Proxy Buying
Forward2Me is the international parcel forwarding service that turns Japan (and a few other key locations) into your personal shopping mall. Founded in 2010, it gives you free shipping addresses in the UK, US, Germany, Japan, Turkey, and Guernsey—so you can buy that rare artbook or figure that normally refuses to ship to your location. Think of it as your virtual shopping passport.
What’s on Forward2Me?
- Free forwarding addresses: Sign up and claim shipping addresses in five major regions—no subscription fee required. Locals-only stores? No problem.
- Services galore: From package consolidation (merge multiple deliveries into one), repacking, personal shopper (they’ll buy for you), to handling bulky freight, returns, and even dangerous goods.
- Warehouse perks: Keep items stored up to 30 days for free—then pay just £0.50 per day per package thereafter. Beaut footage of your unboxing? For a modest £2 + VAT per photo, you can see the goods before they go on the road.
- Protect+ Insurance: Trust fall ready—add optional coverage at checkout to insure your loot against damage or loss.
- DDP shipping option: Delivered Duty Paid means duties and taxes are calculated ahead of time and wrapped into your payment—no surprise customs bills at the door. (Note: Not available to all countries yet.)
Why visit Forward2Me?
Why should you? Imagine legally snagging doujinshi, exclusive merch, or seasonal bonus plates from Japan (or any of their stores) without juggling VPNs or proxy dramas. It’s perfect for serious collectors and otaku tired of store-region-blocking, offering a real workaround without sketchy middlemen.
Fees & Pricing
- No monthly fees: Signing up is free with no sneaky recurring charges.
- Shipping + service bundled: The cost you see in their pricing calculator already includes their forwarding fee—just add your shipping method and size. Taxes or tariffs (unless you opt for DDP) are extra.
- Consolidation is free: Merge your shipments at no cost to save on overall shipping.
- Storage over 30 days: Costs 50p (~£0.50) per day after the free period.
- Photo documentation: £2 + VAT each, if you'd like a visual heads-up before shipping.
- Optional Protect+: Insurance extra, applied at checkout.
Use their pricing calculator to estimate costs before you commit—just plug in your destination and package size to compare courier rates.
User Experience
- Ease of use: Once logged in, you just shop like a local using the assigned address, then log in to choose courier and extras when your package arrives.
- Transparency & support: Live updates, customer service, and an “Ask the Experts” video series break down tricky topics like volumetric weight, batteries, customs, and fuel charges.
- Reliable reputation: Reviews consistently praise fast delivery, great support, and cost clarity. Independent reviews rate it highly for trust and service quality.
Final Note
Forward2Me is like having a savvy friend in Tokyo (and elsewhere) doing the shopping legwork for you—complete with repacks, price-match confidence, and on-demand photos. No monthly fees, global reach, and smooth reliability make it a solid pick for dedicated weebs building collections.
