Customs above ₹5,000 are hit or miss honestly. I've received 8 packages (₹8k-15k each) from iHerb, only 3 got charged customs. It's literally a lottery.
Guide to shopping from international websites using Indian credit cards. Covering forex charges, customs, card benefits, and best practices.
Why Shop Internationally?
- Luxury brands 30-40% cheaper (vs Indian retail)
- Access to products not available in India
- Better sales (Black Friday, Singles Day, Prime Day)
- Authentic products with international warranty
Best Cards for International Spends:
- Zero/Low Forex Markup:
- IDFC First WOW/Select: 0% forex markup (BEST)
- SC DigiSmart/Ultimate: 0% forex markup
- Niyo Global Debit: 0% forex (but it's a debit card)
- Premium Cards with Benefits:
- HDFC Infinia: 3.3% rewards offset the 2% + 1% forex (net positive)
- Axis Magnus: 2.4% rewards offset 3.5% forex (slightly negative but lounge/insurance benefits)
- Amex Platinum Travel: 5% reward on int'l spends (offsets 3.5% forex, net 1.5% gain)
Forex Charge Math:
- Most Indian cards charge:
- 3.5% forex markup (bank charges)
- Plus GST on markup = 3.5% + 18% on 3.5% = ~4.13% total
- Example: $100 purchase = ₹8,500 (₹85/$1)
- With forex: ₹8,500 + 4.13% = ₹8,851
- With 0% markup card: ₹8,500
- Difference: ₹351 saved
Top International Shopping Sites:
- Amazon US/UK:
- Often 40% cheaper than Amazon India (especially electronics)
- Amazon Global ships to India (customs pre-calculated)
- Use ICICI Amazon Pay for 5% (works on international Amazon!)
- Shipping: $10-30 depending on weight
- ASOS (Fashion):
- UK-based fashion retailer, 30-50% cheaper than Myntra/Ajio for same brands
- Free shipping to India on ₹3,000+
- Customs pre-paid (included in cart)
- Returns accepted but you pay return shipping
- SSENSE (Luxury):
- Canadian luxury retailer, designer brands at 20-30% discount
- DHL express shipping to India (5-7 days)
- Duties/taxes calculated at checkout (transparent)
- Sales in Jan/July are legendary (up to 70% off)
- iHerb (Supplements/Beauty):
- US supplements & skincare at fraction of Indian prices
- Shipping to India: $4-12
- Customs: Hit or miss under ₹5,000 (see below)
- Use IDFC First for 0% forex + 2X rewards
- StockX/GOAT (Sneakers):
- Authenticated sneakers, often cheaper than India resale market
- Shipping: $30-50
- Customs: Almost always charged (declare honestly)
- B&H Photo (Electronics):
- New York-based camera/electronics retailer
- Genuine products with international warranty
- Shipping via FedEx/DHL (1 week)
- Customs almost always apply on electronics
Customs & Import Duties - The Reality:
- The ₹5,000 Myth:
- Parcels under ₹5,000 "might" escape customs (not guaranteed)
- Over ₹5,000 almost always charged (₹2,000-5,000 typical duty)
- Customs = Product cost + Shipping cost, then duty calculated
- Actual Duty Rates:
- Clothes/Shoes: 25-35%
- Electronics: 35-45%
- Supplements: 25-30%
- Books: 0% (exempt!)
- How to Minimize:
- Split orders under ₹5k each (risky, not recommended)
- Use sites with duties pre-calculated (Amazon Global, ASOS)
- Factor duty into price comparison (often still cheaper)
Credit Card Specific Offers:
- Amex International Spends:
- 5X on Amex Platinum Travel (best for frequent int'l shoppers)
- Airport lounge access worldwide (useful if you travel)
- HDFC Offers:
- Occasional offers on Amazon US via SmartBuy (rare)
- Infinia 3.3% reward offsets forex completely
- Axis Magnus:
- Transfer points to airlines/hotels (if you shop int'l for travel anyway)
- Burgundy relationship = better forex rates (1% lower)
Payment Gateway Issues:
- Some international sites block Indian cards (fraud prevention):
- Visa/Mastercard work better than Amex (acceptance)
- Enable international transactions on card before purchase
- Have backup card ready (I keep 3 enabled)
- PayPal as backup (works on most US sites)
My Personal Strategy:
- Bookmark sites during regular prices
- Wait for Black Friday/Cyber Monday (Nov) or Prime Day (July)
- Use IDFC First for 0% forex
- Keep purchase under ₹20,000 to manage customs risk
- Add to cart early (sales sell out fast)
Alternatives to Direct Import:
- ShopperStop International Lounge: Premium brands with customs already paid
- Myntra Luxe/Tata Luxury: Authentic int'l brands, no customs hassle (but prices high)
- Nykaa Fashion: Some international beauty brands cheaper than importing
Drop your international shopping experiences below. Any sites I missed?
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IDFC First WOW has zero forex markup is HUGE. I switched from Magnus to this for all international transactions. Saved ₹4k+ last quarter alone.
Amex Platinum Travel 5% on international spends is the real deal. If you're spending ₹2L+/year internationally, this card pays for itself.
For electronics, check if warranty is valid in India. Many brands (Apple, Sony) have international warranty but some (Samsung, LG) are region-locked. I learned this the hard way with a $800 laptop.