Payment Advice
Packing Your Dress for Shipping
Postage
Customs Duty

Payment Advice

I have listed several methods of payments below which can be used to pay for your dress. Both the buyer and the seller should agree on the method which suits them both.

Cheque Payment

Bank/Cashiers cheques are more secure as the funds are immediately taken out of the buyers account and held by the bank until the cheque is cashed. If sending your dress abroad make sure that the buyer gets an International Bank/Cashiers cheque in you currency, as you will not then be liable for exchange rate change and bank charges for cashing a foreign currency cheque. If you wish to accept a personal cheque from a buyer residing in your own country, make sure that the cheque has cleared before shipping your dress. Please be aware that if you accept a personal cheque from a foreign country that it can take weeks to clear, as once you deposit it in your bank, they have to send it to its country of origin to clear.

Direct Deposit

Direct Deposit is the method where the buyer goes to their bank and transfers the funds from their account directly into the sellers account. The seller will need to give the buyer their bank details to do this. If both the seller and the buyer reside in the same country the details that the buyer requires are:-

1. Name and Address of your bank
2. Name of Account Holder
3. Bank Sort Code
4. Your Account Number

If the buyer resides in a different country, as well as the information above you will also need to give them:-

1. Your Banks IBAN Number
2. Your Banks SWIFTBIC/BIC Number

These two numbers are printed on your bank statement. If you haven't got a bank statement contact your branch they will be able to give you the details. Don't worry about giving these details to the buyer they cannot withdraw from your account they can only make a deposit.

Paypal

Another option is by using Paypal, a safe method of receiving the funds over the internet. The buyer can pay you either by credit card or a direct debit from their bank account. They only need your email address. It's free to open a Paypal Account, however, please be aware that there are fees for accepting the payment. For more information on Paypals fees please visit their website at Paypal.com for U.S. Residents or Paypal.co.uk for U.K. Residents.

Western Union Wired Transfer

This is the quickest method of transfering the funds. The buyer goes to their local Western Union Office and makes the payment or makes the payment online. The payment is then wired by Western Union within minutes and the buyer is given a Money Transfer Control Number. The buyer then informs the seller of the Money Transfer Control Number and the seller can then go to their nearest Western Union Agent and withdraw the cash. The seller also requires the following to make the withdrawal:-

1. Name, Address and phone number of the sender
2. Details of the amount transfered
3. Evidence of Identity i.e. Passport, Driving Licence

For further information please visit the Western Union Website

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Packing Your Dress for Shipping

For packing your dress for shipping you will need the following:-

Strong Cardboard
A large Bin Liner/Garbage Bag
Parcel Tape
Scissors
Address Label

Fold your dress and place inside the bin liner/garbage bag. This will protect the dress if the outer cardboard packaging gets wet. Secure with parcel tape.
Place on the cardboard and fold the cardboard around the dress. Trim the cardboard as neatly around the dress as you can, this will save on postage costs. Secure all the edges with parcel tape.
Secure the address label to the outside of the package using parcel tape.

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Postage

Since the introduction of the volumetric weight method of pricing, postage costs for shipping dresses have risen drasticlly as the cost is now worked out on the size of the parcel rather than the actual weight.

For information on shipping costs using your counrty of residence postal service, please click on the applicable link below.

United Kingdom - Parcelforce

Ireland - An Post

United States - United States Postal Service

Canada - Canada Post

Australia - Australia Post

The following courier services may also be used for International Shipping:-

Fed Ex

DHL

Interparcel

Parcel 2 Go

Fast Lane International

If you are shipping abroad you will be required to fill in a customs form. Customs Forms can usually be downloaded from the website of the postal service you use.
Remember also that shipping services have a limit for insurance. I would recommend that you increase the insurance to cover up to the price of the dress.

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Customs Duty

Please be aware that if you are buying from another country that you may be liable for customs duty when your dress arrives.
It is the receiver of the goods not the sender who is liable to pay the customs duty.
Contact your local customs office and tell them the price you are paying for the goods. They will then be able to give you an idea of the duty that will be incurred.
If you do this before hand it won't be such a shock when the parcel arrives at your door.
Stating on the customs form that the parcel is a gift makes no difference.
Most countries allow only a small value as gifts free of duty. If the gift exceeds the value allowed free of charge then duty is payable on the difference between the allowed value and the value stated on the customs form.

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