Lee-Anne333

I am considering using Cafepress to sell my products. However, I am based in the UK. Most of my customers will be in the UK.

Does the customs, duty charges involved in shipping internationally deter potential customers from buying?

Will my customers always have to pay these charges, or do they just check packages on a random basis?

How do they know how much the order is worth?

 

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Rodney

It may deter some customers, but I think many international customers who shop online are used to paying any necessary shipping and duties when buying from US Destinations.

CafePress is required to state the value of the package when they ship it internationally.

Some customers won't have to pay a duty if the order total is below a certain amount

More info here: CafePress.com : Customer Service : Shipping & Returns

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Teeser

From what I've heard from my UK customers, the max value UK customers can order without incurring custom and duty taxes is 36.00 USD.

 

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gerbilgoods

I'm in the UK and that is right. £18 is the limit if it is not a "gift", aka $36. But that doesn't stop me ordering a lot of stuff from abroad. Depending on the delivery method, I find the overall saving is more than the amount of times I've been charged. I do get charged more often with EMS though compared to Air Mail / SAL etc.

I considered Spreadshirt EU to cover UK customers who fear customs charges but heard that with the higher priced EU-based t-shirts etc. that it is overall no different in the final cost. With the strong pound UK customers make a bit of a saving ordering from a US based place (50% off) and I guess that offsets the charges. But I am welcome to other opinions.

I was trying to find which service offers the cheapest overall product and shipping prices but its tough to say really. I know that Zazzle would probably get a bit expensive due to them shipping things in separate boxes or something like that. More boxes = more chances of customs stamping a box.

 

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cojogoo

Hi Lee-Ann,
I'm in the UK too. I've been using Cafepress for over 2 years and Zazzle for 1 year. Nearly all of my orders have come from US customers. I agree with the other comments on customs and tax but no one's mentioned the Royal Mail handling charge introduced last year. They charge a flat rate of £8 if they have to collect import duty or VAT. I know a postman in Birmingham and he says he's seen at lot of Cafepress orders hit by this.
If you expect a lot of UK orders consider using CreativeCraving.co.uk. They are fairly new and based in Boreham Wood. They deliver only to UK £2.50 for most orders. Obviously they are fairly small at the moment 87 shops, Cafepress has 1.3 million apparently. I've had one order from Creative Craving so far - printing was superb and quick delivery(4 days from order). Hope that's of interest.
regards
Colin

 

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BIGNUMPT

[quote=gerbilgoods;311104]I'm in the UK and that is right. £18 is the limit if it is not a "gift", aka $36.

Afternoon all,

I'm based in the UK and approx 80% my shops sales are from the good old US of A but I've sold to lots of European countries,Australia,Canada etc etc.

Great time in the UK to benefit form the exchange rate,just wish CP would do some serious UK and Euro promotion.Anyway,I digress.

I've ordered goods from CP and have not paid any duties on any goods to date ( You watch the next lot get taxed now I've said that!) Some parcels have been to the value of $65-75 too!

I can't see how they authorities can check every parcel,the system would gind to a halt.I've a good friend who works at a very senior level in UK Customs and they don't even have the manpower to man airports,ports etc to the levels he wants.

All the best

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cojogoo

Hi Steve

I agree with what you say - I've been lucky too! My last order from Zaz was for $80 of prints - they kindly wrote 'prints $1' on the customs form and it got through eventually ok.
However, just after I started up with CP two years ago a relation ordered $96 of stuff and got a £13 duty/vat shock - now that would be £21 with this new handling charge. Thats like a 40 odd percent surcharge.
I've heard that if Customs open a package and there is no price quoted in the package, or they don't believe the declaration, they determine the duty by deciding what the item would probably cost in a shop here - could be anything!.
My view is that if someone in the Uk gets hit with a surcharge they don't expect youv'e got an unhappy customer before they even see the goods.
Cafepress were supposed to be looking into a UK branch - but they seemed to have abandoned it - there's some stuff about it in the CP forums.
I'm re-directing UK customers to my CreativeCraving store, at least they will know what they are paying up front.

Like to hear your thoughts

regards Colin

 

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