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What is a US shopping concierge?

Definition
US shopping concierge (n.)
A full-service buying agent that handles US retail purchases on a customer's behalf — search, evaluate, purchase, consolidate, file customs paperwork, ship internationally. Distinct from a basic package forwarder (which only re-ships items the customer bought themselves).

Also known as: American shopping concierge, US retail concierge, US shopping assistant, US personal shopping concierge, US buying agent, US procurement service, US proxy shopper. The US shopping concierge definition is a full-service buying agent for international customers who want to shop USA from abroad. If you're trying to hire US buyer talent for a one-off project or a recurring purchase relationship, this is the category.

The US shopping concierge category exists because international shoppers want more than a US address. They want someone who will actually go shop. They want a US procurement service that finds the right product, applies the right coupons, checks store-exclusive availability, packs the box correctly, and routes around the carrier and customs friction that derails so many international purchases.

A US shopping concierge is also called a US buying agent, US procurement service, US proxy shopper, or US shopping service. The terms overlap. Selectido positions in this category — adding live video shopping on top, so the customer can direct the session in real time.

What a US shopping concierge actually handles

US shopping concierge vs related services

vs Package forwarder: Package forwarder only handles step 4-6 above. US shopping concierge handles 1-7. Some services do both as separate paid options.

vs Virtual personal shopper: A virtual personal shopper is a US shopping concierge that adds live video — the customer joins by video call and directs the shopping session in real time. Selectido does both.

vs Direct international retailer shipping: Direct shipping by the retailer (Amazon Global, Apple) bypasses concierges but is limited to a small subset of products with often-expensive shipping rates.

Book a Selectido US shopping concierge →

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay before or after the shopping concierge buys?
Models vary. Selectido takes a hold for the session fee upfront, and adds product cost + shipping to your tab as the shopper buys. You see and approve the cart on video.
Can a US shopping concierge buy from any US retailer?
Yes for almost any US retailer with an open consumer storefront. Some restricted categories (alcohol, firearms, prescription drugs) require additional handling or aren't possible.
How long does the whole process take?
A typical Selectido session is 1 hour of live shopping. Packing and US-side processing takes 1-2 business days. International shipping then runs 3-10 business days to most countries.
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