Why new customs duty a ‘wake-up call’ for Irish online shoppers

New customs charges which came into effect on July 1 are a ‘wake-up call’ for online consumers.

The new duty will mean a €3 fee per unique item on purchases valued below €150 entering Ireland from outside the European Union.

Louise McKeown Doogan, Chief Growth Officer for .IE, warned that any new charge, deadline or confusion is an opportunity for scammers.

“This change is a bit of a wake-up call for online shoppers,” she said.

“We’ve all grown used to clicking quickly, especially when something looks cheap.

“But now, consumers need to pause and ask: who am I buying from, where is it shipping from, and what will the final cost be when it lands at my door?

New customs duty to watch out for in Ireland

“A .IE website is a strong signal that there is a real connection to Ireland, because .IE is a managed registry, and applicants have to show that connection.

“But it does not automatically mean the goods are sitting in a warehouse in Ireland. A .IE website is a trust signal, not a customs guarantee.

“Irish consumers are going to become more conscious of where they are buying from, which is a real opportunity for Irish businesses if they opt for transparency.

“Irish businesses need to be diligent about updating pricing on their websites for products that might ship from their warehouses abroad.

“It’s important to update the price on the website quickly, so that valued customers don’t have a bad experience when buying from them online.”

Ms McKeown Doogan advised consumers to check the domain as the first port of call and to be mindful when navigating a new site, especially if it looks too good to be true.

“My advice is very simple – don’t shop on autopilot,” she said.

“If the goods are coming from outside the EU, the €3 charge can apply per item, and a cheap basket can become less cheap very quickly.

“Check where the goods are shipping from rather than where the website appears to be based.

“Read the returns policy – sending something back outside the EU can be expensive and a clear indicator that products are shipped from outside the EU.”

The Chief Growth Officer said texts or emails asking you to pay customs charges should never be clicked on, instead consumers should navigate to the official courier website or app on their own.

“The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) says An Post will never send a clickable payment link by text for customs charges, and Revenue will never contact consumers looking for customs payments.

“Ultimately, you have to trust your gut – if the price is unbelievable, the wording is poor, business details are missing, or the site is pressuring you to buy immediately, then exercise caution.

“Two heads are always better than one – show a family member, friend or colleague and ask what they think, as they may spot a red flag you missed.”

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