Large quantities of shipments from the UK had been reaching a great number of European Union countries every day. A large part of them consisted of clothes, which were bought by foreigners at an attractive price. Those days are over, though. The situation has changed significantly over the years and today there are several barriers that discourage people from buying clothes from the UK.

What are those barriers, and can they be avoided? Let us take a look.

People are put off by complicated procedures

After the United Kingdom left the European Union and the transition period ended on 31 December 2020, taxes started to be applied to shipments. They include import VAT, depending on the value of the items and place or origin, and customs duty.

The amount of this tax is usually around 20 percent in European Union countries. It is calculated from the sum of the package and its shipping costs. For example, if the goods you have bought cost 150 euros and shipping is 20 euros, the import tax is calculated from 170 euros. So, the final amount of the purchase is 204 euros. Import duty for shipments from the UK applies to all goods.

This means that the total amount of goods becomes quite expensive. Or at least a bit more expensive than you could buy the equivalent in your country of residence. Therefore, it becomes more convenient to purchase the desired item in the country you live in or in another country that does not apply the taxes mentioned above.

Also, when shopping online, not only the price is important, but also other nuances. For example, the speed of delivery of the product, its return conditions, etc. Often, if you purchase goods without the help of intermediaries, this process can be complicated. Down below we will try to explain why.

The EU consumer protection legislation no longer apply

The EU rules ensure the buyer's right to access accurate and understandable information about the product. Also, all products are covered by a minimum two-year warranty. If it turns out that the purchased goods have defects or do not correspond to what is advertised, the dealer must repair, replace, reduce the price of the goods, or refund the entire amount paid.

Another advantage in EU countries - is when buying a product or service online, buyers have the right to cancel and return the order within 14 days without any justification. So if you have changed your mind, you can simply return the product without any explanation.

Unfortunately, these rules do not apply to purchases from Britain. This means that in the event of a dispute with a seller of British clothing brands, it would be resolved by the UK authorities. EU law would be powerless in this case as the UK does not belong to the Union.

The export is too expensive for clothing brands

Another barrier often mentioned by buyers is the fact that the sellers themselves do not create opportunities to purchase goods for people living in other countries. This position is taken for practical reasons. Shipping is quite expensive, so it is no longer worthwhile for the seller to pay for it.

In addition, this price for the seller increases if the buyer decides to return the product. Also, since the UK and the EU operate according to different rules, the process of resolving disputes between sellers and buyers becomes more complicated.

However, this does not mean that this barrier is insurmountable. It can be solved with the help of such package and parcel forwarding services as Atvido. All you have to do is - get UK address, use it and wait for your British clothing brands package to reach your home.

The demand for british clothing brands is low

Because the changes that have taken place in recent years have significantly affected the habits of buyers and changed the strategy of sellers, the demand for British clothing brands decreased abroad. It works like a vicious cycle that can only be stopped when at least one of the existing conditions changes.

Is the situation about to change? Well, unfortunately, it will not change anytime soon. That is obvious. Only attractive prices for clothes and shipping as well as a simple purchasing process would help to revive the market and export of British clothes.

To sum up, it is up to the buyer to decide, depending on their needs, what is the best option. In this case, we do not have in mind financial opportunities. As it has been mentioned earlier, with the help of intermediaries, goods can be purchased inexpensively. It is more a matter of how quickly you need the product and whether you could take risks and experiment. And if you do not need to get a specific item very quickly, you have nothing to lose.