AIBU to not want to pay vat on gift to Ireland when it is advertised as free delivery

[Kazplus2]

I purchased a birthday gift for a friend in Ireland from a company that advertised free delivery only for my friend to receive a request to pay the vat in order to receive her gift. Nothing mentioned in the advertising that this would be required. Am I unreasonable to think seller should have made clear I would be liable for this upfront or cover the cost? Very frustrated.

Free delivery just means free delivery, not inclusive of all tax/duty.

I think it's on the sender/recipient to check before ordering.
To me free delivery means the courier costs are free, not that there's no tax or duties to pay

We've left the single market and this is the reality of exporting anything into the EU.

Sadly I think you are correct. Just a bit frustrating.

The clue is in the name 'free delivery' means delivery is free

It doesn't mean anything else other than free delivery

Delivery is totally different thing than tax/duties so no I certainly would not expect the seller to have told you. With Brexit it is not as easy to send things from the UK to EU and it is up to you as the consumer to do you research

Anything sent to the EU is liable to have extra charges. Even if VAT is not payable, some post offices charge an extra fee to deal with customs admin, i.e. even a small value personal package can incur a charge. Unless the company specifically says all charges are covered, there is no point in sending outside UK. Yes, it is because of Brexit.

Yes, you are. VAT has nothing to do with free delivery.

Is the supplier in Ireland or Britain? If Britain (and I'm deliberately not using the term UK) then sending goods abroad incurs import duty and/or sales tax in that country. Likewise ordering goods from abroad to be sent to the UK.