Practical articles for Western Bid clients about international online sales, payment processing, shipping, fulfillment, rates, Shopify, Etsy, eBay, and working with marketplaces. Find useful guides, tips, and solutions to help grow your business abroad.
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Find out which duty-free threshold for importing goods applies in different countries when the buyer pays duties and taxes, how shipping affects the customs value, and why it's important to check the latest import rules before shipment.
Find out why you should send a letter to a German customer about customs, which documents are needed to receive a parcel, which VAT and duty thresholds apply in Germany, and how to avoid complaints, refunds, and unclaimed shipments.
Find out which goods require an export permit from Ukraine, when certificates, expert assessments or other documents are required, which categories are prohibited from being sent via Western Bid, and how to avoid blocking, fines and problems at customs.
Learn how to correctly specify the customs code for goods for international shipments: TN ZED, HS code, rules for the EU, IOSS, and Western Bid requirements. A practical guide for sellers to avoid delays at customs and mistakes in documentation.
Find out which new EU customs rules for parcels apply to sellers: VAT on any amount, IOSS up to €150, commodity codes, and requirements for eBay, Etsy, Shopify and Lavky when delivering to Europe.
Learn what an IOSS number is for shipping to the EU, where to find the tax code on Etsy or eBay, how to correctly enter it in Western Bid, and how to avoid double VAT charges at customs.
Gemological and cultural expertise for international shipments: who needs it, for which goods, what documents should be added to the parcel, and what restrictions apply to art, jewelry, stones, metals, and collectible items.
Customs charges for international shipping: how duties, VAT, and customs thresholds work, who pays import taxes, what disclaimer to include in the listing, and how to prepare shipments to the United Kingdom without mistakes.
Find out which names you cannot include in listings: brands, characters, band names, sanctioned countries, and other risky mentions. A practical guide for sellers on eBay, Etsy, and Lavky to avoid blocks, copyright infringement, and sanctions risks.
Learn how to correctly compose a concise product description for international shipping: what to include, how to describe the purpose and material of the product, which mistakes to avoid, and how to prevent your shipment from being delayed at customs.