Online shoppers could be hit with customs duties and extra charges even when buying from websites with Irish domain names, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is warning.
The consumer watchdog issued the warning ahead of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, which are due to get into full swing next week.
This is the first year shoppers buying from UK businesses will be hit with extra charges – after the new trade deal between the UK and EU came into force on January 1st 2021.
In a statement this afternoon, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said the majority of shoppers check a website’s domain and currency before purchasing on it.
The commission is urging people to check the registered address of a business instead – as many foreign businesses use ‘.ie’ domains to sell into the Irish market.
On The Hard Shoulder this evening, Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent with The Irish Times, said Brexit will “make a big, big difference” to online shoppers this Black Friday.
Around 50% or 60% of all the money we spend online is traditionally spent on retailers based in the UK,” he said.
“Prior to January of this year, it didn’t really matter because we weren’t getting hit with extra taxes and charges and levies but now the UK is outside the EU, which means shopping on UK-based websites is the same as shopping on US-based websites or sites based in China or Singapore or Australia – and that means people are going to be liable for additional taxes and charges.
“That can add an additional 40% on to the price you have to pay and a lot of the time – not all of the time, but a lot of the time – people won’t really be aware of that until the product arrives at your front door and you have the postman saying, I’m going to need another 60 quid off you.”
He said people should be conscious of where they are buying from noting, “the bottom line is, when you’re shopping online, shop local, first and foremost.”
Black Friday
Conor said a lot of the deals available on Black Friday and Cyber Monday are actually available at other times of the year as well.
“One thing I would ask people to be very mindful of is the fact that, unless you actually need or really want the product, no matter how big the discount, you are still wasting your money,” he said.
Sales
The CCPC said four-in-ten consumers are planning to buy in the upcoming sales – with three-quarters of under-25s planning to do so.
Eight-in-ten said they plan to carry out pre-sale price research to ensure they are getting a good deal.
“If you are in the market for a telly and you know it normally costs €500 and next weekend you see it for €300 then it is probably a good time to buy the television,” said Conor.
“but as I say, it is very important you are not suckered into buying stuff you don’t want or don’t need simply because the price is apparently cheaper than it might otherwise be.”
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