UNDERSTANDING DUTIES AND CUSTOMS IN E-COMMERCE AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING A SMOOTH AND SURPRISE-FREE ONLINE SELLING EXPERIENCE, WE WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU ON THE KEY ASPECTS RELATED TO DUTIES AND CUSTOMS FOR YOUR ONLINE PURCHASES. DURING YOUR INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS, CUSTOMS FEES OR IMPORT DUTIES MAY APPLY ACCORDING TO THE REGULATIONS IN FORCE IN YOUR COUNTRY. THESE FEES, OFTEN DETERMINED BY THE VALUE OF THE ITEM AND ITS NATURE, ARE IMPOSED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND MUST BE RESPECTED TO ENSURE A FAST AND SMOOTH PROCESSING OF YOUR PACKAGES.
AS AN E-COMMERCE PLAYER, IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR US TO SUPPORT YOU AND PROVIDE YOU WITH ALL THE NECESSARY INFORMATION SO THAT YOU CAN ANTICIPATE THESE ADDITIONAL COSTS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK YOUR COUNTRY'S CUSTOMS REGULATIONS BEFORE FINALIZING YOUR INTERNATIONAL ORDERS TO ENSURE A SURPRISE-FREE PURCHASING EXPERIENCE.
OUR GOAL IS TO SIMPLIFY THIS PROCESS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BY INFORMING YOU ABOUT POTENTIAL FEES AND GUARANTEEING TRANSPARENCY AT EACH STAGE OF YOUR PURCHASE.
THIS ALLOWS YOU TO CLARIFY THE SITUATION WHILE REASSURING YOUR CUSTOMERS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF CUSTOMS AND IMPORT DUTIES ASPECTS IN YOUR ONLINE STORE.
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WILL I HAVE TO PAY CUSTOMS FEES FOR MY ORDER?
UNDERSTANDING CUSTOMS FEES
CUSTOMS FEES ARE TAXES CHARGED ON GOODS AS THEY CROSS INTERNATIONAL BORDERS. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE LEVIES ON IMPORTS AND EXPORTS, WHICH GOVERNMENTS USE TO FINANCE THEIR ACTIVITIES, PROTECT DOMESTIC INDUSTRIES, AND REGULATE TRADE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT CUSTOMS DUTIES MAY APPLY DEPENDING ON THE COUNTRY OF DESTINATION OF YOUR ORDER. THESE CHARGES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL PRICE OF YOUR ORDER AND WILL NEED TO BE PAID DIRECTLY TO THE CARRIER OR THE COMPETENT AUTHORITIES IN YOUR COUNTRY. ALTHOUGH ALL OUR PRODUCTS INCLUDE LOCAL VAT, OTHER TAXES MAY APPLY. LOCAL TAXES WILL BE CALCULATED AT THE TIME OF PAYMENT, WHILE CUSTOMS CHARGES WILL BE ASSESSED AT THE BORDER.
AWARE THAT CUSTOMS FEES CAN BE AN UNEXPECTED EXPENSE, WE HAVE INTEGRATED AN INFORMATION SYSTEM ON OUR SITE, ALLOWING YOU TO KNOW THE ORIGIN OF YOUR SHIPMENT. YOU CAN FIND THIS INFORMATION ON THE PRODUCT PAGE AS WELL AS DURING THE ORDERING PROCESS.
BY MAKING AN INTERNATIONAL PURCHASE, YOU WILL ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY CUSTOMS DUTIES, BEING RECOGNIZED AS THE IMPORTER OF OFFICIAL. DEPENDING ON YOUR DESTINATION COUNTRY, YOU MAY BE ASKED TO PROVIDE PERSONAL INFORMATION SUCH AS YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, EIN, IRN, TIN OR EORI. THE SHIPPING COMPANY WILL CONTACT YOU DIRECTLY TO COLLECT THIS INFORMATION AND ASSOCIATED FEES.
FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED STATES, WE INVITE YOU TO CONSULT THE CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WEBSITE [HERE](INSERT LINK).
FOR QUERIES REGARDING UK IMPORTS PLEASE VISIT THE UK GOVERNMENT WEBSITE [HERE](INSERT LINK).
FOR INFORMATION ON IMPORTS WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION, YOU CAN REFER TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION WEBSITE [HERE](INSERT LINK).
FOR HONG KONG IMPORT QUESTIONS, VISIT THE HONG KONG CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE [HERE](INSERT LINK).
FOR OTHER COUNTRIES, WE RECOMMEND YOU CONSULT THE LOCAL CUSTOMS WEBSITE FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION.
WE ADVISE YOU TO CAREFULLY REVIEW YOUR COUNTRY'S CUSTOMS REGULATIONS OR TO TALK TO A LOCAL SHIPPING SERVICE PROVIDER AS WE (THE OBLIST) ARE NOT ABLE TO ASSESS CUSTOMS FEES, WHICH ARE APPLIED UPON ENTRY OF GOODS.
FINALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFY IN OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT WE DO NOT COVER CUSTOMS FEES:
DEPENDING ON YOUR SHIPPING ADDRESS, DIFFERENT TAX RULES AND ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY APPLY. IF YOU ORDER ITEMS FROM A PARTNER LOCATED OUTSIDE YOUR TERRITORY, IMPORT DUTIES MAY BE CHARGED UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR PRODUCTS. WE WILL INFORM YOU AT THE TIME OF CHECKOUT IF THESE DUTIES ARE INCLUDED OR IF YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THEM UPON RECEIPT. OTHERWISE, NEITHER WE NOR THE PARTNER CAN INFLUENCE THESE CHARGES OR PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE OF THEIR AMOUNT. YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING ANY IMPORT DUTIES AND TAXES NOT INCLUDED. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CUSTOMS OFFICE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COST ESTIMATE BEFORE COMPLETING YOUR ORDER. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE "DUTIES AND TAXES" SECTION OF OUR ORDERS AND SHIPMENTS PAGE.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT PAYING CUSTOMS DUTIES?
IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR GENERAL CONDITIONS:
IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO PAY IMPORT DUTIES AND TAXES WHEN YOUR PACKAGE ARRIVES, GALERIE PARADIS CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. IN THIS CASE, THE PACKAGE WILL BE EITHER:
- HELD UNTIL YOU PROCEED TO PAYMENT FOR DELIVERY, OR
- RETURNED TO SENDER.
IN THE EVENT THAT THE PACKAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN RETURNED TO THE SENDER DUE TO NON-PAYMENT OF DUTIES AND TAXES, YOU WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING CHOICES:
- YOU CAN CHOOSE TO HAVE THE PACKAGE RESHIPPED BY PAYING THE SHIPPING COSTS AGAIN (OR THE INITIAL SHIPPING COST IF YOU HAD BENEFITED FROM FREE SHIPPING), OR
- WE WILL PROCEED TO REFUND THE AMOUNT OF THE PRODUCT, LESS THE SHIPPING COSTS ACTUALLY INCURRED.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM YOU WITHIN 15 DAYS OF THE PACKAGE BEING RETURNED TO THE SENDER, THE PRODUCT WILL NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND, INCLUDING SHIPPING COSTS.