Ship from home, or hold stock in the country?
How stock reaches the shopper decides your costs, your tax setup and how fast you can deliver.
The short answer
With low-value duty relief ending, parcels from home have lost much of their edge. They are still a cheap way to test demand with little stock at risk. Once a product proves itself, marketplace fulfillment is usually the next step. Add a warehouse partner when several channels need to share stock.
| Topic | Parcels from home | Marketplace fulfillment | A warehouse partner in the country |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | You ship each order across the border | You send stock to the marketplace. It stores, packs and ships | You send stock to a warehouse company, and it ships orders from any channel |
| Who imports the goods | Each parcel clears customs | You or your provider. Amazon says it won’t act as importer of record for FBA shipments | You or your provider |
| Duty | Low-value rules apply: no $800 exemption in the US, €3 per item in the EU, UK relief up to £135 for now | Paid when stock enters the country | Paid when stock enters the country |
| VAT and sales tax | In the EU, usually IOSS through an intermediary. Marketplaces handle much of it | Register where stock is stored in the UK and generally in the EU. Amazon says each seller alone is responsible for VAT | The same registration duties as marketplace fulfillment |
| Speed for the shopper | Slowest | Fast. Walmart says two days or less for its fulfillment service | Fast, depending on the partner |
| Returns | Costly, across a border | Handled by the marketplace. Walmart also takes them in stores | Handled by your partner, as you agree |
| Money at risk | Low. Little stock is committed | Medium. Stock abroad, plus storage fees | Medium to high. Stock abroad, plus contract costs |
| Works across channels | Yes | Mostly for that marketplace | Yes |
Which fits you
Parcels fit if
- You are testing demand with a few products
- Your product is light and has a good margin after duty
- Shoppers there will accept a longer wait
Marketplace fulfillment fits if
- Demand is proven and you want fast delivery
- One marketplace brings most of your sales
- You can arrange importing and VAT
A warehouse partner fits if
- Several channels need to share stock
- You have bulky goods or special handling
- Volume justifies a contract
Options that sit in between
- Remote Fulfillment with FBA. US-based Professional sellers can serve Canada, Mexico and Brazil from US stock. The customer is the importer and pays duties and taxes.
- FBA Export. Shoppers abroad can buy from Amazon.com while stock stays in US fulfillment centers.
- Pan-European FBA. Stock is stored in at least two of Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Poland, with a VAT number for each. The UK left the program in 2021.
- Walmart. Stock must already be in the US or cleared through customs before reaching a Walmart facility. Walmart offers ocean freight from ports in China, Vietnam and India, and can send eligible US stock to Mexico.
Sources: Amazon, selling globally from the US, Amazon staff post on importer of record, Amazon Remote Fulfillment, Amazon FBA international, Amazon Pan-European FBA, Amazon, expand to Europe, Walmart Fulfillment Services, Walmart WFS overview, Walmart Cross Border: Imports, HMRC, overseas goods, Study for the European Commission, VAT in the Digital Age, European Commission, €3 duty guidance. Fees and rules change, so please check the current position. General information, not legal or tax advice. Last checked November 2026.
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