipping to your country). I get $5 too, so if you don't like that you can always sign directly, without any referrals (they're offering now 5$ to everyone who registers while they are still in beta mode).

MyMallbox Sign Up process

They will send you a confirmation email. Go to your email, click on the link provided. In this email you will already see your American address, but don't worry, no need to write it down or print it because it will always be accessible to you on the MyMallBox website.

MyMallbox Sign Up process: email verification

When your email is verified, if you've clicked on the link (orange button), it takes you to the page where you can fill you information such a address, paying etc. You can fill in your information later, but better do it now that way you don't forget! Here you have to fill the information with with your real address, that's it, where you want your packages delivered to. In my case, it's my home address. You can edit anytime your address and personal information in the "My Page" section.

MyMallbox Sign Up process: registration complete

And that's it, you have your American address at the top of the picture and your real address linked to your account, so all packages that arrive to you American one, will be shipped to your real one.

Note: the general address is the same for everybody, but each person gets a unique suite number. The following picture is you home page, you can see your American address at the top (I obviously blocked my suite number)

MyMallbox home page

Okay, but how do I shop in American websites? Imagine you're living in America, and the address provided by MyMallBox is your home address. When filling out shipping information in any website you want to buy from, make sure the address you're writing is the American one. Make sure if you pay with PayPal, that the address in PayPal hasn't change to your default one (you don't have to change your address in PayPal, just make sure something similar to "the package will be shipped to the address provided by xxxstore" appears on the PayPal-pay page).

Buying in online USA store with MyMallbox : address

I usually don't fill the phone information, or put my real phone with my country prefix, but MyMallBox also provides with an US phone just in case.

MyMallBox phone number

My package has arrived to my American address, now what? You ship it to yourself. Really, it's that easy. But read the next question though, to make sure that your package doesn't get stopped in customs. Before explaining how to follow with the shipment, a couple of notes:

Preparing your package for shipment is really easy, although I admit I was a little bit confused when they changed the website last year. Once your package gets processed, you will get an email notifying you of it, and when you enter to the MyMallBox page this will be what you see (your package information will be different of course, this one is from my Glossier order):

MyMallBox package accepted

How do I make sure my package doesn't get stopped in customs? Now, this is why I like MyMallBox so much, and there are two things I would recommend doing:

MyMallBox change value price

MyMallBox prepare package

When you click on the "add to cart" from the last photo it will automatically take you to the following page, where you prepare the shipping information:

MyMallBox shipping

MyMallBox shipping

Once again, when you click on checkout it will redirect you to the payment page:

MyMallBox payment

And that's it, you've payed for the shipping and you don't have to do anything more! Now when you go to your MyMallBox page, the status of the package will change.

MyMallBox final

How long does it take to my package to arrive home? I suppose it depends where you live, but I live in a small town 5 hours by car from the country capital (where all overseas online purchases go), and it takes me to get the package 1 full week since the package gets out of USA. So imagine my package got in a flight in a Monday, next Monday I'll be receiving it in my home. And once again, with the cheapest shipping method. It doesn't take too long for packages to take a flight neither, the more I've waited has been 3-4 days. 

Great! So can I buy everything I want with them? Sadly, or for some items luckily, no, you can't. They have a section for prohibited items (which sadly include nail polish) so they can't ship anything that classifies in the list.

How to buy in online USA stores from overseas: MyMallbox