FAQ for International Customers
- How are international packages sent?
- How much will shipping cost?
- Why do I multiply by 1.3 for a shipping estimate?
- Why is shipping so expensive for such a small item?
- Do you offer 1st Class International Shipping as a USPS option?
- Is it cheaper to split my order into two shipments?
- Are taxes and duties included in shipping costs?
- What are VAT's?
- What are brokerage fees?
- Can my package be labeled as a gift?
- What happens after I place my order?
- My country is not on the drop down menu, can I still order?
- Is my Credit Card charged immediately?
- Why must I supply my CV code with every transaction?
- Can I pay with an International Money Order?
- Can I pay with PayPal?
- I have just placed my order, when can I expect delivery?
- Can I put an item on hold?
- International Contact Information
1) How are international packages sent?
We ship all international packages by two methods. 1) The United States Postal Service (USPS) Express Mail International and 2) United Parcel Service (UPS). We can only ship to the physical address of a home or business. We can NOT ship to Post Office boxes (P.O. Box)
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2) How much will shipping cost?
Shipping cost quotes and actual charges by backcountrygear.com do NOT include any Import Duties, Value Added Taxes (VAT) and Customs Clearance Fees.
USPS Rates
USPS shipping costs are determined by weight. Total the weight of all items you would like to order, add 1.0 lbs for a box and packaging and then multiply by 1.3 to get the estimated package weight. This will more likely reflect the actual weight of the package and will be a better estimate of shipping cost. The shipping costs are then calculated using a shipping calculator at the USPS website (http://ircalc.usps.gov/).
Step 1) Total the weight for all items in your order.
Step 2) (1.3) X (Total Weight of Items + 1.0 lb) = Package Weight
Step 3) Go to USPS shipping calculator
Step 4) Select Destination Country
Step 5) Select A Package
Step 6) Enter Package Weight (Round up)
Step 7) Find Express Mail International Online Price. This is your estimate.
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UPS Rates
UPS shipping charges are calculated differently, using both size and weight (called dimensional weight). It's very difficult to project shipping costs until the order is boxed up, weighed, and measured. UPS will always cost more than USPS. We will NOT provide quotes for UPS costs unless you place an order. Exact shipping quotes are sent out as soon as the order is ready. We do NOT ship your order or charge your credit card until you have approved the shipping costs.
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3) Why do I multiply by 1.3?
The weights listed for products are the trail weights issued by the manufacturer. These weights do not include packaging and accessories included with products. For example stuff sacks with sleeping bags, patch kits, etc. Multiplying by 1.3 gives a better estimate of the true cost. When your package is sent the actual shipping charges you are billed is based on the final package weight. If this cost is greater than your quote we will email you for your approval of the final charge. We do not make money on shipping. We charge our customers actual freight costs.
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4) Why is shipping so expensive for such a small item?
Because most orders placed with Backcountry Gear are for gear of a technical nature, we only offer the more reliable and faster USPS service (EMS). We do not offer slower services for liability reasons. Unfortunately, this can mean that a one pound shipment will cost more than the item itself.
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5) Do you offer 1st Class International Shipping as a USPS option?
We are not offering 1st Class Mail International as a USPS shipping option. Our focus as a company is heavily biased towards ultralight backpacking, mountaineering, and rock climbing gear. This usually means we're shipping higher priced and often delicate equipment. USPS EMS and UPS are both considerably faster services, and for the great majority of our international customers, those two services provide the reliability they require.
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6) Is it cheaper to split my order into two shipments?
It is almost never cheaper to split a large order into two separate shipments. Shipping companies usually reward you for shipping larger boxes by making the dollar increase per pound less dramatic as weight increases. The main exception to this rule is when customs in your destination country has a cap on the dollar amount you can import without having to pay import fees (i.e. No customs fees if order total is under $400, but a 20% VAT if it's more than $400). You will have to contact your customs office to determine if you country has a cap in place. You could save money if the extra shipping costs are less then the total you have to pay in VAT's.
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7) Are taxes and duties included in shipping costs?
All international orders are subject to applicable customs duties and associated assessments and fees. These fees may include Import Duties, Value Added Taxes (VAT) and Customs Clearance Fees. These costs are entirely the responsibility of the purchaser. The shipping charge by backcountrygear.com does NOT include any of these fees. You will normally be charged the Customs fees by the company that delivers the package at the time of delivery. If you refuse delivery you will be billed for ALL freight cost that we are charged to return the package.
Taxes and Duties are only included when shipping to Canada via UPS. Their Express service to Canada offers 2 day delivery. All other shipments do not include duties and taxes as part of the shipping costs; you are responsible for those fees upon delivery.
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8) What are VAT's?
VAT's are "Value Added Taxes" applied by your country based solely on the value of the goods. These fees are often only applied if your total is more than a certain amount (see answer 6 above).
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9) What are brokerage fees?
Brokerage fees are applied by a shipping service like UPS or USPS. They can apply brokerage fees when they've been required to fill out additional paperwork on your behalf in order to expedite the shipping process. Usually these fees cannot be contested, because their actions are necessary to meet their 2-3 day delivery time. Packages shipped via USPS are less likely to have these fees applied since USPS doesn't rush across the border; they pass through the normal customs process.
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10) Can my package be labeled as a gift?
Packages cannot be marked as Gifts for customs purposes. We are required by law to supply three invoices with the package for customs. These invoices must precisely match the customer copy inside the box, not only in case of inspection by customs, but because our shipping carriers will only reimburse us for the amount listed on the invoice in case of property loss or damage.
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11) What happens after I place my order?
After your order is placed, your paperwork is sent to the Warehouse to be picked. Once the order is boxed and ready to go, your paperwork comes to the International Department to be checked, and to have exact shipping costs calculated. After you've confirmed the shipping costs, we charge your card, and ship your order.
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12) My country is not on the drop down menu, can I still order?
We list a selection of common destination countries, but we ship to other countries on a case-by-case basis. If you are not on the drop down menu of countries, please inquire with the International Department about shipping options. international@backcountrygear.com
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13) Is my Credit Card charged immediately?
We do not make any charges to your Credit Card until you've confirmed international shipping costs, and your order is completely ready to go. If you specifically request it, we can charge your card immediately (useful when trying to lock in a certain exchange rate). Credits applied by the billing department may take up to 10 days to appear on your billing statement. You can however, call your credit card company to immediately confirm whether or not a credit has been applied. The credit issued to you card will be based on the purchase price of the original order in US dollars. For example if you return a pack (original cost $100 USD) that you purchased 1 month ago you will be credited $100 USD. We do NOT base the credit on the current exchange rate.
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14) Why must I supply my CV code with every transaction?
We use the CV code from your Credit Card for your security, to prevent fraudulent use from a third party. We do not store the CV code with our Credit Card information for this very reason. Although it can be a hassle, this is why we require the CV code for every transaction.
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15) Can I pay with an International Money Order?
We do accept international money orders with a few stipulations: The money order must be made out to U.S. Funds ($USD), and it must clear before we actually ship your order. This method of payment is not recommended for time-critical shipments, as it adds several steps to the billing process.
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16) Can I pay with PayPal?
We do not accept PayPal. We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover) and money orders. In the case of money orders, you order does not ship until your money order clears.
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17) I have just placed my order, when can I expect delivery?
Orders are downloaded every morning at 7:30 a.m., and again at 12:00 pm. The International department does not receive your paperwork until it has returned, ready-to-ship, from the Warehouse. At that point, International shipping manually confirms the contents of the box, and calculates exact shipping charges. Once you've responded to the International Shipping Costs Confirmation Email, it's a matter of charging your credit card, and printing a shipping label.
The Postal Service and UPS arrive just once a day to pick up packages, so if an order misses the truck, it will not go out until the following day. UPS guarantees 2-3 day shipping, provides detailed tracking, is fully insured, and provides excellent customer service. USPS estimates a 3-5 day delivery time, provides limited tracking, and is fully insured. USPS does not guarantee delivery within 3-5 days.
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18) Can I put an item on hold?
While it is possible to hold an item by phoning our Customer Service Team, its easiest and most secure to place your order online. You card is not charged until you've confirmed shipping costs, and the order is actually going out the door, so placing your order effectively secures your place in line (which is especially useful in the case of items with low inventory, or highly sought after items).
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19) International Contact Information
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