EU Shipping Info

Important information about EU Customs Duties & EU Handling Fees (Last updated - 2/11/26)

We want to give you an update on changes in EU policy with regards to goods entering the EU from outside that union. Please read below for an understanding of the current situation.

What’s happening?
 
Since 1 July 2026, parcels sent from outside the EU to consumers in the EU no longer travel duty free under €150. A €3 customs duty now applies, and from 1 November 2026 an EU handling fee of €2 is added on top. This is a charge is a levy on the customer living in the EU buying online from outside the union. Both fees are per 'line item', not per package. This means per product type. For example, a CD + vinyl bundle attracts 2 x both fees since these items have different HS (Harmonized System) codes. That's €10 of fees for one CD+vinyl bundle.
 
Does this mean I will need to pay extra when I receive my order in the EU from the SDE shop?
 

You shouldn't have to pay either the customs duty or the EU handling fee. Goods to the EU will be sent from the SDE shop via a ‘duties paid’ shipping rate. That means we are paying the additional customs duty and the EU handling fee on your behalf. Unfortunately, this inevitably means the cost of shipping goods to the EU has increased, but we recommend bundling blu-rays together to reduce the impact of the shipping fees.  'Duties Paid' will still be a fully tracked service. 

What about VAT?

The new €2 handling fee is in addition to the €3 customs duty and VAT. It does not replace either. The SDE shop participates in the EU IOSS (IMPORT ONE-STOP SHOP) system. If the package we are sending you is worth less than €150 we pay the VAT via the IOSS scheme. If it is more than €150 you will be liable for VAT. It is for this reason we recommend you keep your orders below €150 and we have actually implemented some basket limits to assist with this. It's worth noting that that €2 handling fee is subject to VAT as well.  

Do I have to worry about my pre-orders?
 

In a word, no. Orders placed before 1 November 2026 that are due to ship after that date, will ship ‘duties paid’ even if that was not the service you paid for when you pre-ordered the item. In other words the SDE shop will honour the shipping paid at the time and cover any additional costs. 

Plans for the future

We are actively looking for solutions that will allow us to offer our friends and customers in the EU cheaper shipping for 2027.