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Why Is US Forwarding Worth It?
The US is one of Taiwan shoppers' largest overseas shopping sources, second only to Japan. 3C products, supplements, sports goods, and cosmetics often have clear price gaps. The challenge is fourfold:
- Many websites do not ship directly to Taiwan: Some Amazon US items do, but many brand sites such as Apple, Nike, and Lululemon ship only within the US.
- Direct shipping is expensive: One-item direct shipping often costs USD 30-80, or about NT$900-2,400.
- No US address: Many sites require a US shipping address, billing address, or phone number.
- Sales tax is complicated: US sales tax of 5-10% is usually not refundable for online purchases.
Solution: Use HowBridge's US West Coast partner warehouse, consolidate parcels, and forward them to Taiwan. This can cut direct shipping by 70% or more and works with most US e-commerce sites.
Comparison of 6 Major US Shopping Platforms
1. Amazon US (amazon.com): the largest source
Many Amazon Prime items ship free within the US. Items sold and shipped by Amazon are usually the safest authenticity choice, while third-party seller quality varies. Prime Day and Black Friday have the biggest discounts.
Best for: 3C, books, supplements, sports goods, baby products.
2. Costco.com
Costco US has far more products than Costco Taiwan, especially supplements, appliances, kitchen goods, and outdoor products. It usually requires a US Costco membership, about USD 60 per year, and often a US-friendly payment method.
Tip: Consider a US Costco membership, use a US card that supports overseas users, or ask a US-based friend for private purchasing help, then ship to HowBridge's LA warehouse.
3. Sephora
Sephora US can be 30-40% cheaper than Taiwan, especially for brands such as Tom Ford, Fenty Beauty, and Drunk Elephant. Beauty Insider earns points.
Note: Some brands do not support overseas delivery, so a HowBridge US warehouse address is useful.
4. Nordstrom / Nordstrom Rack
Nordstrom is a mainstream department store, while Nordstrom Rack is its online outlet. Tory Burch bags, Coach accessories, and UGG shoes can be 30-50% cheaper than Taiwan outlet pricing.
5. Lululemon / Athleta / Nike US
Sportswear, yoga pants, and sneakers are often 25-40% cheaper on US official sites than in Taiwan.
Note: Lululemon US has programs and sale items not always available in Taiwan, and Nike SNKRS app releases are often US-only.
6. iHerb
iHerb specializes in supplements, cosmetics, and baby products. It is one of the few US platforms that ships directly to Taiwan, with free-shipping promotions around USD 60. Some products are US-only and still require forwarding.
4 Steps for US Forwarding
1Get your HowBridge US West Coast warehouse address
Register for HowBridge for free. Your member center shows the US West Coast partner warehouse address, usually in sales-tax-free Oregon, plus your member ID.
2Place the order with the US warehouse address
At checkout, enter our Oregon warehouse address and use your member ID in the recipient field. Oregon is a no-sales-tax state, along with Delaware, Montana, and New Hampshire, which can save 5-10% in sales tax.
3Consolidate after warehouse arrival
After goods arrive at the US warehouse, often 1-3 days for Amazon Prime, consolidate and choose EMS express, SAL economy air, sea freight, or warehouse transfer for lower-cost routing.
4Customs clearance, EZWay confirmation, and delivery
After arrival in Taiwan, confirm the declaration in the EZWay app, wait for customs release, and receive local delivery. See the complete EZWay guide.
Free-Shipping Thresholds and US Sales Tax
- Amazon US: many items ship free with Prime, currently about USD 139 per year.
- Sephora: free US shipping around USD 50.
- Nordstrom: free shipping with no minimum in many cases.
- iHerb: free direct shipping to Taiwan around USD 60 when promotions apply.
US state sales tax ranges from 0-10%. Oregon, Delaware, Montana, and New Hampshire have no state sales tax. Receiving at our Oregon warehouse can avoid sales tax and reduce total landed cost.
Taiwan usually starts collecting duty and tax when the customs value, including product cost, freight, and insurance, exceeds NT$2,000. Cosmetics are around 5%, many 3C products 0%, clothing 7.5%, and supplements around 10%. See the tariff lookup guide.
7 Product Categories Worth Buying from the US
1. Supplements
Fish oil, glucosamine, lutein, vitamins, protein powder, and collagen from GNC, Now Foods, Costco Kirkland Signature, Nordic Naturals, and similar brands. Personal-use supplement quantity limits should be checked before buying.
2. Apple and 3C accessories
Apple Watch, AirPods, and MacBook can be 8-15% cheaper in the US before warranty considerations. AppleCare+ global warranty may be worth considering.
3. Sportswear and yoga pants
Lululemon Align Pant is about USD 98 in the US versus around NT$3,800 in Taiwan; Nike Pro and Adidas running shoes can also be 25-40% cheaper.
4. Beauty products from Sephora and Ulta
Tom Ford, Charlotte Tilbury, Drunk Elephant, and The Ordinary can be 30-50% cheaper during US sale periods. See the cosmetics forwarding guide.
5. Baby and child products
Costco Kirkland formula, Pampers diapers, and Carter's clothing are popular US purchases. For formula, confirm TFDA-compliant versions before buying.
6. Outdoor and camping gear
Coleman chairs, Yeti tumblers, Hydro Flask bottles, and The North Face jackets are easy US buys. REI and Backcountry offer broad outdoor selections.
7. Kitchen appliances
KitchenAid, Vitamix, Instant Pot, and similar items can see large US discounts. US 110V voltage matches Taiwan, which is a major advantage for US appliances.
Air Freight vs Sea Freight: How to Choose
| Method | Transit time | Freight per kg | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMS express | 5-10 days | NT$200-300 | Urgent, light, high-value goods |
| SAL economy air | 10-15 days | NT$120-200 | Moderately urgent parcels |
| Sea freight / LCL | 21-35 days | NT$60-100 | Non-urgent, oversized, heavy goods |
| Warehouse transfer then sea freight | 30-45 days | NT$50-80 | Multi-SKU consolidation at lowest cost |
Shipping Large Furniture and Appliances to Taiwan
US furniture and appliances from IKEA, Wayfair, Ashley, KitchenAid, and similar sources can be 30-50% cheaper than Taiwan. They usually need sea freight:
- Confirm dimensions: US furniture is often large, with sofas above 200 cm common. Measure package dimensions before buying.
- Calculate volumetric freight: Sea freight may be charged by volume. One office chair can be around 3-4 cubic-foot units, or roughly NT$900-1,200 depending on the rate.
- Consider flat-pack versions: Ask the seller, especially IKEA, to ship the boxed knock-down version to reduce volume.
- BSMI inspection: Appliances with electrical circuits, such as coffee machines and blenders, may be BSMI-controlled. Noncompliant versions can be rejected. See the BSMI controlled goods list.
- Voltage compatibility: The US uses 110V/60Hz and Taiwan also uses 110V/60Hz, so many US appliances can be used directly without a transformer.
US-to-Taiwan Forwarding FAQ
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