The most common possible problems with delivering packages from our eshop www.drnona.shop to other countries, explanations, causes, and facts. FAQ
Posted by Michael Moder on
First, let me mention some facts about our delivery services worldwide:
Shipments from our eshop are delivered to recipients in almost 100% of cases.
In 20% of cases, shipments may be delayed to some extent, which is not our fault, and we will explain this issue further in another section. Generally, the cause of problems and delay is the carrier or customs procedure.
Sometimes, shipments may be returned to us (this happens very rarely, on average once every two years), and the customer is always at fault.
Shipments may occasionally be lost (this happens very rarely, on average once every five years). Damage to the box or contents of the package - damage to the box or contents of the package usually occurs as a result of mishandling by the carrier during transportation. At our company, we take great care in packaging and protecting each package to prevent such damage. This issue is rather exceptional, but it happens.
To improve our services, we have established and operate warehouses in several EU countries (including our main warehouse in Ireland) to avoid the aforementioned problems.
We usually process and send packages on the next business day after the customer places the order, sometimes even on the same day, and yet delivery time may still be prolonged for various reasons, as explained below.
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Which countries sometimes experience problems with package delivery?
Countries that are not part of the EU may experience delays in delivery due to, for example, customs and VAT payment delays, or other reasons, which will be explained further in the text.
In most countries of the European Union, customs duties are not applicable to packages shipped from other EU countries, as a customs union is in place between EU member states, allowing free movement of goods. However, in some cases, tax fees (such as VAT) and fees for services related to customs clearance, transportation, and delivery may be applied to packages from the EU.
For some European countries that are not members of the EU, such as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, special rules apply to packages from the EU. These countries are usually not part of the EU's customs union, so customs duties and VAT may be imposed on packages shipped from the EU according to local regulations.
Therefore, it is important to check the relevant local regulations and procedures if you want to send packages to countries that are not EU members to minimize the risks of delays and high fees.
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In which EU or associated countries are customs duties and taxes applicable to packages shipped from EU countries?
Can customs duties and taxes be charged on packages sent from EU countries to Iceland?
Yes, customs duties and VAT (value-added tax) are charged on packages sent from the EU to Iceland. Iceland is not a member of the European Union and has its own customs regime. If the value of the goods in the package exceeds the set limit value (in 2021 it is 10,000 ISK), customs duties and VAT must be paid in Iceland.
For goods valued above 10,000 ISK, a 24% VAT and additional customs duties are charged, depending on the type of goods. For goods valued below 10,000 ISK, customs duties and VAT are generally not required, but exceptions may occur depending on the type of goods and their origin.
It should be noted that customs clearance may take varying amounts of time and may lead to delays in package delivery. Therefore, it is advisable to inquire about customs fees and possible delivery delays before placing an order, in order to be fully aware of the risks involved.
Are customs duties and taxes charged on packages sent from EU countries to Liechtenstein?
Yes, customs duties and VAT (value-added tax) are charged on packages sent from the EU to Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein is not a member of the European Union, but is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which means it participates in the EU's single market and has access to some of its programs and policies.
For goods valued above the set limit for sales (in 2021 it is 22 EUR), customs duties and VAT must be paid in Liechtenstein. For goods valued below the limit, customs duties and VAT are generally not required, but exceptions may occur depending on the type of goods and their origin.
It should be noted that customs clearance may take varying amounts of time and may lead to delays in package delivery. Therefore, it is advisable to inquire about customs fees and possible delivery delays before placing an order, in order to be fully aware of the risks involved.
Norway - Are customs and taxes applied to packages sent from EU countries to Norway?
Norway is not a member of the European Union, but it collaborates with it through the European Economic Area (EEA) and a range of other agreements and programs. The EEA allows Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland to participate in the EU's internal market, which means that they have access to the EU's single market and are obliged to adopt most of the European laws and regulations that apply to this area.
Yes, customs and taxes are applied to packages sent from the EU to Norway because Norway is not a member of the European Union and has its own customs regime. If the value of the goods in the package exceeds the set limit value (in 2021 it is 350 NOK), customs duty and VAT must be paid in Norway.
For goods with a value above 350 NOK, a 25% VAT and additional customs duty, which depends on the type of goods, are applied. As for goods with a value below 350 NOK, no customs duty and VAT are generally required, but exceptions may occur depending on the type of goods and their origin.
It should be noted that customs procedures can take varying lengths of time, and there may be delays in the delivery of the package. Therefore, it is advisable to inquire about customs fees and possible delivery delays before ordering goods to be fully aware of the risks.
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Switzerland - Are customs and taxes applied to packages sent from EU countries to Switzerland?
Yes, customs duty and VAT are applied to packages sent from EU countries to Switzerland if their value exceeds the set limit for exemption from customs duty and VAT.
In 2021, the limit for exemption from customs duty and VAT in Switzerland is set at 65 CHF (Swiss francs). If the value of the goods in the package is less than 65 CHF, no customs duties are generally collected. However, if the value of the goods is higher than 65 CHF, customs duties, including VAT, will be paid, and the VAT rate varies depending on the type of goods.
It should be noted that customs procedures can take varying lengths of time, and there may be delays in the delivery of the package. Therefore, if you order goods from an EU country and have them delivered to Switzerland, it is important to keep in mind the possible customs fees and delivery delays that may occur.
Do customs and taxes apply to packages sent from EU countries to the UK?
As of January 1, 2021, when the United Kingdom officially left the European Union, new rules for imports apply to packages sent from EU countries to the United Kingdom.
If the value of the goods in the package is less than £135 (approximately €155), no customs duty and VAT will be charged. If the value of the goods is higher than £135, customs duty and VAT will be charged, and the amount will depend on the type and value of the goods. In addition, since January 1, 2021, customs declarations are required for all goods imported into the UK from the EU.
It should be noted that customs procedures can take varying lengths of time, and there may be delays in the delivery of the package. Therefore, if you order goods from an EU country and have them delivered to the UK, it is important to keep in mind the possible customs fees and delivery delays that may occur.
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Why do problems with package delivery occur despite our best efforts?
The delivery of packages from our e-shop may vary depending on various factors. Below are some of these factors that may affect delivery times and cause non-delivery or loss of packages:
Delivery address:
If the delivery address is not written correctly, it can cause delays or non-delivery of the package or its storage, for example, at a local post office or depot. It is, therefore, important to check the address and write it correctly. This responsibility lies primarily with the customer, who should provide accurate and correct information. If the package is not labeled correctly or the address is incomplete or invalid, it may cause a delay in delivery. It is essential for the sender to provide the correct and complete recipient address.
Carrier:
Different carriers may have different delivery times and methods. Some carriers may be more reliable than others. We cannot influence the quality of carriers and the behavior of their drivers, especially if there is no choice in some countries or places.
Carriers may not keep up:
Last but not least, the increased number of online orders may cause delays in package delivery. With the growing volume of orders, the volume of goods to be delivered increases, and there may be issues with the availability of transportation services.
Strikes, unrest, etc.:
Strikes or unrest in some countries are another factor that may affect package delivery from the e-shop. For example, if workers from transportation companies are involved in a strike, delivery of packages may be slowed down or completely suspended. Sometimes unforeseen events, such as natural disasters or crises, may cause delays in package delivery.
Waiting for the airplane:
Another factor that may cause delays in delivery is waiting for the airplane. Airlines may have limited operations, which can cause delays in package delivery. In addition, flight delays may be caused by various factors, such as weather, technical problems, or other circumstances.
Delivery time:
Delivery time can be influenced by various factors, such as distance, weather, national holidays, employee strikes, political shocks, wars, or pandemics, etc.
Size and weight of the package:
Larger and heavier packages may have a longer delivery time.
Customs fees:
If the package is sent from an EU country to another country (further described below), customs fees may apply to it.
Technical or transportation issues:
Technical problems on the car rier's side can cause delivery delays or loss of the package. There may be delays in delivering packages if there are technical problems such as computer system malfunctions or problems with package scanning devices. Packages are often transported by air, road, or sea. If there are transportation issues such as flight delays, road closures, or problems with shipping, there may be delays in delivering packages.
Package non-delivery:
If the customer is not at home (or at the delivery address they provided in the order and no one accepts the package) when the package is delivered, or intentionally or accidentally does not pick up the package, the package may be returned to the sender or left at a local post office - this is the customer's responsibility to monitor. (The customer bears full responsibility for returned and unclaimed packages and our e-shop does not provide any compensation or refund for returned packages, this is an integral part of our Terms and Conditions, fortunately, there is good news for customers that such a situation is truly exceptional)
Package theft:
Unfortunately, sometimes a package can be stolen during delivery. In such a case, it is essential to initiate an investigation with the carrier.
Incorrect package scanning:
This issue is rather exceptional, but it happens. For example, incorrect package scanning can occur at any point in the package's journey from the e-shop to the customer. If the package is scanned incorrectly, it may be delivered with a delay and it may be not easy to track its movement.
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Although the situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic is gradually calming down and many countries are no longer in lockdown, delivery of packages from our online stores is still sometimes delayed. Delivery delays can be caused by various factors, such as incorrect package scanning, waiting for an airplane, strikes in some countries, delays in customs procedures, and other factors.
As a business company and we sometimes have to wait for package delivery to our company for weeks and deal with problems such as delays, poor carrier performance, etc. We cannot avoid problems like our valued customers.
Unfortunately, we live in such a world, and this world is not a fairy tale. The quality of work and services, especially after the recent pandemic, has significantly decreased, and most companies have trouble finding reliable and good employees. You can encounter this phenomenon of quality reduction and associated inconsistency worldwide, not just in transport companies.
If any delay in delivering packages makes you nervous in today's reality, believe us, we don't like it either. Because no matter how hard we try, the quality and length of package delivery at the end of your entire purchase are something we, as sellers, cannot influence in any way.
Thank you for your understanding, attention, and the time you have dedicated to reading this article.
Michael Moder Dip. Holistic Therapist
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