Etsy is offering UK sellers a new delivery service for orders going to the US. It’s the first marketplace to offer Royal Mail’s postal delivery duties paid (PDDP) service directly on its platform – an effort to make sure US buyers are not surprised by duties upon arrival of their orders.
As Royal Mail’s parent International Distribution Services explained, almost all goods entering the US attract duties that must be paid to US Customs. “This is a change to the previous rules where all goods under a value of $800 could enter the US duty free,” it said, a reference to the end of de minimis in the US.
Etsy UK sellers using Royal Mail’s PDDP service must pay a 50p handling fee per parcel to cover the additional costs associated with providing clearance service into the US.
Etsy sellers can purchase postage directly through the Etsy platform, and duties on items are calculated and collected at the point of buying the postage.
Iain Johnson, Managing Director International at Royal Mail, said: “We’re delighted that Etsy is the first marketplace to offer our new PDDP services. We’ve worked with US authorities and our international partners to make sure Etsy’s business customers can continue posting to the US with ease.
“Etsy and Royal Mail both want to support small businesses and entrepreneurs, and this is a great way of opening up the biggest market in the world. Just in time for the festive season, this means British sellers can send their unique handmade and vintage gifts across the Atlantic with confidence.”
Etsy’s head of global shipping said the collaboration will help UK-based Etsy sellers “more smoothly and confidently reach U.S. buyers this holiday season and beyond.”
Etsy also offers PDDP services for larger customers, more information is found on the Royal Mail website.