Q: What if the store doesn’t accept my international credit card?

Use our BuyForMe service—we’ll buy it on your behalf and have it shipped to your U.S. address. You just pay us instead of the store.

Question 1

How do I shop and ship with comGateway?

Accepted Answer

Shopping with comGateway is easy, whether you’re buying directly from U.S. stores or need help placing your order.

🛍️ If the online store accepts your card:

Shop from any U.S. online store.

At checkout, enter your comGateway U.S. address as your shipping address.

Log into your comGateway account and let us know which packages you’re expecting.

When your packages arrive, you’ll get an email with:
Package weight
Date of receipt
Scanned invoice(s)
Repack status (if available)

Go to your dashboard to view your packages and manage shipping:
Store your items for up to 30 days
Consolidate or repack packages
Ship internationally at our discounted rates

💡 Even if the merchant ships overseas, comGateway is often cheaper—and gives you more control.

🛒 If the online store doesn’t accept your international payment method:

Use our BuyForMe service. Just tell us what you want to purchase, and we’ll buy it for you using our U.S. payment method.

📦 Summary: Your comGateway Shopping Flow

💬 Still not sure what path to take?

Check our FAQ on BuyForMe Service or Shipping from Your U.S. Address for more detail.

Question 2

What if the store doesn’t accept my international credit card?

Accepted Answer

Use our BuyForMe service—we’ll buy it on your behalf and have it shipped to your U.S. address. You just pay us instead of the store.

Question 3

What’s the difference between volumetric weight vs actual weight?

Accepted Answer

Shipping weight is based on whichever is greater:

Actual weight – the physical weight of your package in kilograms

Volumetric weight – how much space the package takes up

📦 If your package is large but lightweight (like a pillow in a big box), the
volumetric weight

Why is volumetric weight sometimes used instead of actual weight?

In international air shipping, space is just as important as weight. Large packages—even light ones—take up valuable cargo room.

That’s why couriers charge based on the larger of the two: actual weight vs. volumetric weight.

How is volumetric weight calculated?

Volumetric weight is calculated using the package’s dimensions:

Length × Width × Height (in cm) ÷ Volumetric Factor

Our courier partners (DHL and FedEx) use the industry standard volumetric factor to determine billable weight.

🧠 We always compare both weights—and you’re charged whichever is higher.

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Heads up: Merchant weight ≠ shipping weight

The shipping weight listed by U.S. retailers (on your order confirmation) is usually based on domestic ground shipping, and does not correspond to international air shipping criteria.

Domestic ground shipping calculations:

Might not include volumetric weight

May use a different formula altogether

So don’t rely on merchant info for estimating international shipping cost—learn how to estimate your shipping costs here

Question 4

Can you buy the item for me when the online store does not accept my international credit card?

Accepted Answer

Yes we can! Simply follow these steps to place your BuyForMe order with us.

Login to your account and click on Buy For Me on your dashboard or BFM Orders in your sidebar. Then click on BuyForMe Cart.
A BuyForMe form will appear. Fill in your order details. You may fill in as many items as you wish from the same merchant
We will place your order(s), checkout and pay the merchant. Your shopping will be sent to your U.S. Address
We will send you an email once we have placed your order(s)
If you wish to shop from another online store, please fill out a new BuyForMe form. Please note that we require one form (regardless of the items required) for separate merchants.
Your packages have arrived at your U.S. Address. What's next!Receive an email from us 1-2 days after your packages arrive with details includingYou can also view your packages at your Dashboard Only when your packages arrive, will we be able to inform you of the international shipping weight and other applicable fees.
- your package(s) individual weight
- date of receipt
- scanned invoice(s)
When all your packages arrive at your U.S. Address, manage how you want them shipped home in My Packages.

We have optional add-on services for savings on shipping. Learn about it at Ship Smarter: Add-On Services

Question 5

Do you have a package checking service? I want to check what’s in my package to ensure that the merchant delivered my items correctly and in good order.

Accepted Answer

Yes, we do provide package checking service upon request with a fee of US$5.00 and is fulfilled within 1-2 business days.

Please email your request to our customer service team.

Shipping to France

Estimate Shipping Cost to France

$56.99

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