If you are on a shopping platform like Amazon these days and are looking for mobile devices, you may be offered a 10-inch tablet for purchase.

It is touted as a "hip offer".

As appealing as it sounds, there is a catch.

The mail order company only gives the consumer three hours to make a decision, otherwise that's it with the great offer.

Those who allow themselves to be put under pressure and become weak may then experience their blue shopping miracle: The supposed bargain could be more expensive than expected.

Because although the advertised tablet is described in German and the price is given in euros, the sale is not carried out by Amazon itself, but by the “Teclast Store”. If you click on its imprint, it becomes clear: The lightning offer comes from Hong Kong. That means: In addition to the product price, there are also taxes and duties, as in every country outside the EU.

But a product doesn't even have to come from a dealer in the Far East. Orders in the United Kingdom have also become more expensive because it no longer belongs to the EU customs union since the beginning of the year and is a so-called third country. Online shoppers are gradually feeling the consequences. "We saw a kind of surprise effect with orders from Great Britain," says Patrick Oppelt from the European Consumer Center Germany. Many Germans were used to ordering in Great Britain without regard to the so-called import duties. But caution has been called for since Brexit.

This is especially true with regard to the approaching high shopping season with the big bargain days. On Singles' Day on November 11th, Black Friday on November 26th and three days later on Cyber ​​Monday, consumers in Germany spend billions of euros. According to the Institute for Retail Research, German online retailing achieved sales of 73 billion euros in 2020 as a whole. Every tenth euro of this went to dealers from abroad without every consumer noticing. More than half didn't even know that they had ordered from abroad. This ignorance can quickly lead to unexpected costs.

Import duties are due for every order outside the EU and consist of three parts.

On the one hand from the customs duties, which are only due from an order value of 150 euros.

On the other hand, from a consumption tax that is incurred on goods such as tobacco or alcohol.

Third, import sales tax must be paid.

It corresponds to VAT of seven or 19 percent.

Until July 1 of this year, there was an exemption limit of up to 22 euros;

This regulation is intended to balance competition in favor of dealers in the EU.

They had to pay VAT for goods under 22 euros, but traders from third countries did not.

"In most cases, self-customs clearance is only worthwhile for frequent customers"

In addition: since July, every parcel from a third country has to be declared at customs.

Usually this is done by the courier service.

Taxes and duties that are due upon importation into the EU are laid out by the deliverer for the customer and then collected when the package is delivered.

This service is not available for free.

At Deutsche Post, a flat fee is due.

Regardless of the value of the goods, it is currently six euros.