Direct answer: 4 ways to buy American snacks from outside the US
To buy American snacks from outside the United States, you have four practical methods: (1) live video shopping with a US-based personal shopper, (2) package forwarding from a US forwarder address, (3) third-party online resellers (Amazon Global, eBay, specialty importers), or (4) waiting for a US traveler. Method 1 (live shopping) works best for cult items (Trader Joe's, Garrett Popcorn), Costco-bulk runs, and gifts you want to curate. Method 2 (forwarding) works for items you can order online directly from US retailers. Method 3 (resellers) is fastest if you don't mind 3–5x markup. Method 4 (traveler) is cheapest if you have the right timing. Selectido does methods 1 and 2.
Method 1: Live video shopping
How it works: Book a video call with a US-based personal shopper. They go to Target, Walmart, Costco, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, or any specialty store with you on FaceTime. You see the shelf in real time, pick items, they grab them. After the session they ship.
Cost: $75/hr shopping fee + actual cost of snacks + $14.99 forwarding + carrier shipping.
Best for: Trader Joe's (doesn't ship), Costco bulk (best per-unit pricing), Whole Foods 365 brands, IRL-only specialty stores, gifts where you want to curate live, expat care packages where you want input.
Drawback: The hourly fee adds $75 to small orders.
Method 2: Package forwarding
How it works: You get a US-address mailbox. You order online from US retailers (Target, Walmart, Amazon, Sephora, etc.) to that US address. The forwarder receives, repackages, ships internationally.
Cost: $14.99 per outbound package + carrier shipping. No personal-shopper fee.
Best for: Items you can order online — most major brands at Target.com, Walmart.com, Amazon.com. Snacks ordered from the US retailer's website.
Drawback: Many US grocery stores limit online snack ordering or require pickup-only. Trader Joe's, Costco (for non-members or some items), and specialty/local stores aren't available online.
Method 3: Third-party resellers
How it works: Buy from Amazon Global, eBay sellers, or specialty importers (British American Candy Store, JapaneseSnackUSA, etc.). They've already imported the items.
Cost: 2–5x retail markup, fast shipping included.
Best for: Speed (often 2–4 days delivery), no thinking.
Drawback: Significantly more expensive. Limited selection (only what they choose to stock). No Trader Joe's, no Costco, no specialty.
Method 4: Traveler / suitcase
How it works: A friend, family member, or service like Grabr connects you with a US traveler. They buy snacks in the US, you pay them back at retail price + a fee, they put them in their suitcase, they hand-deliver on arrival.
Cost: Retail price + ~20–40% courier fee on Grabr.
Best for: When you have a known traveler coming, when you want to skip customs entirely.
Drawback: Slow (months between travelers), small quantity (suitcase space), no recurring option.
Top brands people buy via these methods
Customs heads-up for snack imports
Every country has a personal-use de minimis (the value below which no duty applies). Above the threshold, duty + VAT apply. Approximate thresholds: Mexico ~$50 USD, UK £135, EU €150, Brazil ~$50 USD, UAE ~AED 1,000 ($272), Saudi Arabia ~SAR 1,000, Philippines ~PHP 10,000 ($180), Korea ~$150 USD, Japan ~¥10,000 ($67), Colombia ~$200 USD, India ~₹1,000 ($12 — very low). See our customs guide for the full per-country breakdown.