Shipping to the U.K., E.U. & International Orders – VAT, Customs & Returns


UK Orders:

  • Standard Shipping: Free for orders over £50, £3.99 for orders under £50.
  • Express Shipping is also available, at checkout.
  • Estimated Delivery: Standard shipping takes 2-5 business days, while express shipping takes 1-2 business days.
  • Local Pickup: You can collect your order in person at our Newhaven, South East England location. Please contact us to schedule a pickup time.
  • Use Your Own Courier: If you prefer to use your own courier, please provide us with the necessary shipping information.

E.U Orders (VAT & customs):

The U.K. is no longer part of the E.U., and European customers will be charged import duties and taxes by their respective countries for importing goods. Please check with your country to see what rate they charge, as it can vary from one country to the next. We remove the VAT tax here in the UK, but it will be added back when it reaches the destination country. These are NOT charges levied by colourchanging.co.uk

E.U Orders – VAT, customs charges and refused deliveries:

Prior to Brexit, UK VAT was charged on orders shipped to EU customers at checkout. This is no longer the case.

Orders shipped from the UK to EU countries are supplied without UK VAT. Instead, local VAT and any applicable customs duties are charged in the destination country by the courier or customs authority when the goods arrive.

Because these charges are applied on delivery rather than at checkout, they may appear as an additional cost. In practice, this broadly replaces the VAT that was previously charged on EU orders prior to Brexit. These charges are set by local authorities and couriers, are outside of our control, and are not collected by us.

If a shipment is refused, delayed, or returned due to unpaid import charges, failure to clear customs, or non-acceptance by the recipient, the order will not be treated as cancelled.

Any costs incurred as a result of refusal or return — including return shipping, customs charges, handling fees, or destruction of goods where return is uneconomical — may be deducted from any refund or charged to the customer. Where goods are destroyed by customs or the courier, no refund will be due.

International Orders:

  • Shipping Rates: Shipping rates for international orders are calculated based on parcel dimensions and delivery location. Please contact us for a shipping quote.
  • Shipping Carriers: We use Parcelforce for standard international shipping and DHL Express for express international shipping.
  • Estimated Delivery: Standard shipping takes 7-14 business days, while express shipping takes 3-5 business days.
  • Duties and Taxes: International orders are shipped Duties Unpaid (DDU). Customers are responsible for any import duties, customs taxes, or other fees imposed by their local customs authority upon delivery.
  • Tracking: You will receive a tracking number via email once your order has shipped. This will allow you to track the progress of your delivery.

Returns:

  • Return Window: Items must be returned within 14 days of the order date.
  • Return Conditions: Items must be returned in their original condition, unused, and with all tags attached.
  • Return Shipping: Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer, unless the item is defective or damaged.
  • All returns must be notified to us in writing, prior to the return. Please see our terms and conditions for further information.
  • Refunds: Refunds will be processed within 5 business days of receiving the returned item and will be issued to the original payment method.

Exchanges:

  • Exchange Policy: If you would like to exchange an item for a different size or color, please contact us within 30 days of the order date.
  • Exchange Shipping: Exchange shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer.

Custom Orders:

  • Orders for more than 1 kg of ink (or more than 500g in the case of liquid crystal inks, including sprayable and coating formulations), 10 or more films or sheets (including liquid crystal sheets), full-size sheets, or custom colours or temperature ranges are treated as custom, made-to-order products.
  • These items are manufactured specifically to order and cannot be cancelled, returned, or refunded once production has commenced, except where the goods are faulty or not in conformity with the contract.
  • Custom orders may have extended or variable processing times, and partial deliveries may be made.

Additional Notes:

  • Customs Delays: International shipments may experience delays due to customs inspections.
  • Business Hours: Our business hours are Monday–Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM GMT, excluding public holidays and festive periods.

If you have any questions about our shipping and returns policy, please contact us.