holiday shopping

OPAS’ Schedule for the Holiday Season

International Shipping Holiday Schedule Calendar 2017

The Holiday season is fast approaching, and with an OPAS mailbox for consolidation and international package forwarding, that means wherever you are in the world, you can take advantage of great sales in the US!

Historically, the holiday shopping season has been built around Black Friday, the day after the US holiday of Thanksgiving, which is always the last Thursday in November. In recent years, as online sales have become more and more pivotal to so many US companies, they have expanded these usually-limited-time sales to include more of November, and even October in some cases.

We wanted to take just a few moments to advise you about the important dates to bear in mind for the upcoming shopping season.

November 24: Black Friday. OPAS will be closed, so we will not be able to provide Personal Shopper services on this date.

December 8: this is our recommended receiving deadline; if you want to have items arrive in time for December 25th, it’d be best if they are received at OPAS by this time. We’ll still be shipping and receiving after this date, of course, but the closer you get to Christmas, the fewer options you will have for best economy in shipping.

December 11: the recommended date to submit a shipment request by if you wish to have US Postal Service delivery options, including ePacket.

December 13: you’ll want to have your shipment request in by this date if you want to use our slower, less expensive carrier options like UPS Expedited and FedEx Economy shipping.

December 15: you’ll definitely want to have your requests submitted by this date to ensure delivery before Christmas. At this point, it would be best to use faster methods like UPS Saver and FedEx Priority for shipping.

We will still be open and shipping the week of December 18-22. We will be working as fast as we possibly can to dispatch all your orders, but to ensure delivery by the 25th, we STRONGLY advise that you do not wait until the week of the 18th to complete your shipping request. This is mostly because of the way the weekend falls, and the fact that government customs offices will very possibly be closed and unable to process shipments through.

If you have specific questions, please email us at service@opas.com. We want to make sure all of our members know that you can get savings on holiday sales earlier than you might think, and it’s best to not procrastinate on placing your requests for OPAS to ship to you!

10 Online Stores You’ve Never Heard Of

One of the most difficult aspects of online shopping can simply be that there’s SO many options! The presence of online giants like Amazon can also be overwhelming, and sometimes based on that, shoppers may miss out on some of the less-known stores. One of the greatest benefits of OPAS membership is limitless access to all of these great stores, so we’re going to help you out with some recommendations from our staff and members!

We hope you love the stores we recommend in this list, if you have any other great resources to share with us, please do so in the comment section!

10 Online Stores You've Never Heard Of

Yvng Pearl is a line of pins, nail decals, apparel, and more! Influenced by rock n’ roll and feminism, Yvng Pearl is the perfect combination of badass and classic.

MAKE believes there are no beauty rules. That each individual is driven by an artistic approach to their own personal reality. All products are paraben-free and never tested on animals. 10% of sales are donated to the We See Beauty Foundation, supporting women-led, worker-owned cooperative businesses across the Americas. Free shipping to your OPAS US shipping address on orders over $25.

Arro Home, your home would love these fun and affordable home goods, from fabulous bedding to durable cotton rugs, your living room will thank us.

Bean bags are always pretty cool, but the ones at Woouf are sure to impress even the most jaded of bean bag aficionados.

Trying to update your home or need a temporary home decor pick-me-up? Hygge&West helps you create a a cozy, beautiful environment where small, everyday moments can be enjoyed. From permanent wallpaper to removable wallpaper tiles, plenty of choices!

Alite makes “going outside simple” with its selection of outdoor equipment to take with you when you head off into the great outdoors. Explore the great outdoors!

Need a hip dog bed to show off your furry friend? Head over to Waggo, with a great collection of pet-friendly gear! Your four legged friend will be much impressed.

For the cutest clothes you have ever laid eyes on and a great resource for costumes, head over to Wild Things.

If you are looking for unusual, cool and affordable gifts take a look at BlueQ, from cool socks to a hip lip balm, they have you covered.

Throwing a party but don’t want to be stuck with a mountain of un-recycables? Sucre Shop has the cutest bamboo party gear!

Summer Sales, Shop With OPAS

summer sales

OPAS, the shipping service that clients call ‘helpful’, ‘reliable’ and ‘trustworthy’ opens up a world of shopping opportunities.  Would you like to go on a shopping spree and make use of the summer sales? We’ve put together a list of items and sales and items that caught our attention this week.

SHOP TILL YOU DROP

Fire Tablet, 7″ Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB – Including Special Offers – $49.99

OZ Naturals products, setting the standard in naturally derived skincare – Prices start at $15.79 for the best hyaluronic acid serum.

Herschel Supply Co. Little America Backpack – Start the new school year in style $74.98 

Nike Women’s Free Rn Flyknit Running Shoe – run, walk or skip in style – Prices start at $84.10

Join the denim revolution at American Eagle with on trend jeans – Prices start at $49.95. 

SUMMER SALES

Shop a wide range of daily discounts and sales at the Vitamin Shoppe, another OPAS favorite, get the supplements and vitamins you need at great prices. FREE Shipping to your OPAS address on orders of $25 or more. 

Passionate about technology and driven by innovation, ASUS aspires to bring you the best in technology. NewEgg has regular sales, helping you save even more. Prices for laptops start at only $379 with free or very low shipping rates to your OPAS address. 

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, what is it? 
In short, MAJOR markdowns on the hottest trends and brands. This sale really is too good to miss, because for a limited time, Nordstrom offers brand-new fall styles at seriously discounted prices.  Dates: July 22 – August 8.

Most if not all of these items will ship to your OPAS US address for FREE! 

On top of getting your favorite brands at great prices, did you know that with OPAS you are also saving up to 10% in US sales tax just by shipping your items to Oregon?

New to OPAS?

If you need any help getting started with your first shipment please let us know, our customer service team is here to help. Send us an email at service@opas.com, we are happy to answer any question you may have.

summer sales 

How To Shop Online Without A US Billing Address

The world is filled with plenty of great opportunities for deals on everything from clothing to cookware to electronics, and many of them are there for the taking if you know where to look. But for many of us, the chance to really seize some of the best deals out there is out of reach. You know just where to find those opportunities, but the fact is that US residents and their US Billing Address are able to take advantage of far more of them than the rest of the world. That gives them a big advantage over those looking for the best deals – if you are locked out of sales, you can’t take advantage of them. In short, you have to be in it to win it.

With a US Unlocked card and a mail forwarding address, you can actually be in it, no matter where you are. 

How To Shop Online Without A US Billing Address

  1. You’re given a US-based PO box and a US Unlocked digital debit card connected to that address.
  2. When you place an order online, you use the card and the address to make your purchases.
  3. Those purchases are shipped to the PO box, where they’re then forwarded to your current address.

This makes it easy to take advantage of a huge range of sales, including Black Friday sales, Memorial Day and Labor Day sales, and much more. And it lets you shop at the official US sites for companies like Amazon, too. This can save you hundreds of dollars since many purchases are far cheaper for those in the US than for those in other countries like Australia. And you can also use your card to access memberships to sites that normally lock out foreign visitors – like Netflix or Hulu.

How To Shop Online Without A US Billing Address

In these cases, you can view the shows and films available to US subscribers. In short, if you’re not living in the US then you could be missing out on a lot of opportunities and plenty of big savings. Using a forwarding address and a US Unlocked card can give you the chance to take hold of those advantages and become part of a winning team. It’s easier than you think to get started, and could change the way you shop online for good. If you’re ready to learn more, our team is ready to have you join us. Contact us today to find out more or to get started setting up your account.

Get Your US Unlocked Card Now!

Click the card image below to get your card and start shopping right away!

get-a-prepaid-virtual-credit-card

Disclosure statement:
The US Unlocked Card is issued by Metropolitan Commercial Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa, U.S.A., Inc  “Metropolitan” and “Metropolitan Commercial Bank” are registered trademarks of Metropolitan Commercial Bank © 2014. Use of the Card is subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Cardholder Agreement and fee schedule, if any.

Shop The 4th Of July Sales Like A Pro! Check Out Our 4th Of July Promo Now!

Check Out Our 4th Of July Promo Now!

Let’s face it, we write a lot about US Sales here at OPAS. The reason is simple, we want our members to make the most out of their US mailing address and that includes our members being aware of upcoming sales and how to most benefit from them. The next big sales happening here in the US are the 4th of July sales. We celebrate our independence with fireworks, barbecues, parties and clearance sales :-).

What to shop for during 4th of July Sales:

The kinds of items that go on sale during this 4th of July period are diverse but there are a few items that are worth paying close attention to:

Back to school sales start in July. This means great deals on a variety of items, ranging from practical apparel, to package deals for dorm rooms (think cute bedding and décor) and (small) electronics and paper goods.

If you are in the market for a new duvet, home decor, some great shorts for your kids, and a new laptop for yourself, now is the time to shop! 

Browsing through online stores to get a sense of what you want to purchase will make it easier to snap up the deals when you see them. (Read here how you can install a simple, free, browser extension that will apply and try all active coupons to get you the best discount!) While some items require a quick decision as sales may end prior to the 4th of July, other items, such as footwear, require a bit more patience. If you can wait till mid to late July you can purchase a great pair of sandals by brand names such as Teva and Crocs at much much lower prices.

Most online stores allow you to simply add your items to your cart, then the waiting game starts, keep checking daily for new coupons and promo codes and when you are ready, and the deal is at it’s best you go ahead and continue to checkout. As your items start arriving in our warehouse, we are happy to store them up to 30 days free of charge. You can shop and save in your own time, and let us know when you are ready to ship your items to your home or business. International shipping to most of the world from the U.S. takes from 3 to 8 days depending on the carrier and service you choose. We will re-pack your items to the smallest, safest package(s) as possible to save on your shipping costs.

All your favorite brands will be having great sales, GAP, Old Navy, American Eagle, Best Buy, Amazon and Ralph Lauren.  We also recommend keeping a close watch on brands such as ClamCase, who tend to the sales towards the 4th of July also!

Check Out Our 4th Of July Promo Now!

Our mission is straightforward, to provide you with excellent customer service and affordable international shipping options for any budget. With the added benefit of our Oregon location, you pay 0% US sales tax.  

On top of all these savings, save an extra $10.00 off your next international shipment. Simply enter promo code SUMMER.

This coupon code is valid until JULY 14, one coupon per customer and for international shipments only.

 

Father’s Day Savings – Save Big On Gifts

Father’s Day is coming up quickly, and that means that it’s time to show our dads just how much they mean to us. The right father’s day gift can say a lot about how much you care about the father in your life, but for many it’s not always easy to find the right gift at the right price. Luckily, setting up a US mail forwarding address can help dramatically.

The US Mail Forwarding Address, Father’s Day Savings, And You

A US mail forwarding address lets you shop for the perfect gift at any store online that is based in the USA without having to worry about shipping restrictions. Many companies online only offer their sales to you if you have a physical address in the US – even some that specialize in digital only products. That means that those living outside the US often end up having to pay more for their gifts. And with so many Father’s Day specials likely to be available during the days leading up to the holiday, it makes sense to take advantage of the specials available. Companies like Amazon.com, Ralph Lauren, and Abercrombie and Fitch all often run big specials, but they’ll only be available to those who are in the US.

Father's Day Savings

How Does A US Mail Forwarding Address Work?

With a US mail forwarding address, you just have to sign up to the service offered. You’ll get a physical US address that you can then use when shopping online. If you place an order, the order is shipped directly to your US mail forwarding address, and then we ship it from there back to you, wherever you are. It’s the easiest way to ship internationally that is available today. With a good US mail forwarding address service, you can take advantage of everything available online and capitalize on the big savings that come up during special holidays and routine US clearance sales offered by major retailers and brands. Father’s day is on the horizon, and it’s time that you showed him just how much he means. Take the time to set up your US mail forwarding address and you’ll be able to do so and save money in the process.

Save This Father’s Day With A US Mail Forwarding Address

We’re ready to help. OPAS has a dedicated team that believes in making sure you get the kind of results you deserve from your US mail forwarding address service. If you’re ready to start shopping the US deals that millions take advantage of, don’t hesitate to contact us today to get started setting up your new address. You will love our dedication and white glove service!

Save Money With Online Wish Lists

Save Money With Online Wish Lists

Shopping in the US is great for a multitude or reasons, savings being on the top of most lists. If you are shopping for items that you do not need right away, such as gifts, it can pay off to keep track of them on an online wish list. Online wish lists are a great tool that can help you save money!

These simple tools let you place the items that you may want to buy in the future into the list and then come back later to access them easily.

Save Money With Online Wish Lists

So just why should you take the time to make a wish list? There are a few reasons that stand out. These include the following.

  • You’ll be able to easily come back to the list when you need to compare prices on an item at a different website. Instead of looking up the products each time, they’re there and ready for you.
  • Adding items to a wish list makes it easy to spot prices drops as well. Some sites, like Amazon, actually tell you what the price was when you added the item to your list versus its current price.
  • When you have items in your wish list, it’s easier to be ready for sales when they come. Instead of having to comb back through all of the sale items, you can quickly check your wish list and identify which ones have a reduced price. In other words, you’ll be ready for sales.
  • Believe it or not, another reason to use a wish list comes from the marketing team of the company you’re shopping with. They’ll use data from wish lists to help make product recommendations to customers on a periodic basis. This means that you could find new items that you never knew existed or receive special offers you wouldn’t have otherwise.

In short, your wish list is about much more than just conveniently being able to log back into a site and quickly find the items you’re most interested in buying. These tools can offer a tremendous amount of additional benefits that help them stand out as being something you need to pay attention to.

Let’s take a look at a few favorite online wish lists:

Wishmindr, the wish list app.

Boxed Up 

Amazon’s Universal wish list 

No matter what site you like to shop on, use your wish list. You’ll be glad you did. And when you’re ready to order, OPAS is here to help with a US mail forwarding service that makes it easier for international customers to buy through US sales with confidence. Contact us to learn more.

Memorial Day Sales Mean Big Savings For Shoppers

Memorial Day Sales

Memorial Day means a lot of different things depending on who you talk to. Seeing old friends and family members, enjoying a day off from work, and relaxing are all just a few examples. Another that you’ll see mentioned many times is the fact that some holidays mean big sales and specials for shoppers.

Memorial Day Sales

Memorial Day Sales

A perfect example of this are the memorial day sales, and every year when Memorial Day approaches those looking for big savings start to pay attention to the sales that are announced.

It’s become an American tradition, and stores from Target to Amazon.com to Ralph Lauren and even EBay all make sure that they offer big sales during the Memorial Day weekend. Over the last decade, technology has helped make it even easier to take advantage of these specials no matter where you are. Logging onto the internet provides a fast, easy way to browse all the various savings and to take advantage of the ones that appeal to you.

But an issue that some face is that if you lack a US address, many of the sales are simply off limits to you. Many companies only offer their sales to those in the US, and many others will refuse to ship out of the country due to added expense or hassle. This means that for some, the best Memorial Day sales are nothing but a dream.

One solution that is worth considering this Memorial Day is the use of a US mail forwarding service. These services let you set up a US mailing address to use when shopping online. Your packages are shipped to that address, then the service forwards them to you wherever you are. It’s the easiest solution out there and one that will let you take advantage of all of the savings that American retailers have.

Best of all, a US mail forwarding service is entirely legal and easy to set up and use for anyone. It’s great for citizens who are living abroad, enlisted military members, or anyone else who wants to get big savings during the Memorial Day Sales.  OPAS can make the entire process easy and painless. If you’re ready to find out more about this service and what it can do for you, contact us today to get started. It will make a huge difference in how you shop.

Mother’s Day Deals

Mother's Day Deals

While we obviously need to let our moms know how much they mean to us all the time, Mother’s Day is the one day of the year where many people will truly take the time to do so. After all, she’s the reason that you’re in the world and as a result it’s important that you take the time to make her feel really special.

This Mother’s Day, you’ll have the opportunity to make the day wonderful for her thanks to the growing number of specials, sales, and events that US retailers offer. From beauty products like NuSkin to flowers to candies to something even larger from a site like Amazon, there are plenty of opportunities out there to find the perfect gift for your mom.

How to benefit from Mother’s Day Deals

Mother's Day Deals

And best of all, most of those organizations also run price cuts as the holiday approaches. Those price cuts let you get deep discounts while shopping for your mom – and maybe even for yourself. In short, they’ll make it easier to make Mother’s Day memorable for your mom.

But what about those who aren’t in the US?

Often, retailers lock out their sales or even their service to those who don’t have a US address. And in some instances you may be able to shop, but you can’t ship since international shipping is something that not all retailers will provide. Even major sites like Amazon often have different sites depending on where you are, with different prices – you could find an item on the US version of the site that is half the price of the one in your local page.

The answer is to utilize a US parcel forwarding service. This basic service works like this: You sign up and receive a US mailing address. You’ll use that address to shop, and the items you buy are shipped directly to it. Then, they’re forwarded to your final destination address. Basically, you shop just like normal and the US parcel forwarding service takes care of the rest. These international mail forwarding services can help you get your Mother that gift that you’ve always wanted to give her and can help you save money in the process. In doing so, you’ll make Mother’s Day truly special for her, and will even make it a little better for yourself as well.

OPAS can help. With a small, dedicated team and a proven track record of helping clients with international mail forwarding services, we’re ready to change the way you shop online. Contact us to learn more. 

Mother’s Day Gifts

Mother's Day Gifts

Mother’s Day Gifts

Mother’s Day is coming up and while you were able to get away with a nice self-made card and a handful of picked flowers when you were little, as a grown up you will want to up your game. This year,  surprise mom with a heartfelt gift that will be a big upgrade from that self-made necklace from kindergarten.

Mother’s Day Gifts Etsy

While many online retailers have great ideas for Mother’s Day Gifts today we would like to highlight Etsy.  Etsy has a great selection of (personalized) one-of-a-kind gifts that are perfect for your one-of-a-kind mom. Their prices cover a wide range so you will always be able to find a Mother’s Day Gift that fits within your budget.  Many Etsy sellers do not ship internationally, but OPAS solves this problem. Ship your Etsy Mother’s Day gifts to yourself so you can present a lovely gift to your mom, and because we want you to shine this year, we are adding a lovely free Mother’s Day card for you to write and give to mom. Please let us know you would like to receive the Mother’s Day card by adding a special instruction when you submit a shipping request for your fantastic gift!

Mother's Day Gifts

Just in case you don’t have a personal US package forwarding address yet, here are a few simple steps to follow to get yourself set up in time for Mother’s Day.

  1. Sign up at opas.com for an account. Select our basic Package Only membership and input promo code MOM for an account at no charge AND to receive a lovely Mother’s Day card for you to write. Please let us know you would like to receive the Mother’s Day card by adding a special instruction when you submit a shipping request.
  2. Buy the Mother’s Day gifts you want, using your OPAS addresses for shipping.
  3. When you get an email saying we’ve got your gift(s), log in and complete our simple shipping request protocol.

Bonus: if you are not shopping for mom, you can delay step 3 and keep receiving other items, we’ll consolidate and bundle them together to save cost compared to individual shipments.