Vyking Ship
Vyking Ship is a US-based parcel forwarding service that gives international shoppers a free US address in Minnesota and forwards packages to 200+ countries, earning revenue from shipping markups, package consolidation fees, and tiered annual memberships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersMinnetonka, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Vyking Ship does
Vyking Ship, legally operating as Vyking International, is a privately held US parcel forwarding and purchase assistance service founded on November 10, 2014 and headquartered in St Louis Park, Minnesota. The company provides international consumers with a free US shipping address at its Minnesota warehouse, enabling purchases from US retailers that do not ship abroad or reject foreign credit cards. Core services include package receipt and storage (60-150 days depending on tier), package consolidation and repacking that can reduce international shipping costs by up to 80%, photo documentation, customs declaration assistance, and a concierge Purchase Assistance program that places orders on the customer's behalf at a 10% fee for a 10 USD minimum.
The platform is a self-serve web portal (customer.vykingship.com) featuring a transparent shipping calculator, warehouse management system, consolidation engine, and integration with three carriers: DHL Express, FedEx International, and USPS. Vyking Ship ships to over 200 countries, with documented service restrictions for embargoed destinations (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Russia, Belarus, Venezuela, etc.). The technology stack is conventional web-application architecture with no disclosed AI/ML components, proprietary routing algorithms, or data flywheel mechanics. A partnership with US Unlocked extends the platform's utility by providing virtual US credit cards linked to the Vyking Ship address, addressing foreign-card rejection at merchants.
Revenue is generated through four streams: (1) annual membership subscriptions (Gold at $50/year, Platinum at $100/year; Basic tier is free), (2) per-shipment international postage fees passed through and marked up from DHL/FedEx/USPS, (3) per-package consolidation fees ($1.50-$2.50 by tier), and (4) a 10% take rate on Purchase Assistance transactions. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer through the website, supported by content marketing (blog, SEO), social media (Facebook, X), email, and a 10% referral program. The company is bootstrapped, founder-controlled, has disclosed no external funding, no management team, and no revenue figures. Cumulative metrics disclosed by the company include 91,700+ shipments sent and 30,000+ customers served across 12+ years.
Vyking Ship firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vyking Ship
- Legal name
- Vyking International
- Website
- https://vykingship.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Vyking Ship is a US-based parcel forwarding service that gives international shoppers a free US address in Minnesota and forwards packages to 200+ countries, earning revenue from shipping markups, package consolidation fees, and tiered annual memberships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vyking Ship industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Parcel Forwarding Services
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (492110)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cross-Border E-commerce Parcel (DDP/Delivered Duty Paid) (TLAAANAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- DDU/Delivered Duty Unpaid & Duties/Taxes Collection (TLACAKAC), International Returns & Reverse Logistics (Cross-Border) (TLACAKAE)
Keywords
Where Vyking Ship is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minnetonka
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vyking Ship business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Vyking Ship offers three membership tiers: Basic (free), Gold ($50/year), and Platinum ($100/year). Higher tiers provide extended storage, lower combination fees, and exclusive shipping options. This is a recurring annual subscription model.
- Shipping and Postage Fees: The primary revenue stream comes from international shipping fees charged to customers. Vyking Ship uses DHL, FedEx, and USPS carriers. Postage is calculated based on actual or dimensional weight, whichever is greater.
- Package Combination/Consolidation Fees: Fees charged for combining multiple packages into one box. Basic accounts pay $2.50 per package, Gold pays $2.00, and Platinum pays $1.50. This service reduces shipping costs by up to 80%.
- Purchase Assistance Fees: When Vyking Ship shops on behalf of customers, they charge a 10% fee on the total purchase price (items, shipping, taxes, and other merchant fees). Minimum purchase amount is $10 USD.
- Referral Program Credits: Customers earn 10% of non-postage fees spent by referred customers monthly in the form of account credits. Also, one-time $5 bonus for new customers with referral code.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Basic (Free) - No membership fee with essential forwarding services |
| Subscription | Annual | Gold ($50/year) - Extended storage and lower combination fees |
| Subscription | Annual | Platinum ($100/year) - Longest storage and lowest combination fees with exclusive shipping |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Purchase Assistance - Shop on your behalf service |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Shipping Carriers - DHL, FedEx, USPS |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Vyking Ship product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vyking Ship provides international parcel forwarding services by giving customers a free US shipping address in St Louis Park, Minnesota, so they can purchase from any American retailer that does not offer international shipping. The company receives packages at its warehouse, photographs and logs them into customer accounts, and forwards them to over 200 countries using DHL, FedEx, and USPS carriers. Additional services include package consolidation (combining multiple parcels into one shipment to save up to 80% on shipping costs) and purchase assistance (shopping on behalf of customers at merchants that reject foreign credit cards, for a 10% fee).
Product overview
Vyking Ship is a US-based international parcel forwarding and purchase assistance service operating as a single unified product with tiered membership plans. The core offering includes a free US shipping address in Minnesota that enables international shoppers to buy from any American store, with packages forwarded worldwide to over 200 countries. The membership structure includes Basic (free), Gold ($50/year), and Platinum ($100/year) tiers that differentiate on storage periods (60-150 days), combination fees ($1.50-$2.50 per package), and shipping options. Key services include Package Consolidation (saving 40-80% on shipping), Purchase Assistance (10% fee for concierge shopping), and a Referral Program. The company also partners with US Unlocked for virtual US credit cards. Processing guarantees include 2 business days for standard requests (2 hours for expedited) or service is free.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- International Parcel Forwarding Service Core forwarding service providing international shoppers with a free US shipping address in Minnesota, package receipt, photographic documentation, and worldwide delivery through DHL, FedEx, and USPS. Offered under three membership tiers: Basic (free, 60 days storage, $2.50 per package combination), Gold ($50/year, 90 days storage, $2.00 per package combination), and Platinum ($100/year, 150 days storage, $1.50 per package combination, access to exclusive shipping method).
- Package Consolidation Service Service that combines multiple customer packages into a single optimally sized box, removing excess packaging to reduce dimensional weight and eliminate wasted space. Saves customers up to 80% on international shipping costs. Combination fee varies by membership tier ($1.50 to $2.50 per package).
- Purchase Assistance Program Concierge shopping service where Vyking Ship purchases items on behalf of customers at US merchants that reject foreign credit cards or block international orders. Charges a 10% fee on the total purchase price (items, shipping, taxes, merchant fees), with a $10 USD minimum purchase. Payment accepted via Verified PayPal or Bank Wire, with monthly limits up to $9,950 for established Bank Wire customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Save up to 80% on international shipping through package consolidation
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Vyking Ship
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Vyking Ship technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
Vyking Ship partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- US UnlockedcoreVyking Ship has partnered with US Unlocked to provide international customers with US virtual credit cards. US Unlocked issues virtual payment cards that use the Vyking Ship address as billing and shipping address, enabling customers to shop from US websites that reject foreign cards. Vyking Ship customers receive a $4.95 credit after completing KYC and activating their subscription through Vyking Ship's referral link.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Vyking Ship competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MyUS.com: MyUS is a US-based international parcel forwarding service offering a free US address, package consolidation, and forwarding to 200+ countries. It is the closest direct competitor to Vyking Ship in terms of customer base, value proposition, and product offering.
- comGateway: comGateway offers US-to-international parcel forwarding with consolidation and tax-free US addresses, with strong presence in Asia-Pacific. Comparable to Vyking Ship in service offering and target customer.
- Shipito: Shipito provides US and Austria-based parcel forwarding with consolidation, assisted purchase, and multi-tier membership plans. Directly competes with Vyking Ship for international shoppers wanting US retailer access.
- USGoBuy: USGoBuy provides US parcel forwarding, package consolidation, and assisted purchase services for international shoppers, particularly in Asia. Directly comparable to Vyking Ship on core offerings.
- Planet Express: Planet Express is a US parcel forwarding company using a tax-free Oregon address, with consolidation, assisted purchase, and membership tiers. Directly comparable to Vyking Ship on service mix and customer profile.
- Reship: Reship offers free US addresses, package consolidation, and forwarding services to international consumers. Operates in the same niche as Vyking Ship with similar self-serve web platform.
- Borderlinx: Borderlinx provides cross-border parcel forwarding with consolidation, customs handling, and DDP/DDU options for international shoppers, overlapping directly with Vyking Ship's service model.
- Stackry: Stackry offers a US address, package consolidation, and forwarding with a focus on tax-free shopping. Overlaps directly with Vyking Ship's core product and customer segments.
Broad incumbents
- Aramex: Aramex is a global logistics and express delivery company with cross-border parcel capabilities. While it operates at much larger scale and broader scope, it represents the type of incumbent against which parcel forwarders like Vyking Ship compete for international shipping volume.
Emerging players
- Parcll: Parcll is a parcel forwarding and consolidation platform with a more tech-forward, API-driven approach to cross-border shipping. Partially overlaps with Vyking Ship but also serves merchants directly.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vyking Ship social profiles
Digital presenceVyking Ship financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vyking Ship leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Vyking Ship funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vyking Ship M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vyking Ship
What does Vyking Ship do?
Vyking Ship provides international parcel forwarding services by giving customers a free US shipping address in St Louis Park, Minnesota, so they can purchase from any American retailer that does not offer international shipping. The company receives packages at its warehouse, photographs and logs them into customer accounts, and forwards them to over 200 countries using DHL, FedEx, and USPS carriers. Additional services include package consolidation (combining multiple parcels into one shipment to save up to 80% on shipping costs) and purchase assistance (shopping on behalf of customers at merchants that reject foreign credit cards, for a 10% fee).
Is Vyking Ship a public or private company?
Vyking Ship is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Vyking Ship founded?
Vyking Ship was founded in 2014.
Where is Vyking Ship based?
Vyking Ship is headquartered in Minnetonka, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vyking Ship make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are shipping and Postage Fees, package Combination/Consolidation Fees, purchase Assistance Fees and referral Program Credits.
Who are Vyking Ship's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MyUS.com, comGateway, Shipito, USGoBuy, Planet Express, Reship, Borderlinx and Stackry. Aramex is listed as a broad incumbent. Parcll is listed as an emerging player.
Does Vyking Ship have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vyking Ship.
What industry is Vyking Ship in?
Vyking Ship's product category is Parcel Forwarding Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAAANAD, Cross-Border E-commerce Parcel (DDP/Delivered Duty Paid), with a secondary code of TLACAKAC, DDU/Delivered Duty Unpaid & Duties/Taxes Collection. Its NAICS code is 488510 and its SIC code is 4731.