Attention US Shoppers: New Tariffs Explained

Update: Shoe Stores Shipping with All Taxes Included

October update: here are some international shoe stores shipping to the USA with all taxes and duties included at checkout. So you can shop with certainty and no nasty surprise charges on delivery:

• $$ Cinderella Shoes in Ireland - 40+ European brands - size 10-15 us (42-47 eu) Ireland (can send returns to US address)
• $$$ Crispins Shoes London, UK - 30+ European brands - size 10-14.5 us
• $ ASOS - UK/global fast fashion shoes - up to size 14-15 us (free returns)
  
• $$ Fitflop - UK fashionable comfort footwear brand with size 11s (free returns)
• $$$ Solovair - unisex British made shoes with a Doc Martens vibe - up to size 16 us women's

What's Happening on August 29th?

The $800 De Minimis exemption is ending for all countries.

De what now? Up to now, US shoppers could buy stuff worth up to $800 from most countries with no customs or import taxes. You just paid a shipping cost up front at checkout & then got your order in a timely manner. Easy peasy!

Unfortunately, the good times are over on August 29th. All orders from the UK, Europe etc now have to go through customs. This means shipping delays & possible extra charges.

Important: this change applies to all orders that arrive in the USA from August 29th onwards. So even if you order before then you could still be affected because it's the date your order reaches the US that matters.

How Will This Work Exactly?

Good question! And there's no clear answer right now. There's a surprising lack of news coverage & info online - many people don't have a clue this is happening.

Even stores don't seem to be on top of this. I contacted a few shoe stores around the world about it, but I've yet to hear from anyone with a plan - with just days to go.

In fact the whole thing is such a mess that many international post services are suspending all US shipments for the moment.

There's always the hope that Trump will change his mind again. Otherwise:

1. Shipping is likely to be significantly slower, because all packages will need to go through custom checks now.
2. Extra charges may depend on the shipping method - see below.

I recommend holding off on international purchases until it's clear how it works in reality, and what extra charges are involved.

Don't rush in and be the guinea pig who gets stuck with an insane customs fee!

How Much Extra will I Pay?

That's the great unknown with just days to go! Each country/region has its own tariff rate set by the US - see the full list here.

As of August 25th, common rates for shoe shopping are: UK (10%), EU (15%), Australia (10%), Canada (35%) & China (30%).

Important: it's where items are made that determines the tariff rate, not the country you bought them from. For example if you buy shoes from the UK, but they're made in China, the tariff is 30% rather than 10%.

The total charge may depend on the shipping method too:

• The big courier companies (UPS, DHL etc) have systems in place, so they'll calculate any taxes and duties due & probably add their own handling/admin fee on top.
• The regular postal system USPS does not have these fancy systems in place yet, so I've seen suggestions that using standard post could be a loophole to avoid extra charges for now. However, I've also read that there could be a flat $80 fee charged on all USPS orders instead - ouch!

What if I Refuse to Pay?

With so much uncertainty, it could be tempting to go ahead and buy. Worst case, if you get hit with a crazy charge, you could just refuse delivery & get your money back, right?

Wrong! While you can definitely refuse delivery, the seller will be charged when this happens, sometimes a LOT! The seller usually deducts these charges from your refund.

So between international shipping & customs/returns charges, you could end up substantially out of pocket with no shoes to show for it!

Watch Out for Returns

If you pay customs charges on delivery, it can be major hassle getting this refunded if you return your order.

You will need to deal with the shipping company about this, not the store you bought from. It's time & trouble you don't need!

Posting back shoes to an international store ain't cheap anyway, so when you factor in an extra 10-20% that could be hard to recoup, ordering is a risky business unless you're sure of your size.

Look for All Inclusive Shipping

• Some stores do ship internationally on a DDP basis, which stands for Delivered Duty Paid. This means the seller handles everything at their end. The price you pay at checkout is the total price with all taxes and duties included.
  This is the dream scenario for customers & means you can still shop with certainty despite this change, although prices will likely go up.
• But most stores ship on a DDU basis, meaning Delivered Duty Unpaid. That means the seller doesn't pay any import taxes - but you do! You could be in for a nasty surprise - extra charges from the shipping company before they will deliver.

DDU is the much easier option for stores. Regulations are HARD on top of a gazillion things small businesses have to worry about. So when they have a choice, I totally get why they opt for DDU and say "not my problem!".

But it makes buying online risky for you the customer. Right now the total cost for US customers buying from international websites is a mystery, unless the store delivers DDP with all charges included at checkout.

TIP: Assume stores ship DDU with extra charges possible on delivery unless there's clear info on their site stating they deliver DDP. Just 1 letter makes ALL the difference! If in any doubt, contact the store to check before you order.

Share your Shoe Shopping Stories

Thought only being able to shoe shop online was bad? Now tariffs are here to make your head melt! Shoe shopping shouldn't be this hard.

I'm in Ireland, so I've been through similar stuff with Brexit. It still SUCKS, but the confusion clears in time at least.

I'll keep this post updated as I learn more, and if you're in the US it would be amazing if you could share your own experience & any tips in the comments below. Thanks!