Shipping & Import Charges — Worldwide (clear guidance for US & EU)
Effective: August 2025
This page explains our shipping options, processing times, and the import/customs charges customers can expect when we ship parcels. Important: we ship primarily from the UK; occasionally from Poland / EU when it is possible and helpful for our EU-based customers. If you prefer an EU-origin shipment to reduce customs processing, please contact us before ordering at info@oishya.com and we will check stock and dispatch options.
This page is written for customers worldwide with a clear highlight for U.S. and European buyers.
1. Quick overview
Processing time (in stock): we process and dispatch orders within 1–2 business days of payment (during working hours).
Made-to-order / custom finishes: lead times are shown on the product page.
We currently do NOT offer DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). All shipments are sent DDU (Delivered Duties Unpaid) unless we change this policy and communicate it on this page. That means import duties, taxes and any local handling/brokerage are the responsibility of the recipient.
2. Shipping rates & free-shipping thresholds (flat fees)
To keep shipping predictable we charge flat fees and offer free shipping once an order reaches a threshold.
United Kingdom
Standard delivery: £8.90
Free shipping on orders over £90 (Standard delivery)
European Union & Switzerland
Standard delivery (DHL / FedEx / equivalent): £19.90
Free shipping on orders over £270 (or € equivalent)
Rest of the world (including USA)
Standard delivery (DHL / FedEx / equivalent): £29.90
Free shipping on orders over £290 (or $ equivalent)
Note: We ship primarily from the UK. We will occasionally ship from Poland / EU for EU-based customers where that helps avoid extra customs processing — contact us to check availability and origin before you place your order.
3. Important legal note — customs declaration
We are legally required to declare the true retail value and a correct description of every shipment on customs paperwork. We cannot mark items as gifts or under-declare value. Doing so risks seizure, fines and long delays.
4. Import costs — what they typically include
When a parcel enters the destination country the recipient may be charged one or more of the following:
Customs duty (tariff): a percentage or per-item amount applied according to the country’s tariff schedule and the product’s HS/HTS classification.
Local VAT / sales tax / GST: many countries charge VAT/GST on imports (calculated on the goods value + duty + shipping in many cases).
Customs processing / entry fees (MPF or equivalent): some countries charge a processing fee. The U.S. CBP has an ad-valorem Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF); postal/informal entries are handled differently than formal commercial entries.
Courier or postal handling/brokerage fees: private couriers (FedEx / UPS / DHL) typically add a brokerage/administration fee (often tens of USD). Postal delivery (USPS/Canada Post, etc.) generally collects a much smaller handling/collection fee.
All of the above are assessed by the destination country and/or the delivering carrier — they are not included in our standard shipping charges (unless we explicitly state otherwise on the checkout for a specific promotion).
5. What customers can expect by region (practical examples)
Below are clear, practical examples and ranges so customers can budget when buying from Oishya. All figures are estimates and for guidance only.
A. United States (highlighted — policy changes in 2025)
What to expect: U.S. import rules changed in 2025 (changes to de-minimis thresholds and related tariff measures). As a result, more low-value consumer parcels may be assessed duties or routed into formal processing in some cases. That increases the chance of higher processing fees for some shipments.
Typical charges for a kitchen knife (declared sale value £290 ≈ $390)
If delivered via USPS (postal clearance — most common/cheaper outcome):
Customs duty (typical for many kitchen knives): ~4–6% → ≈ $16–$24
CBP/MPF / postal processing (informal postal handling): small — commonly ~$1–$5 ad-valorem or ~$10–$12 total when CBP and USPS collection are combined
Estimated total on arrival: ≈ $30–$40 (most likely postal scenario)
If cleared by a private courier (FedEx / UPS / DHL):
Customs duty: ≈ $16–$24
MPF or formal entry fees (if formal entry required): MPF minimums or entry fees can apply (~$30–$35)
Courier brokerage/administration: commonly $25–$75 depending on service and country
Estimated total on arrival: ≈ $70–$130 (private-courier scenario or formal entry)
If CBP requires a formal commercial entry (less common for single consumer parcels but possible under new procedures), expect the higher range (MPF minimum + broker fee).
Bottom line for U.S. buyers: budget ≈ $30–$40 for a typical USPS-cleared parcel of this value, but allow up to $100+ if a private courier clears the parcel or a formal entry is required.
B. European Union (customers in EU)
Shipments sent from Poland to another EU country:
No customs duty applies when goods move within the EU. VAT treatment depends on where the seller charges VAT and the buyer’s status (B2B vs B2C). If we ship from Poland and charge Polish/EU VAT at checkout where applicable, recipients will not pay customs on arrival.
Shipments sent from the UK to the EU (or from non-EU locations):
Recipients may pay VAT at the destination country’s rate and possibly an import handling fee. Brexit means UK-origin shipments are treated as imports into the EU. If you need EU-origin paperwork to reduce processing, contact us to check stock options — we will try to ship from Poland/EU for EU-based customers where possible.
Example — £290 knife shipped from the UK to Germany (EU-delivery):
Declared value: £290 — customs duty may apply because this is a UK-origin shipment; VAT and import handling will apply at destination.
Estimated extra on arrival (UK→EU): commonly VAT at local rate + handling (variable by country) — allow ~20–25% in some cases depending on local VAT rate and duties.
Example — £290 knife shipped from Poland to Germany (EU-origin):
Declared value: £290 — no customs duty for intra-EU movement. VAT treatment will depend on whether VAT was charged at checkout and buyer status.
Estimated extra on arrival: commonly €0 customs duty; VAT already collected at checkout avoids extra collection at delivery.
C. United Kingdom (UK customers)
If we dispatch from the UK: no customs for UK-based deliveries.
If dispatched from Poland/EU to the UK: import rules apply and UK import VAT/duties may be charged on arrival.
D. Rest of the world (Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.)
Import rules vary widely by country. As a practical budgeting rule we recommend customers allow ~10–30% of the item value for combined duties + taxes + local handling for many countries, but actual numbers depend on HS classification and local VAT/duty rates.
Example ranges for a £290 item:
Canada: duties vary by product; reasonable expectation $30–$120 depending on duty rate and courier brokerage.
Australia: GST 10% applies plus any customs duty; typical landed extras $40–$120.
Other countries: check local customs/tax authority or contact us for guidance.
6. How the final import amount is calculated (general formula)
Customs authorities typically calculate the import tax/tariff on:
(Item value + shipping + insurance) → apply duty rate → then apply VAT/GST on (item value + duty + shipping).
Local processing or collection fees are then added by the postal/courier operator.
7. Valuation & documentation policy (we follow the law)
We place an accurate commercial invoice and customs declaration on every parcel showing the true retail price and the correct HS description. We do not mark items as gifts or reduce declared value.
8. Rejected shipments & returns for customs reasons
If you refuse or are unable to accept a parcel due to customs charges, and the parcel is returned to us, we will refund the product price less the outbound shipping, return shipping, and any non-recoverable fees incurred. Customs duties paid to the destination authority are not refundable by us.
9. Lead times & transit (clear expectations)
Processing: 1–2 business days (in-stock items).
Transit times (Germany/Europe): 1–4 business days (express) or 2–7 business days (standard couriers).
Transit times (USA / Rest of world): express 2–7 business days; economy/postal services 6–21 business days.
Customs processing can add delays — during periods of policy change or high volumes expect extra days.
10. Payment methods
We accept Visa & Mastercard (credit/debit) and PayPal.
PayPal transactions incur a processing fee of 3.5%.
11. How to get help & more accurate cost estimates
We currently ship DDU. If you want a firm landed-cost estimate (what customs will charge) we will provide guidance but cannot prepay or guarantee customs charges.
For a personalised estimate email info@oishya.com with:
Delivery country & ZIP/postal code,
Product(s) (links or SKU), and
Preferred shipping service (postal economy / priority / express courier).
We’ll respond with a best-estimate breakdown: duty, likely processing fees, and whether USPS/postal or private-courier clearance is likely.
12. Short FAQ for checkouts & product pages
Q — Will I definitely pay customs or VAT?
A — Maybe. It depends on destination rules, parcel value, and whether we applied VAT at checkout. Many EU-to-EU shipments have no customs duty. U.S. and other countries increasingly assess duties on lower-value parcels.
Q — Why can’t you declare a lower value?
A — We must declare the true retail value. Under-declaring is illegal and risks seizure and penalties.
Q — Do you charge extra for customs handling?
A — Not by default. We do not offer DDP and will not collect duties at checkout. The recipient pays duties and any local handling/collection fees on delivery.