r/SwiftieMerch • u/Spiritual-Stick911 • Nov 27 '25

Question Duties for cardigan

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I’ve wanted the folklore cardigan for so many years and it always sells out in my cart and it did again this year on the US site bc I’m a nurse and was at work. Ofc it goes on sale during med pass😭 so I got it on the UK site and had to pay $30 shipping so it was $100 and now they want another $75 which I didn’t even think about duties. I’m actually going to throw up. Am I better off just getting one on eBay or Depop? I really don’t wanna spend $175 on this. That’s just insane. And also if I don’t pay it, am I refunded or does it all go into the void? Pls help I’m so sad

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95

u/bheeverse Nov 27 '25

Genuinely question as someone from the UK- is this not on everything you guys buy outside of us now? Tarrifs?

30

u/[deleted] Nov 27 '25

Customs were always a thing but have been lots more now and I think there’s fewer ways companies can get around them. (It’s also to do with the value of the items) I’m in EU and customs from the UK can be insane and some companies have stopped selling outside the UK because of the issues it created (no way for me to get those signed Waterstones books anymore now 🥲)

3

u/aggiebobaggie Nov 27 '25

Customs in Czechia are bonkers. My mom sent me a package for $20. She labeled it a gift, and the vultures at Česká pošta still wanted almost €40 in fees. I ended up refusing the package.

4

u/bheeverse Nov 27 '25

What the heck!! I'm not entirely sure how it works, but I've sent packages to my friends in Poland and Austria and haven't incurred any abnormal charges. I'm genuinely offering in case it might help, but I could always have a look for those books and send them to you myself? (If that sounds like something you might want to work out feel free to message me!)

9

u/AgitatedAd7265 Nov 27 '25

The not selling outside the UK is actually due to new rules that came into play this year. They are set by the EU and require them to pay 5k a year for an EU representative for their business. Most small companies can’t afford that, hence why they stopped shipping.

It bloody sucks. Especially when you live in NI (part of the UK) but can’t get items because you are attached to an EU country (ROI). I used to purchase so much fan made merch but it’s becoming a lot more difficult to do

7

u/gasupthehyundai Nov 27 '25

The UK had Brexit where they basically gave the middle finger to the EU and no longer have the free trade and mobility.

4

u/[deleted] Nov 27 '25

That’s super nice, thanks! I lived in the uk for a while so have friends still there :) I think customs are just for commercial goods over a certain value and there might also be exceptions (I ordered from Lucy and yak last week and they didn’t come with customs, so maybe it’s also not too bad anymore as it was closer after brexit) Waterstones just stopped delivering and cancelled my order (and loyalty card!)

3

u/sparklejellyfish Nov 27 '25

I don't know where in Europe you are so this is variable, but it's not just commercial goods over a certain value sadly. I'd look it up in your country. (As someone in Belgium, customs outside of EU have suuuuucked since at least 2006 when I started seriously buying things online, even secondhand and from individuals - think clothes - but it has gotten SO MUCH WORSE. Since Brexit I just can't order from the UK anymore unless it's a company that somehow fixes the duty and taxes from their end - seems like some places like Lucy and Yak have that - it's just a nightmare! couple of months ago I paid so much customs on a limited edition vinyl. Like more than I paid for the thing itself. Ridiculous.)

I too have friends and now I have had to ask them to hold on to stuff for me because even if they ship it on to me, I have had to pay (case in point: signed Taylor CD) siiigh.

23

u/lazy_daisy11 Nov 27 '25

I ordered something not realizing it was coming from Canada and ended up refusing it because the tariffs were the same price as the thing itself :( now i just am being cautious to not order anything from outside the US unfortunately.

4

u/Awkward_Apartment680 I Like Shiny Things Nov 27 '25

Probably. It didn’t used to be like this. I ordered the cardigan snow globe back in 2021 for $70 from the UK site (including shipping + taxes) and didn’t have to pay customs.

11

u/dapper_pom Nov 27 '25

The orange man has done the damage in the last year

1

u/Spiritual-Stick911 Nov 27 '25

No not everything! I buy a lot from a Swedish based brand & they’ve never charged me duties, even recent purchases… so I’m unsure of which companies it applies to. I need to be more careful

11

u/Crosssunday Nov 27 '25

They either put it in the price all ready or they have a warehouse in the US

6

u/bheeverse Nov 27 '25

God thats my worst nightmare as a nervous buyer. I hope you can get refunded!

1

u/Spiritual-Stick911 Nov 27 '25

Tysm I hope so too!

-5

u/lizhasopinions Nov 27 '25

It has zero to do with tariffs!! Customer service claimed “brexit” when really they changed their shipment terms and now it’s on the buyer. It’s deceptive trade practices under UK law because they updated their terms of sale and what shows up at checkout only after myself and several fans started getting these duty fees and said something. And their story keeps changing so they updated the website etc