Parcel motel? Or address pal?

[Mulletsaremisunderstood]

Does anyone have good experiences of either recently?

I'm trying to buy something online from the Fatface website, but they are not delivering internationally anymore .

I'm in Ireland and tried ringing the shop in Dublin and they haven't got the item I want. I'd love to get it before it sells out. I have bought from other UK shops recently and they have delivered fine so I'm not sure what the issue is.

I've heard of parcel motel etc. but I think they're not really reliable. Has anybody had good experiences with this? Or the An Post service? They both have bad reviews online (missing items, taking months etc.)

I do have an old UK account from my student days, but I don't have access to the address anymore (student digs), or I'd get it delivered there.

Thanks!

Parcel Motel doesn't really exist anymore since Brexit. Address pal does but you could get clobbered with customs/vat.

I used AddressPal in the past and was very happy with it, as parcels were delivered to my local, friendly post office and I could collect them at a time of my choosing.
Since Brexit they changed their delivery options and I think the delivery to the post office was no longer an option and their charges went up so I no longer use AddressPal, sadly.
It really was a great facility when ordering from UK companies.
Flipping Brexit - yes I know my difficulty with it is minor compared with problems for Irish companies relying on exports to the UK or relying on raw materials from the UK, also the longer journey for truck drivers who have to go to Europe via France.

AddressPal used to be brilliant .

Unfortunately, with brexit, you can now only have it delivered to your house so it's dearer. However, the main issue is you will have to pay import tariffs/duty/VAT on your purchase (unless it's less than €22 including delivery). Most delivery companies charge a fee on top of the taxes. You will also be paying UK VAT on top of that as they will not remove VAT for, what to them, is an internal delivery.

The companies who deliver to Ireland remove UK VAT first. Some, like amazon, have set themselves up so they will pay Irish taxes for you. Others don't and you will have to pay taxes plus admin fee to the courier or postal service.

It's all a total pain.

Do you have a friend in the UK ? You could get it delivered there and they would post it to you!

If not: PM me and I'll do it for you. I'm in the Scottish highlands tho so figure in an extra day for it to get to me first.

Do you have a friend in the UK ? You could get it delivered there and they would post it to you!

You can end up being charged taxes on this method too. It may slip through or it may be checked.

The best way to buy stuff now is to look for an EU supplier. Do they have a .de or a .fr website?

Hi, thanks for your help. None of my friends from Uni still live in the UK, were were mostly international students who returned home after.

I know it seems stupid for some clothing, but I rarely see things that I like online that I think will suit me. After the last year of shops being closed I have no new or nice clothes anymore so seeing something I love, and not being able to buy it is torture!!

I contacted Fatface headquarters and they said it's a no go - they are not delivering internationally :-(. They only have a UK or US site.

Anyway, I have PM'd bettertimes so hopefully we can figure it out.

Thanks everyone!

@Mulletsaremisunderstood

Hi, thanks for your help. None of my friends from Uni still live in the UK, were were mostly international students who returned home after.

I know it seems stupid for some clothing, but I rarely see things that I like online that I think will suit me. After the last year of shops being closed I have no new or nice clothes anymore so seeing something I love, and not being able to buy it is torture!!

I contacted Fatface headquarters and they said it's a no go - they are not delivering internationally :-(. They only have a UK or US site.

Anyway, I have PM'd bettertimes so hopefully we can figure it out.

Thanks everyone!

If you do get @bettertimesarecomingnow to post, go with the expectation that you will pay extra and hope to be pleasantly surprised.

I would suggest sending in plain packaging, rather than whatever it comes in. Just pop it in a reasonably strong bin bag and tape it up. Also, mark it as a gift on the custom's declaration.

Bin bag to post. Check!!

Thanks for that advice. Don't want you to be changed extra

@bettertimesarecomingnow - good on you. It's a lovely thing to do for the op.

Thanks bettertimesarecomingnow, you're brilliant!

Just wanted to bump this thread again to say a huge thank you to @bettertimesarecomingnow who went out of her way to do a big favour for a complete stranger.

What a lovely MNer you are .

That is so lovely