Cross-border orders: duties, taxes and delivery windows

Many sellers on 1shop ship internationally, which is often where the real price advantage sits. It also introduces three things a domestic order does not have: duties, customs time and a longer, less predictable delivery window.

Duties, VAT and handling

Where import duties, VAT or local handling charges apply, they are set by your country's customs authority and are payable by you, the importer. They are not part of the price shown on the offer and 1shop does not collect them. Thresholds differ by country and by product category, so check your national customs guidance before buying anything expensive.

Realistic delivery windows

• The window shown on an offer starts at dispatch, not at order.
• Customs clearance sits outside that estimate and can add days.
• Remote addresses add a final-mile leg most carriers do not include in the quote.

What to check before ordering across a border

1. Where the seller ships from — it is stated on the offer.
2. Whether the category faces restrictions in your country; see prohibited items.
3. Voltage, plug type, sizing standards and language of documentation.
4. The return route: sending a parcel back across a border can cost more than the item. Read the returns policy first.

Where it usually pays off

Small, light, high-margin goods travel best: Beauty, Fashion accessories and small Electronics. Heavy or fragile items rarely justify the freight. If an order does go wrong in transit, buyer protection sets out what is covered.