Sending package to republic of Ireland

[Puttingupscaffolds]

Hello, what is the best way( cheapest and least red tape and paperwork) of sending a box of presents to the republic of Ireland in time for Christmas, now the UK is out of the EU ? Haven't attempted to do so in the past few years, but need to send a few presents to friends there ? Say, a box the size of a case of wine ? Any items like toiletries that can't be sent now ? Have googled all this but conflicting advice, so would be grateful if anyone who does this regularly could let me know please . Thanks in advance !

Depending on what you're sending would it be possible to order the items online in Northern Ireland and have them sent from there as the duties don't apply between NI and Ireland.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/shopping/5203963-present-for-someone-in-ireland?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

You might find some tips here.

I don’t send from here to my sister in Ireland due to costs and her having to pay tax on receipt. I order from dunes stores or similar to their home.

Postage costs from Ireland to outside the European Union is off the scale expensive.

Yep, I had to send a few parcels to Australia before Christmas last year and the postage was crazy money.

A very very light baby gift to Canada was €21 🙄

I've given up doing this as my family/friends have had to pay costs, so I use Irish based companies (there are some lovely ones for brownies, cookies, and a load of other things), and the dreaded Amazon (prime free postage can't be beaten).

If you want to send something specific from the UK, all wrapped and lovely, maybe others could advise?

I usually just order from an Irish site and have items
delivered that way it’s cheaper than posting actual goods from uk

I've done twice recently. The first I sent some nice hand me downs to my nieces using a customs sticker from the Post Office. That was returned by Irish customs so £30 in postage down the drain.
The second was a single item and it was a bit of a mission to be honest. If you go to the Royal Mail website there's a pre customs form to do, and you need a code for every item, weight, unit numbers etc. It's very technical and would not induce me to do it with a mixed box of stuff. Easier to send in small parcels and would attract less customs duty if each box is under the threshold.

I mostly buy from small Irish businesses* and have it shipped directly within Ireland now. My siblings order from Amazon sites in the EU so there is no customs but word is a new Amazon Ireland site is in the offing. For gifts I'd rather support local businesses though. It's not like Amazon pay their fair share of tax anywhere.

*if you want recommendations for specific types of stuff, I'd post on Craicnet. I found Easons really not great - books turned up damp and damaged from the warehouse, packaging was intact so not the carrier. But Hodges Figgis have a nice website for kids books as did a few others. I've found other small businesses by finding what I want in the UK and then simply searching for it with "+ireland" in the search terms.

I believe there is a parcel pick up service cross border but I don't know the details and whether it's nationwide or if you can really only take advantage if you live near a border area and can collect yourself.

Thanks everyone. I usually do order from Amazon or Irish companies when sending them stuff, but just bought a couple of lovely handmade craft things that I wanted to send them , but I probably won't risk posting....Will wait until I see someone in person, even if it's after Christmas. Such a shame ...I always think it's lovely to receive a parcel of Christmas presents!

This is the best advice. Don't bother trying to send anything from the UK to Ireland; vice versa isn't much fun either.
Ordering from an Irish website for delivery here is by far the best idea.
There are lots of Irish businesses large and small to choose from.
I'll have a look and see if I can come up with some suggestions later..

Here are a few Irish websites that might be of use.
Some UK websites will also deliver fuss-free to Ireland, but beware, not all!
Happy shopping
Products Archive - thegiftshop.ie
Market Street - Unique & Personalised Irish Made Gifts
Irish Gift Shop | Irish Gifts Online | Personalised Irish Gifts-The Mood Designs
eason.com - not just books
National Gallery of Ireland Shop
Shaws | Homeware, Beauty, Gifts & More | Delivered Nationwide – Shaws Department Stores
Homeware | Sofas, Furniture, Kitchenware | Meadows and Byrne
Craft Food Traders

Can you order them from Irish websites so you're ordering from an Irish website with a delivery address in Ireland?

Is there something particular that you have to buy from a UK site or shop that you want to send over?

If you have items and they aren't say bigger than a dinner plate, if you box them up and use bubble wrap or packing noodles, it can be posted through the parcel post via your post office. When it reaches Ireland it will be sent via An Post (the Irish postal service). I'd recommend putting "Gift" on the label and paying whatever the necessary amount to get it on the way 😄

Don't bother and order locally instead. My in-laws stopped sending us parcels from UK to NL as postage and import is hideous.

Thanks so much...amazing !

Delivery charges and import duty, plus VAT and a handling charge by the equivalent of Royal Mail in Ireland, An Post makes ordering from the UK prohibitive
An example, rounded up
A dress Cost €36
Delivery charge. €13
Irish Vat €9
Administration Fee. €5

So the dress costs €63

If it doesn't suit I have to post it back, which will probably cost another €15
😮

I know an oldish thread, but if they're near the border (Dublin side) then the OOHPod at Jonesborough is good. I get the occasional thing delivered there if it's going to cost more in customs than in petrol to collect it..

I'm in Dublin so Jonesborough sadly is too far.