Shopping Online in Ireland Despite Brexit Brexit has changed the game for UK online retailers in Ireland. It is better to shop locally due the extra customs and VAT fees. But, it might not be as simple as it appears. There are many charges to take into consideration, such as exchange rates and international payment fees. Amazon The Irish online retail industry has shown rapid growth in recent years as people have become more comfortable shopping for items and services online. Fashion and electronics are the most popular categories of products. Most online shoppers use credit or debit cards to pay, but some also make use of PayPal. The country's high internet access and high use of smartphones has helped to fuel this growth. The latest figures show that Irish consumers spent more than EUR4 billion on online purchases in 2021, which is up by more than 30% compared to the previous year. This increase was fueled by a strong demand for sports apparel, clothing equipment, and electronic. There are some things you need to be aware of when shopping online between the UK and Ireland. If you are buying from an EU-registered merchant the EU's consumer protection laws will automatically apply. These laws include the two-year guarantee for faulty products and other problems. However, you should be aware that if purchase from a non-EU registered retailer, you could be charged additional fees and delays when returning your purchase. It's also important to check whether the retailer has a physical presence within the EU. If so, the retailer will likely charge EU VAT at the point of purchase. Etsy, eBay and other retailers are a few examples. The same is true for retailers like Amazon who sell items that are made available in the EU and then shipped to the EU. It is also important to know that certain products are exempt from VAT in the EU. This includes children's clothing, books, and footwear (up until age 11) as well as some electronic devices such as laptops and tablets. This information should be included on the description page of the item. Shopping online from the UK could be beneficial for Ireland, despite Brexit's impact. In fact, it is anticipated that the UK will remain a major partner in eCommerce for Ireland in the years to come. Next The online shopping industry in Ireland is popular and thriving despite Brexit. The ecommerce sector has been growing steadily over the past few years due to the increase in access to the internet for homes and smartphone use. As a result, it is estimated that Irish customers spend over EUR4 billion annually on online purchases. This includes clothes, travel, food, electronics and tickets to events. As the population increases and Internet penetration grows, it is expected that the market for online shopping in Ireland will continue to grow. Many aren't sure about the new rules when purchasing products online in the UK. The government has provided a clear guide to consumers, but it can be confusing for online retailers since they're still trying find out the best way to provide their customers with the best service. This is particularly true for those operating from the UK as they may not be aware of the latest Irish VAT and Customs charges. The price of an item on the website of a retailer may differ substantially between countries. This is due to factors like shipping costs as well as business expenses VAT, and many more. These factors could be the reason why a product is priced differently in Ireland and the UK. It's important to keep it in mind that EU consumer laws protect you when you shop at EU-registered retail stores. Make sure you go over the terms and conditions prior to making an purchase. Irish consumers are primarily concerned about cost when it comes to shopping online. More than 60% prefer to have their goods delivered by the cheapest method, even if it is slow. Only 17% of consumers would pay more for expedited delivery. The reason behind this is that they want to save money on shipping costs and taxes. With the right customs brokers and couriers on your side, it is easy to ship to Ireland from the UK. Online retailers can also manage their UK-based logistic and VAT by registering with Revenue Ireland and creating a virtual address within the country. This will save them from paying additional charges such as VAT and customs duty. This will also allow them to remain in the market and increase sales in the Irish market. Asos Asos is a fashion retailer that offers adorable styles at affordable prices. The company offers over 850 brands and creates its own line of clothing. There are options for petite, tall, and plus-size women. It also offers a range of footwear and accessories. The site is user-friendly and provides a variety of styles to suit any occasion. The fashion company faces significant challenges. On January 1st, a new law was passed that applies to online shopping packages that are shipped to Ireland from the UK. These packages are now subject to additional fees and taxes. The company is working to compensate for this by making new deals for international shipping. It is also looking to expand its EU warehouses. However, certain changes have met with opposition from consumers. Particularly, the new charges for international shipping are a big turnoff. However, there are ways to avoid these new costs and save money on ASOS. For instance, you could use a service like ColisExpat to take your ASOS orders and then forward the items to your home in Ireland. This will save you time and money repacking and re-shipping your packages. You can group purchases from various websites to cut down on shipping costs. ASOS also plans on opening physical stores in Europe and the US. These stores will be used for storage and shipping items to customers. They will be situated in major cities and will feature a large selection of accessories and clothing. The CEO of the company Nick Beighton expects these changes to increase profits. ASOS offers a variety of ways to save money. You can use coupons, or wait for the next sale. The site will send promo codes via email or directly on the website. The site also has a feature dubbed "Save for later", which will notify you when a product is running low on stock. You can also find various flash sales during bank holidays and other holiday-related events. ASOS is a great place to find basic wardrobe staples, like white tees and crop tops. The website offers a vast assortment of these essentials and they have multipacks that help you save money on your purchases. There are also discounted items from top brands like Adidas Calvin Klein and Levi's. Littlewoods The online shopping industry in Ireland has seen a rapid growth in the last few years. This growth is largely due to the large number of mobile phones as well as the strong internet connectivity in homes. Irish consumers are more likely to purchase products and services online that aren't readily available locally, such as hotels, travel, and tickets for events. Online purchases of grooming and beauty products as well as electronic goods and homewares are also popular. Many Irish people buy from UK retailers online because they offer a wide range of goods and prices. A recent survey showed that three out of 10 customers encountered issues with their delivery. Some said that their deliveries were late and some said that the courier was unable to locate their address. Some shoppers online worry that their purchases won't arrive in good condition. This is a legitimate concern however, many companies are taking steps to ensure that their products are safe. For example, some online stores offer free returns for products that are damaged or don't meet expectations. Others require customers to provide proof of purchase when they return items, which helps to determine if the product is damaged. Consumers should always be aware of the conditions and terms of any website before making purchases. Many websites may have an Irish domain with the suffix in.ie however they may not be registered or have warehouses in the state. The CCPC suggests that customers check for the company's registration in their terms and conditions prior buying from them. This will help them save money on customs duty and also allow them to keep their EU consumer rights. Another advantage of shopping online is the ease at which you can compare prices and product features. This is especially useful if you are looking for the exact type of product or item. For instance, if you're trying to find a specific kind of television, it's worth checking out a few online retailers to see the prices they charge. In addition to saving time by eliminating traffic jams and lengthy lines in physical stores you'll also save money on electricity and gas. Furthermore, you'll be in a position to save time by using a delivery service such as Easyship which calculates shipping costs for you automatically and display the rates on your screen.