Shopping online in the Caribbean is not easy. Many of the major retailers in the area are U.S. based. Unfortunately, not all of them offer overseas shipping, and the ones that do, charge a hefty fee for this shipping service. If you see something on sale that you like, you may try to find a relative in the U.S that you can ship your purchase to and who can then in turn ship your purchase to you. However, you have to rely on the relative or friend, and sometimes they are busy or you cannot find anyone to help you.

This is where Caribbean online shopping services come in. You can purchase online through U.S. based retailers, have your purchase shipped to the shopping service and they will forward you the packages at an affordable and fair rate. But before you decide to make a purchase, here are a few questions to ask the shopping service. 

What is the Turnaround Time?

One of the first questions you should ask is what is the turnaround time. This means, how quickly do they mail out your package after receiving it. Some companies will turn your package around with one to two business days. Other companies may be slower and have a week or longer turnaround time. If you want your items right away, you want a company with the fastest turn around time. 

What Method Do You Use to Ship the Goods? 

The next question you will want to ask is how they ship the goods to you. FedEx, UPS, DHL and USPS all deliver in the Caribbean and they all have express options which allow your items to be delivered in a matter of days. Be wary of companies who use freight shipping, as this places your items on a boat, which can take weeks to be delivered.  

Does an Order Have to Be Placed Through Your Link? 

The last question to ask is whether your order is placed directly through the retailer's website or whether you need to use the shopping services link. Many shopping services ask you to use their link to the retailer when placing an order. They get a percentage of the sale when you do use their link. In many cases, this allows them to keep their shipping costs to you as low as possible as they are using your order to earn money, rather than up charging you on shipping. 

If you are tired of paying international shipping fees or being unable to get the products you want because stores won't ship out of the United States, a Caribbean online shopping service like Quikanou can help you. Knowing what questions to ask will help you find the best service for your needs.