Sending a gift to Spain

[karmakameleon]

I’d like to send a Spanish friend a gift but am thoroughly confused as to how best to do this after brexit so hoping someone may be able to help.

I originally thought I could order a hamper to be sent over but can’t find many options of companies that deliver to the EU now. Then I thought I could put together my own hamper and post but can’t understand the rules. Different companies seem to have different advice and it’s not clear if they actually ship at all.

So basically I’m hoping if someone could help me understand can I send food to Spain, what are the customs limits so the recipient doesn’t have to pay duty and what’s the best method/company to ship. And if food isn’t allowed, any other ideas for gifts I could send as a thank you to the family.

TIA

I'm not going to be much help, but I tried to send a hamper to Spain with painful results. Like you, I couldn't find a company who ship to the EU so made my own hamper. I filled out the correct form declaring goods to the value of 50 quid, hamper was shipped. Recipient sent me a text saying she couldn't afford the 110 euros duty it would cost for the hamper to be released. I told her it was only worth 50! In the end she refused delivery so it was returned to me.

It's really hard to receive anything here now without having to pay huge import fees, often way more than the value of the gift.

Some websites such as Next and M&S still ship to Spain without any extra charges.

If you want to send food you could try BritishCornerShop online,
I'm not sure they do hampers but they do m&s food.

There are lots of rules about sending food to EU countries to be aware of and anything sent from the UK is likely to have import taxes applied (which your friend would have to pay before the parcel is delivered). Your best bet would be to find a supplier that's based in Spain and use them to deliver to your friend.

Thanks, I’m so glad I asked. Who’d have thought it would be so complicated! I think British Corner Shop looks like a good bet if I want to send food. Otherwise I’ll look at local companies if anyone has any suggestions?

You need to see if there are EU bases for UK brands. For example, M&S have a Spanish website (in English). So you can probably place your order there; they run the business in conjunction with local partners.

I live in the EU now; I never post anything to the UK nor get anything sent over.

Probably not much help, but I've been able to buy books on Amazon in the UK and have them delivered to addresses in France with no problems.

Also bear in mind if you send a gift from the UK the person in Spain has to pay vat to receive the parcel!!
We have to pay every few months for a parcel that comes from UK. Costs £12-50 to post to us and €6-50 to receive it. Maybe you would be better off looking at a local company on Facebook that can do hampers?
Most British food we can buy in Spain these days x

Try the Spanish Amazon site - if you use Google Chrome it can automatically translate for you. You can usually get a trial Prime membership so just cancel as soon as you've ordered. Presuming they also have a gift wrapping service as they do in the UK.

Amazon Spain tends to be pretty good. I use them for a lot of purchases.

Alas, Henry Hoggs closed. They were really popular for ordering British cuts of meat and sausages. www.cornishbakehouseandbar.com/ is a nice alternative. britishbutchers.es/ is also an alternative that is well liked.

My DS was in Italy last year and I made the mistake of sending him some small parcels for xmas ( not expensive a book, t shirt etc) - cost me a fortune in postage and 1 parcel turned up in March, others never arrived.

BCS do little hampers and other food- hopefully now they have a bigger EU hub they'll start doing more again like they did pre-Brexit.
As others have said, be wary of despatch from UK. I always received one at Christmas with no issue. Last year it never even left the courier's depot and it took my cousin 4 months to get it back from them.
There are a couple of Irish companies that do hampers etc and deliver to other EU countries, try Carroll's Irish Gifts.
Otherwise, it's Amazon etc or British food shops in Spain etc.
M&S EU sites don't have food or much other than home/clothes. Not even Christmas pot pourri 😂

Had just about given up on the hamper idea and was going to send vouchers but using an Irish company is genius. I’m going to look into that idea a bit more. Thank you!

Please don't send from the UK. I'm in Italy and have had to pay huge customs fees for gifts - really disheartening for everyone.

We send presents to Italy via Amazon Italia, then there's no customs charges and it won't mysteriously disappear.

I have also been using Spanish Amazon. My dd is studying in Spain for a year. When she first went out I sent her a few wee parcels via post. One took four weeks to arrive and one took five!
Amazon however have been great. I also sent an emergency dressing gown (!) and some extra underwear and towels from M and S Spain. It was great too though there’s a lot less available than on our site.

Thanks everyone. I used a company that ships hampers from Northern Ireland in the end. Hamper arrived safely and no customs issues or duty to be paid.

Brexit certainly has been good for Ireland and Northern Ireland! (At least as far as online sales are concerned).

You are better off ordering from a Spanish online company. I like El Corte Inglés. Sending anything to Spain right now is a nightmare, my friend had to pay 5E for receiving a copy of an OK! magazine I sent her.