Shopping Online in Ireland Despite Brexit UK online retailers have a strong presence in Ireland However, Brexit has changed the rules of the game. With additional tax and customs duties it is advisable to shop locally. It's not as straightforward as it appears. There are numerous costs to take into consideration, such as exchange rates and fees for international payments. Amazon The Irish online retail market has shown rapid growth in recent years as people are becoming more comfortable with purchasing products and services online. Fashion and electronics are the most sought-after categories of goods. The majority of online shoppers utilize credit or debit cards to pay, but some also make use of PayPal. The strong internet access of the country's households, as well as access and a high percentage of smartphone users has contributed to this growth. Recent figures indicate that Irish consumers spent over EUR4 billion on online purchases in 2021, increasing by more than 30% when compared with the previous year. This increase was driven by a strong demand for electronics sports equipment, as well as clothing. There are a few points you should know when shopping online between the UK and Ireland. If you buy from a merchant that is registered in the EU the EU consumer protection laws will automatically apply. The laws provide a two-year minimum guarantee against defective products and other issues. However, you should be aware that if you purchase from a non-EU registered retailer, you may be subject to additional charges and delays when returning your purchase. It's also important to know if the retailer has a physical presence within the EU. In this scenario, the retailer will likely charge you EU VAT when you check out. Etsy, eBay and other retailers are examples of this. It's also the case for retailers like Amazon which sell products that are fulfilled and sold within the EU. Finally, you should know that there are certain items that are zero-VAT in the EU. These include books, children's clothes and footwear (up to age 11), and some electronic devices, such as tablets and laptops. This information should be included on the item description page. Shopping online from the UK is beneficial to Ireland regardless of the impact Brexit has on Ireland. In fact the UK is expected to remain a major eCommerce trading partner for Ireland in the coming years. Next The online shopping industry in Ireland is popular and thriving despite Brexit. The online retail industry has been growing steadily over the past few years due to an increase in household internet access and smartphone usage. As a result, it is estimated that Irish customers spend over EUR4 billion each year on online purchases. This includes clothing, travel, food, electronics and event tickets. The market for online shopping in Ireland is expected to continue to grow as the population increases and Internet penetration grows. A lot of people are still confused about the new rules when purchasing products online in the UK. While the government has a clear guide for customers, it can be confusing and difficult for online retailers who are still figuring out how to best serve their customers. This is particularly true for those operating from the UK since they might not be aware of new Irish VAT and Customs charges. The cost of a product sold on the site of a retailer may vary dramatically between countries, based on the cost of shipping as well as business costs, VAT and more. These factors may explain why the same item is often priced differently on an Irish and UK website. But it's important to remember that EU consumer law protects you when you shop with retailers registered with the EU and you should check the terms and conditions before making purchases. Irish customers are mostly focused on the cost of shopping online. More than 60% of them prefer to have their goods delivered using the least expensive method even if it's slower. Only 17% of consumers are willing to pay more for expedited delivery. This is because they want to save money on shipping costs and tax. It is simple to ship goods from the UK to Ireland using the appropriate customs brokers and couriers. Online retailers can manage their UK-based logistics and VAT by registering with Revenue Ireland and establishing a virtual address in the country. This will allow them to avoid paying additional charges like VAT and customs duty. This will also help increase sales and ensure that they remain competitive on the Irish market. Asos Asos is a UK-based fashion giant that provides cute styles at affordable prices. The company sells over 85 brands and creates its own clothing line. It offers options for tall, plus-sized and petite women. It also offers a range of accessories and shoes. The website is easy-to-use and offers a wide range of styles for every occasion. The fashion giant is facing major issues. On January 1st the new law was enacted that affects online shopping packages shipped to Ireland from the UK. These packages are now subject to additional fees and taxes. The company is trying to make up for this by offering new international shipping deals. Additionally it is attempting to expand its warehouses within the EU. Certain of these changes, however, have been met with resistance from consumers. The new fees for international delivery are unwelcome. Luckily, there are ways to avoid these new costs and save money on ASOS. For instance, you can make use of a service such as ColisExpat to forward your ASOS orders to your home in Ireland. This will save you time and money repacking and re-shipping your packages. You can group purchases from different websites to reduce shipping costs. ASOS also plans to open physical stores in the US and Europe. These stores will be used to store and deliver products to customers. They will be situated in large cities and feature a large selection of clothing and accessories. The company's CEO Nick Beighton expects these changes to increase profits. Another way to save money at ASOS is by using a coupon code or waiting for the next sale. The site will send promotional codes to your email address or directly to the website. The site also comes with a feature called "Save for the future", which will let you know when a product is out of inventory. There are also a variety of flash sales that happen during bank holidays. ASOS is the ideal spot to purchase essential wardrobe staples like white tees and crop tops. The website offers a vast selection of these essentials, and they also offer multipacks to help you save money on your order. There are also discounted items from premium brands such as Adidas Calvin Klein and Levi's. Littlewoods The online shopping industry in Ireland has seen a rapid growth in the past few years. This is due to the high level of internet connectivity for households and a plethora of mobile devices. Irish consumers are more likely to buy online products and services that are not readily available locally. This includes hotel and travel accommodations and tickets to events. Online purchases of beauty and grooming products, as also homewares and electronic goods are also very popular. Many Irish consumers shop online with UK retailers because they have a large selection of products and offer a competitive price. However, a recent survey discovered that three out of 10 customers had issues with their delivery. Some complained that their deliveries were not on time and some said that the courier couldn't find their address. Some online shoppers are concerned that their purchases might not arrive in good shape. This is a valid worry, but many companies are taking steps to ensure their products are secure. Some online stores, for example offer free returns on products that are damaged or fail to meet expectations. Others require customers to provide proof of purchase when returning products, which can help to determine whether the products are damaged. Consumers must be aware of the conditions and terms of any website before making purchases. Many websites have an Irish domain (ending in.ie), but they may not actually be registered in the state or even have warehouses there. The CCPC suggests that customers read the terms and conditions of the business prior to purchasing from them to check whether they have registered. This will save them costs on customs duties and allow them to retain their EU consumer rights. Another advantage of shopping online is the ease with which you can compare prices and product features. This is particularly useful in the case of the exact type of item or product. If you're looking for a particular type of TV, it's worthwhile to look up the prices at a few online retailers. You'll save time and money by eliminating traffic jams, lengthy lines at the physical stores and gas. Additionally, you'll be able to reduce time using a delivery service such as Easyship that calculates shipping costs for you automatically and show the rates on your screen.