USHOPS, an Israel-based delivery service that ships purchases from American retailers that do not send orders to Israel, has returned to full operation after nearly two years offline amid mounting debts and consumer anger over undelivered packages.
The company restored its website ahead of Black Friday, saying it has resumed shipments from its warehouses in New Jersey and Delaware and begun releasing hundreds of packages that remained stuck in the United States during the shutdown. Some customers have reported receiving notices that long-delayed parcels are finally on the way or have already arrived after waits of up to two years. Others say their packages are still missing.
Two logistics firms to which USHOPS owed significant sums — Bar Hafatsa and Gaash Customs Brokerage — have resumed work with the company.
Owner Motty Mezuman told ynet that the company has stabilized operations after paying most of its debts and bringing in new partners, a renewed team and a revised business model.
“All the packages are on the way,” Mezuman said. “Everything that was stuck is finally reaching customers and USHOPS is emerging from the crisis. This is not a technical return to activity. It is a new chapter.”
Mezuman said the company is working to repair trust with customers. “We want to be judged by parcels that arrive on time, by prices, stability and service,” he said.
Before its collapse, USHOPS handled 21,000 packages during November and December at its peak, making it the largest company of its type in Israel. Customers receive a U.S. address to enter when shopping online, with packages consolidated in the company’s warehouses and forwarded to Israel. Shipping starts at about $20 for a pair of shoes and $35 and up for other items, depending on size and weight.
USPS returns to a crowded market. Competitors that grew during its absence include DealTas, Redbox Parcel, ShipToBull and idgu, several of which offer lower prices or shipping from Europe as well as the United States. USHOPS ships only from the U.S., a limitation in a market where European shipping can provide faster delivery and access to appliances suited to Israel’s electrical standards.
Mezuman said the company plans to upgrade its technology, including through the use of AI, though he did not announce lower prices.
USHOPS’ troubles began in November 2023, when it halted orders from the U.S. and Britain, citing the security situation as flights to Israel were sharply reduced. The company cycled through management changes as it struggled with about 1 million shekels in debts to distribution and customs firms that stopped releasing packages.
Mezuman said at the time that the debts were tied to his logistics company Lidur, which was placed under a trustee and remains frozen. He said Lidur will return to operation after he sells an apartment to cover its debts.
Customers with orders worth thousands of shekels formed Facebook and WhatsApp groups as the crisis deepened. Some eventually received their packages but many remain frustrated, saying promises that shipments were en route repeatedly fell through.
Mezuman maintains he never intended to abandon the company and is now working to fulfill past commitments while trying to rebuild its customer base.
“We had one year of crisis and began streamlining and reorganizing logistics,” he said. “We are returning to the founding values of USHOPS, which for me are personal responsibility, meeting deadlines, full tracking transparency and predictable final pricing. We want to be a meaningful player in the fight against Israel’s high cost of living. In the U.S. you can buy shoes, household items, tech products or clothing for half the price.”