500 euros and 31 kg
Such limit, from 1 January 2019 installed on the importation of goods from abroad. Anything more than (by weight or price) is subject to 30% duty. And media is actively discussing the reduction of this threshold to 200 euros next year. Until that happens, it is wise to examine the range of products for home in online stores.
Why buy abroad
Foreign travelers usually go, if in Russia such goods will be too expensive (and there — even with shipping it turns out cheaper). Or if you need a not too “exposed” in the other interiors of the subject like on the screenshot above. Or when we can not buy items that’s what designer / brand (for example, you find the novelty).
Redesign London Limited
But even if you are not going to buy anything abroad, use of foreign online stores are very useful. For example, I they are used to test the adequacy of the Russian prices. Sometimes Chinese replicas we sell at a price much higher than the original (sorry, it’s not uncommon).
A simple example: the Chinese version of the chandelier BAU for 26 thousand rubles, or the original for 170 euros (about 13,000 rubles without delivery costs).
Tip: Spend half an hour — way goods at the foreign site. Let’s see how much it costs without shipping. The price must not be less, but at times more should not be. Otherwise it is better to order abroad.
The screenshots for an example of price comparisons in Russian and foreign online stores. Price in Designboom (screenshot above) was adequate — more foreign value without delivery, but less of delivery from abroad. It makes sense to buy in Russia
Buy something that is definitely not in our country. If you want a specific thing, and the abstract “original lamp”, start your search with Internet stores, domestic retailers and networks. This may be the website Zara Home, HM Home, IKEA, La Redoute (by the way, totally underrated, and therefore “not jammed” in other projects).
Nina Frolova
Tip: Look in the online shop of the club of Russian industrial designers (expensive, but more things). The photo — workshop Archpole, one of the members of the club of prodesigner.
What to buy abroad
1. Paintings and posters. The best place for this is Etsy, the Western analogue of our “Fair of masters”. The only difference is that exhibited fashionable mistresses. And posters for $ 20 there does not look like mass-market.
2. Lamps. Do not worry, they will pack so that the glass lampshade can football play — drive without problems. But the plug of the lamp, most likely, have to change (we in the USA have different standards). Where to order products from Europe to Russia? I go to mohd.it Ciatdesign, Conranshop.co.uk Normann-copenhagen.com (in the screenshot above) lampemesteren.com.
3. Carpets. In the new limit you don’t enter with the purchase of carpet from Patricia Urquiola or another famous designer. But budget and decent options abroad can be ordered. Advise to study assortment of Urban Outfitters (in the screenshot above), a British Westelm, ScandinavianDesignCenter.
4. The goods for the children. My favorite online shopping Bed Bath and Beyond, Questodesign, Archiproducts (in the screenshot), pottery barn kids, FinnishDesignshop.
5. Clothing and home goods. Small furniture (chairs, coffee tables) has almost all of the above sites. Separately list the online giants like yoox.com, anthropologie.com, tictail.com — these sites sell the goods for the house along with fashionable clothes.
By the way: In Russia it is now also a fairly common practice — home line along with clothes are presented in Russian versions of the shops are Zara, Asos, LaRedoute.
Screenshot: special offer for Valentine’s Day from Scandinavian Design Center
How not to run a Scam
Unfortunately, scammers are working not only in Russia, and to distinguish respectable store from one-day firms is not so simple. That’s why the “newbies” in online trade, we can first advise to buy something at the world-famous brands and trusted sites.
- At least on the website should not be discounts of 50-80% for all goods.
- The social network page should be live (reviews, recent publications) — not too lazy to go and check.
- Put any product to the cart and reach the payment stage, you must offer Paypal or a secure payment terminal card. Some online stores do not accept Russian cards.
Tip: for security purposes, make online shopping an individual map. Ideally it should be a card with good cashback, a system of accumulation of points, bonuses, etc. it is Unwise to use your payroll card.
Screenshot: example of discount for the subscription from Mohd.it
Screenshot: YOOX shopping cart with secure payment system
How to save money when shopping online
Given the current exchange rate, savings in foreign Internet-shop — no easy task. Suggest to subscribe to e-mail newsletters and do read them (foreigners actively conduct sales and promotions, sometimes to the subscribers announced the start of sales in advance).
The largest saving gives you the choice of the correct method of delivery of the goods from abroad. I do recommend to start learning any foreign website with the section “shipping” (though, because technically not all the goods in principle are delivered to Russia).
And again, online a lot of intermediaries — private entities that undertake to arrange delivery of a particular country. Usually it’s our fellow countrymen who settled abroad. They pay for goods with your card (some stores don’t accept Russian credit cards) and earn the price of a kilogram delivery when the difference in conventional and wholesale tariffs. To find such mediators is possible only through “word of mouth”.
How to deliver
If you use services like EMS, UPS and DHL shipping costs from the USA can cost around the purchase price. Rescue services forwarders (mail forwarders), which are intermediaries between you and the online store. Especially actively these services work with online stores. The algorithm of their work is roughly as follows: the intermediary received your packages, if necessary, concatenates them into a single and allocates you a place in the warehouse and then sends to Russia. Savings compared to the normal delivery can be up to 70%. Here is an article where the author explains the scheme of work and economy on the example of buying shoes.
Ontario Home Delivery
Sometimes shops offer free shipping, but in this case, you must be aware as well, when your parcel has a tracking number that you can track its movement. If that’s not available (with free delivery it happens sometimes), then wait for the parcel you can be very long, and not understanding at what stage it stuck.
Tip: don’t forget your English — ask questions before buying. Will there be tracking number, how long is the delivery if the parcel insured. To answer the questions — work an online store and a transport company. Online buying is exactly the case when everything is better to negotiate on the shore.
Photographer Mark Peel
How to make sure that the goods passed through customs
At first I wanted to write that Russian customs is increasingly turning into Russian roulette. But in fact it is certainly not the case.
If you do not carry prohibited items, your purchase does not exceed the limit on ordering from abroad 500 euros and 31 kg per month, and you have correctly placed the Declaration (or have it made transport company), problems with customs should arise.
Customs usually requires information in the following documents (not originals or copies of documents, namely data): passport data, INN, address of delivery. You must fill out a Declaration form for each order in which you want to specify the goods, their quantity, price and weight (per item and total).
You may need proof of purchase and receipt of payment (it sends you to the store, and often shops or transport companies themselves send the necessary documents to customs). At first glance it seems very complicated and tedious, but in fact everything is made online in a few minutes.
On the screenshot: special offer PayPal for reimbursement of shipping costs of goods from foreign online stores
What to do if the goods do not come
Policy and return policy are different for different companies but in General terms, the algorithm return as follows.
- You will need to complete the invoice for a refund, indicate the reason for return and date of delivery and the amount of the order from abroad to be compensated.
- You will need to package the item (do not discard the packaging) and contact the shipping company that it was taken (or to transfer the goods to the transport company). I do not advise to send cash on delivery.
- Wait for the goods will go to the store and get a refund on the card you paid with.
- Typically, you will transfer the amount minus shipping cost.
Nina Frolova
Fact: unfortunately, if you bought through a middleman, to send the purchase back to the official transport company will be difficult. It is because in the Internet there are a lot of groups “outhouse”. They are not only for clothing but also for new coming designer furnishings.
ABOUT IT…
Portrait: the Furniture is in good hands with the service Nice Catch
Lisman Studio Interior Design
Questions for self-examination before you buy
They should to ask yourself before any purchase, but before online purchase abroad even more so.
- Can I buy a similar product in Russia for the same / less money?
- If I fit in the required Russian customs limit of 500 euros and 31 kg (limit valid from 1 January 2019)?
- Cause if I trust this online store?
Loffilab
- Enough I carefully read (a) and understood(a) the technical characteristics of goods, rules of delivery and return?
- Whether considered(a) the total amount of purchase including shipping and the current exchange rate (if the price is in the currency)?
- Will this product relevant in five years? Ready(a) whether I and my family use this product for many years?
And the last tip: take a picture of your room and make a collage in very simple graphic editor, where will be the item you want to purchase. If there is no doubt — buy!
IT’S YOUR TURN…
What you order from foreign online stores? What ways profitable to buy the interior you know? Share your favorite places to shop abroad online
