When shipping goods from the U.S. to Kenya using Savo Store, you have two primary service options: Shipping Only and Buy & Ship. Each caters to different customer needs, offering varying levels of assistance and pricing structures.
Below is a breakdown of the core differences to help you decide which service best suits your needs.
Who Buys the Items
Shipping Only:
You purchase the items yourself from any U.S. store. At checkout, you use our U.S. warehouse address, then tell us the tracking number and how you want it shipped.Buy & Ship:
You provide a link of the item, and then we handle the entire purchase process for you — including payment, seller communication, and delivery to Kenya.
✅ Use Shipping Only if you want full control when shopping online or if you already have a package in the U.S. that simply needs to be shipped to Kenya.
✅ Use Buy & Ship if you’d rather not be involved in the purchasing process.
Service Fees
Shipping Only:
No service fees. You only pay for shipping (plus optional insurance or local home delivery if needed).Buy & Ship:
Charges a 10% service fee on the total item cost. This covers the cost of operating this service, buyer support, and built-in shipment protection.
✅ Shipping Only is simple with no service fees.
✅ Buy & Ship is super convenient but with a service charge.
Shipment Protection
Shipping Only:
Comes with automatic coverage up to $100 at no cost. You can upgrade to full protection at 5% of the item’s value. Learn more about shipment protection here.Buy & Ship:
Comes with built-in full protection for your shipment at no additional charge.
✅ Shipping Only lets you choose how much protection you want.
✅ Buy & Ship includes full protection by default.
Payment Structure
Shipping Only:
One payment. Once your package arrives at our warehouse, we weigh and measure it, then send you an invoice that includes the shipping cost—along with optional charges for shipment protection and local home delivery.Buy & Ship:
You make two payments:Initial Payment when placing order: item cost + 10% service fee + minimum shipping charge
Final payment upon arrival: remaining shipping balance (if any) + VAT.
✅ Shipping Only = single payment.
✅ Buy & Ship = split payments tied to shopping and delivery stages.
Payment Methods Accepted
We offer different payment options depending on the service you use:
Shipping Only:
M-Pesa
Credit/Debit Card
Bank Transfer
Buy & Ship:
M-Pesa
Bank Transfer
💡 Note: Credit and debit card payments are only available for Shipping Only. Buy & Ship orders must be paid via M-Pesa or bank transfer.
Which option should you choose?
Shipping Only Is Best If You:
Enjoy shopping online and want to use your own debit/credit cards or discounts
Want full control over the buying process
Just need a reliable and cost-effective way to ship
Buy & Ship Is Best If You:
Want someone else to handle everything from purchase to delivery
Don’t have access to U.S. payment methods
Prefer hands-off, concierge-style shopping support
Side-By-Side Comparison
Feature | Shipping Only | Buy & Ship (Assisted Shopping) |
Who Buys the Item | You | Savo Store |
Service Fee | None | 10% of item cost |
Shipping Cost | $15/kg (Air), $30/cubic ft (Ocean) | $15/kg (Air), $30/cubic ft (Ocean) |
Shipping methods | Both ocean and air | Both ocean and air |
Customs Clearance | Included in the shipping cost | Included in the shipping cost |
Shipment Protection | Up to $100 free, additional at 5% of item cost | Full-protection included |
Delivery Timeline | 7–15 business days for air, 75–90 days for ocean | 7–15 business days for air, 75–90 days for ocean — plus 5–7 days for seller delivery |
Payment Structure | One payment | Two payments |
Payment methods accepted | M-Pesa, Credit/Debit Card, and Bank Transfer | M-Pesa and Bank Transfer |
Final Word
Shipping Only is designed for experienced or hands-on shoppers who want control and lower costs.
Buy & Ship is for customers who prefer convenience and want Savo Store to manage everything on their behalf.
Not sure which to choose? Our team is always available to help you figure out the best fit based on what you’re buying, how you want to pay, and how involved you want to be.