Shake-up for Luxury Goods Traders with Launch of Shipbuktu
Press Release 24/11/2006

Prices of luxury goods in New Zealand are likely to fall with the launch of online shipping portal, Shipbuktu.

Shipbuktu is a unique service that provides online shoppers with an authentic shipping address in the USA, which can be used for on-line shopping at sites that otherwise won’t ship to New Zealand. This gives New Zealanders access to thousands of sites selling all kinds of luxury goods, car parts, childrenswear and electronic goods, often at significant discounts to local prices.

Shipbuktu is the brainchild of advertising executive Teresa Davis and her husband, IT industry entrepreneur Paul Ryan. A specialist direct marketer and well-heeled shopper, Davis was frustrated with the limited availability of well priced global brands, particularly childrenswear, for her newborn child in New Zealand and Australia.

And she was further frustrated when her attempts to buy online from US based sellers were stymied by many US auction sites and on-line stores declining to ship to New Zealand.

“It’s not like we are in Timbuktu” Davis was often heard saying.

So Davis and Ryan came up with the concept of a shipping portal based in US that would allow them to shop in the USA while living in New Zealand, teaming up with IT specialist Liam Beuth to develop the structure.

They’ve now been buying everything though this system for more than a year; including car parts for their classic car, magazine subscriptions and of course, baby clothes and accessories.

Ryan says that many prices in New Zealand are inflated by shortage or monopoly. “We find that we can buy most items at between 20% - 40% cheaper than the local price from on-line traders in the US,” he said. “And that isn’t even accessing the clearance malls and second hand merchants.”

He adds that there are certain categories that are well priced in New Zealand and not worth importing, but others where he says the New Zealand consumer is clearly paying too much. “Car parts are a clear example,” he said. “I personally shipped a tail-light for my car – the landed price was $110 using Shipbuktu, whereas the local dealer quoted $380.” This is not an isolated situation, says Ryan. “A friend shipped motorcycle parts worth approx $1500 for only $300 landed, many of them unavailable anywhere in New Zealand.”

Ryan says the other major opportunity is rare or exclusive goods. “Luxury brand handbags and shoes for example, if they’re stocked here are often only in one or two stores in the entire country, in limited size ranges. New Zealand shoppers can access the authentic product from reputable traders and ship via Shipbuktu – removing any concerns that products may be counterfeit and while still saving hundreds.”

The system is relatively simple. Shoppers register with Shipbuktu which provides them with an individual US street address, located in Los Angeles, California. They then go online and shop at any US site, listing their Shipbuktu address for shipping. Shoppers are notified by email when the product arrives at the Shipbuktu warehouse and is on-shipped to New Zealand using NZ Post at usual postage rates.

Online transactions for Shipbuktu fees and shipping payments likewise have the reliable partnership of Westpac Merchant Services.

Says Ryan; “New Zealanders are resourceful people and love a bargain. Once they find out how much more they could save from the US, we’re confident that Shipbuktu will become and important service for all kinds of New Zealanders, for all kinds of products.”

Shipbuktu is now online and ready for registrations at www.shipbuktu.com