Customs & Import Fees When Buying Trading Cards Online

When goods are shipped from one country to another, the destination country's authorities may assess the shipment when it enters the country.

Depending on the applicable regulations, a shipment may be subject to charges such as:

• Customs duties
• Import taxes
• VAT or similar taxes
• Customs clearance fees
• Courier or carrier handling fees
• Other applicable import charges

Not every international shipment will necessarily incur all of these charges.

The rules depend on the destination country, the goods being imported and the circumstances of the shipment.

Customs procedures may apply when an order is shipped across an international border.

For example, if a buyer in one country purchases a trading card from a seller located in another country, the package may be treated as an import when it reaches the buyer's country.

This can apply to:

• Raw trading cards
• Professionally graded cards
• Booster boxes
• Booster packs
• Collection boxes
• Starter decks
• Trading card accessories
• Other collectibles

Whether charges actually become payable depends on the rules applicable in the destination country.

There is no universal customs rate for trading cards.

The amount, if any, can depend on factors such as:

• Destination country
• Country of origin
• Type of product
• Customs classification
• Declared value
• Shipment value
• Applicable tax rules
• Trade agreements
• Local exemptions or thresholds

Customs rules can also change over time.

For this reason, a marketplace or seller generally cannot guarantee exactly how much a buyer may be charged when an order reaches another country.

If customs costs are important to your purchasing decision, check the current requirements of the destination country's customs or tax authority before ordering.

Customs charges are determined under the laws and procedures applicable to the country into which the goods are imported.

They are not determined by the trading card marketplace or by the seller.

The courier or postal operator may assist with customs clearance and may collect applicable amounts from the recipient on behalf of the relevant authorities.

Depending on the shipment and carrier, additional clearance or handling charges may also apply.

Unless expressly stated otherwise during checkout or as part of the shipping terms, buyers purchasing goods internationally should be prepared for the possibility that customs duties, import taxes or other charges may become payable upon import.

These charges are generally separate from:

• The price of the trading card or product
• Marketplace fees
• Standard shipping charges

A buyer should therefore consider the potential total cost of an international purchase, rather than looking only at the listed item price.

Not necessarily.

Shipping charges generally relate to transporting the package from the seller to the buyer.

Customs duties and import taxes are separate charges that may be imposed when the shipment enters another country.

Depending on the shipping arrangement, duties and taxes may either be prepaid or collected from the recipient during the import process.

Unless checkout specifically states that applicable duties and taxes are included, buyers should not assume that paying for shipping means all possible import charges have also been paid.

International shipments normally require information describing what is inside the package.

Depending on the shipment, this can include information such as:

• Description of the goods
• Quantity
• Value
• Country of origin
• Product classification
• Sender and recipient information

Customs authorities use shipment information to determine how the goods should be treated when entering the country.

Accurate information is important because incorrect or incomplete declarations can lead to delays or other customs issues.

Buyers should not ask sellers to intentionally declare an incorrect value or provide false information about a shipment in order to reduce potential customs charges.

Likewise, sellers should not intentionally misrepresent:

• The value of the goods
• The contents of the package
• The nature of the transaction
• Other information required for customs purposes

Customs declarations should accurately reflect the shipment.

Incorrect declarations can create problems for both the buyer and seller and may violate applicable customs regulations.

Yes.

International shipments may occasionally be held while customs authorities process or inspect the package.

This can happen for several reasons, including:

• Routine customs processing
• Additional documentation requirements
• Verification of the declared value
• Product classification
• Import restrictions
• Payment of applicable charges
• Physical inspection

A customs delay does not necessarily mean there is a problem with the order.

However, customs processing is generally outside the direct control of the seller, marketplace and shipping carrier.

In some cases, the customs authority or shipping carrier may contact the recipient for additional information before releasing the shipment.

This could include a request for:

• Proof of purchase
• Invoice
• Payment confirmation
• Identification
• Description of the goods
• Additional customs documentation

Buyers should respond to legitimate customs or carrier requests promptly to avoid unnecessary delays.

The exact requirements vary by country.

If applicable customs duties, import taxes or clearance charges are not paid, the shipment may not be released.

Depending on the carrier and destination country's procedures, the package could eventually be:

• Returned to the sender
• Held by customs
• Subject to storage or additional charges
• Otherwise handled according to applicable customs and carrier procedures

Refusing to pay an import charge does not necessarily mean that the original transaction is automatically cancelled or that the seller or marketplace is responsible for the resulting costs.

When buying internationally, buyers should understand the potential import requirements before placing the order.

Cross-border returns can be more complicated than domestic returns.

Depending on the circumstances, additional considerations may include:

• Return shipping costs
• Customs documentation
• Previously paid import charges
• Export procedures
• Carrier fees
• Re-entry procedures for the seller

Customs authorities and carriers may have their own procedures for returned goods.

For purchases made through a marketplace, the applicable return, refund and buyer protection rules should also be considered.

Possibly, but this depends entirely on the applicable country's rules and the circumstances of the shipment.

For example, some jurisdictions may provide procedures for reclaiming certain import charges when goods are returned to the sender.

Others may apply different requirements.

The marketplace or seller generally cannot guarantee that customs duties, taxes or clearance fees paid to authorities or third parties will be refundable.

If a buyer needs to recover an import charge following a return, they may need to contact the relevant customs authority, tax authority or carrier directly.

Before buying a trading card from another country, consider the total landed cost rather than the card's selling price alone.

The total purchase may involve:

• Item price
• International shipping
• Customs duties, import taxes or clearance charges

This does not mean that buying internationally is necessarily expensive.

Cross-border marketplaces can provide access to cards that may be difficult or impossible to find locally.

The important thing is simply to understand that an international purchase can involve additional costs and procedures.

The median card on sale on Sleevd is AED 0.48. Postage from the United States, the clearance fee and the VAT together run to several times that, which is the whole reason a local market for singles is worth having.

Sellers shipping to another country should also understand that international orders require additional care.

Before shipping, sellers should:

• Describe the goods accurately
• Provide the correct shipment value
• Complete required customs information
• Use appropriate packaging
• Follow the carrier's international shipping requirements
• Keep relevant shipment documentation

Sellers should not promise buyers that a shipment will be free of customs charges unless this is specifically supported by the shipping arrangement being used.

The final customs treatment is determined by the relevant authorities.

Countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council have established customs cooperation and common customs frameworks, but this does not mean that every shipment between GCC countries should automatically be treated as free of customs procedures or other applicable charges.

The treatment of a particular shipment can depend on factors such as the origin of the goods, their customs status, the destination country and applicable regulations.

Buyers and sellers should therefore avoid assuming that a cross-border order will be exempt from customs simply because both parties are located within the GCC.

Sleevd is a marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of trading cards and collectibles.

Where an order is shipped across an international border, the shipment may be subject to customs duties, import taxes, clearance fees or other charges imposed by the destination country, customs authorities, carriers or other relevant parties.

These charges are outside Sleevd's control.

Unless expressly stated otherwise during checkout, buyers are responsible for any customs duties, import taxes or other charges that may become payable in connection with their order.

Sleevd does not guarantee or determine the amount of customs charges that may apply to an individual shipment.

Buyers purchasing from a seller located in another country should consider the possibility of additional import charges before placing an order.

Sellers are responsible for providing accurate shipment information and must not intentionally undervalue, misdescribe or otherwise falsify information relating to an international shipment.

Any returned, refused or undeliverable international shipment remains subject to Sleevd's applicable Shipping and Delivery, Cancellations and Refunds and Buyer Protection and Disputes.

Buying and selling trading cards internationally gives collectors access to a much larger market.

But once a package crosses an international border, customs rules may apply.

The exact treatment depends on the destination country, the goods being shipped and the applicable regulations.

Before placing an international order, buyers should therefore consider the possibility of customs duties, import taxes, clearance fees and additional processing time.

Sleevd helps facilitate the transaction between buyer and seller, but customs requirements and charges are ultimately determined by the relevant authorities and are outside Sleevd's control.