Online shopping has made getting what you want much more convenient, and it has made items usually unavailable in certain areas suddenly accessible. After all, the world is now your shopping mall, thanks to the Internet. However, some important things should be considered if you’re buying stuff from shops outside of Europe.
What are their shipping methods?
Of course, the first thing you need to know before checking out is how they’re shipping the goods to you. This part can affect both the price and the amount of time you’ll be waiting.
Shops that are connected to European haulage are a great option because you can be assured that your parcels are protected and have dedicated shipments to your country. Also, this method usually means that you can receive your item right at your doorstep as opposed to having to pick it up at the post.
You’ll want to know whether they ship via air or sea because that affects the time when you can expect your order. Some sellers also opt to send only in batches and selected areas. That would add the need for another third-party shipping company to bring it to you.
If there are items you want from a seller that doesn’t ship to your area, you’d have to look into getting a separate shipping container that will then be sent to you.
Do they carry the same variations?
Different regions have different designs and inclusions, depending on the product. If you have a specific one in mind or you’re looking for a European copy that isn’t available anymore locally, make sure you’re getting what you want.
That covers lots of products, from box sets and makeup kits to video games and music albums. While this may concern packaging aesthetics, if that is important to you, then you should make sure to ask the seller or look through the pictures and description carefully.
For products like games and albums, this can affect more as it changes what content you may receive, depending on what was released per region.
Does it meet the customs protocol?
Customs are different per region, so you should ensure that you are ordering something that won’t get held up in customs. If your parcel is rejected, you may end up wasting your money on a product you can’t keep.
Certain items also impose an extra fee, forcing you to pick it up from your local customs office and pay charges. These duty taxes are computed by the combined prices of your shipping, actual product, and insurance cost.
Some sellers also include customs fees in their prices, so you don’t have to worry about it. But certain products will still be held up, so make sure you know which goods can pass without a problem and which will cause some delay.
Are they responsive?
Finally, you want to buy from a shop or seller who is responsive to inquiries. Doing this can assure you that it is safer to deal with them, especially when you may have concerns later on. It’s also important they understand how to deal with international orders and customers. You can figure this out, too, based on customer feedback, which should be available on their page or website.
With these in mind, you can happily shop without having to drop.
