When shopping can be a little home business
Picture by: garethjmsaunders
I’ve recently had a friend in the USA shop online for me. It was for a bunch of stuff and brands I can’t get here in Malaysia and something I’ve been wanting for a long time. I was lucky that she was lovely enough to do it all for me without charging me extra like some others have. 
Some Malaysians living overseas have turned from doing friends a favour by shopping for them, to a small business opportunity where they buy certain items and then sell them on to their friends or online for a profit. I personally know of someone who has been doing this for years and turning a small profit as she goes along, without having to declare anything. For a housewife, she’s doing pretty well! I can’t say its a bad thing, to be honest. Heaven knows, there are so many things I want from other countries which I can’t get here, and if the mark up is within my budget, I don’t mind paying.
Because there is a return policy on goods overseas, I have also seen people who buy certain items (especially branded goods) on sale and then sell them on. While we might not get it at the exact sale price, it can still be markedly cheaper than buying it on sale or at retail in Malaysia.
For all the legitimate entrepreneurs out there, I take my hats off to you. If you want to buy such items off online sites, do be careful that you are paying for the real thing. And if you are, relish your bargain purchase!