Couple days ago we informed on the new facts of the notified agreement between Slovak post and Chinese Internet trading platforms AliExpress and Wish.
However, some information was still unclear and many people wanted to answer other questions. Therefore, we contacted Slovenská pošta directly and received an official opinion from a spokeswoman for Slovenská pošta, Mgr. Iveta Dorčáková.
The new agreement at a glance
Through the Czech Post, an agreement was concluded between AliExpress and Wish platforms, which will relieve customers of unnecessary handling fees for customs procedures in the amount of €2, 4 € or €9, depending on the method of customs negotiation.
As most Chinese shops have introduced VAT payment directly when ordering, the tax solution is completely eliminated, leaving only customs duties for low-value shipments (products up to € 150). But we also asked the Slovak Post (SP) how it is.
Statement of Slovenská pošta
We asked the most frequently asked questions from the people, which we added about our ambiguities. She gave us the answers Slovak Post spokesperson (SP) Mgr. Iveta Dorčáková.
China Planet: On what exact date will the new agreement take effect? From what day? Will this also apply to shipments that were ordered before the date of the agreement?
"The agreement with the Czech Post is already valid and it is up to the sender when he will start using this flow to transport parcels to Slovakia. And no, it will not apply to shipments before the agreed date.”
China Planet: Which specific fees will customers save on? It will be 2 / 4 / 9 € fees for customs services of SK post?
"The addressee should save on fees for postal customs service, the amount of which depends on the method of customs negotiation. Shipments in terms of the contract will be customs negotiated before entering Slovakia and will not be subject to Slovak customs control.
China Planet: For packages in what amount does the agreement apply? Will it be for goods up to €150? Above 150 € will it continue to be properly customs-cleared, so the packages will have to go through customs?
"The value of the goods is not important, as according to the agreement, these shipments will enter Slovakia already cleared by customs."
China Planet: Does the new agreement cover all modes of transport on the Aliexpress portal? As Ali offers several types of transport for different goods.
"It's up to Aliexpress, but probably not."
China Planet: As the agreement is concluded through the Czech Republic, will the packages travel to the Czech Republic first and from there to Slovakia?
"Yes."
China Planet: Will the new agreement affect the delivery time of the packages? Will it be shorter if necessary?
"Transportation of parcels to Slovakia is the responsibility of the sender, but if the transport of parcels in accordance with this agreement is used, it will have an effect on shortening the delivery time after the parcel enters Slovakia. This is the part of transport that we can directly influence."
Shop at AliExpress without worries
Summary of new information
It has not yet been clear whether the new agreement is in force or will enter into force this month. Now we know that every new order is minimal from 20 January will pass without stopping at customs and without SP handling fees and customs duties. Spokeswoman Mgr. In answering the third question, Iveta Dorčáková clearly described that order amount it no longer matters in terms of customs clearance. However, we can say this with certainty only for low value shipments (products up to 150 €) and we definitely want to verify this with our test order from a Chinese warehouse, we will of course inform you about the result.
We also continue to recommend AliExpresse from Chinese shipping type warehouses AliExpress Standard Shipping / Saver Shipping and all shipments from the subsidiary Cainiao, which have been in operation for several months duty-free and packages delivered home directly by courier. In this article we also wrote about the new "Combined Delivery" (combined transport), which combines several shipments into one large one.
Despite EU regulation, shipments from China will ultimately arrive safely without unnecessary customs duties and much faster. Fortunately, in the end, the consumer himself won, not the regulations.
The great news is also faster delivery, which will surely please many fans of cheap orders from China. So, after a series of bad news, starting with the approval of the new VAT law from the European Union, good news is finally coming. Ultimately The Chinese have only improved their logistics services, packages from Chinese warehouses will also walk with confidence free of charge and much faster.
Did you know that European warehouses can also be searched on AliExpress?
Almost no one knows this trick on Aliexpress: A very precise way to search EU warehouses
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Packages from China will be duty free, and when your family sends you a package from abroad, I paid duty as it really is weird regulations
And what about China Post Registered Air Mail? Because of those answers, it's not very clear.
It is not clear, so we wrote that we continue to recommend already verified transports. But the agreement covers the entire AliExpress platform, and then it shouldn't depend on transportation.
You have the experience that Cainiao Super Economy Global delivers courier directly and at no extra charge.
Yes, all transport from Cainiao.
What about standard shipping?
If I order a mobile phone for 200e and write from the price includes VAT, will I pay extra?
Yes. When ordering from a Chinese warehouse over 150 € the tax will be deducted and the package will subsequently be stopped at the customs office, due to additional duty payment. There, they will charge you the VAT itself.