Pirate Ship doesn't offer DDP labels for international shipments. Instead, we offer Delivery Duty Unpaid labels, or "DDU" for short.
"DDU" means that customs duties and import taxes are not included in the cost of your labels. Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) labels, on the other hand, include customs fees in their cost. Therefore, DDP are more expensive than DDU labels 😉
Why does Pirate Ship offer DDU labels instead of DDP for international shipments?
DDU labels mean more affordable shipping: Since international DDU labels don't include customs fees in the cost, they are more affordable than DDP labels. Offering DDU labels is one of the ways we're able to offer the deepest discounts on the seven seas!
Recipients are responsible for paying customs fees with DDU labels
International recipients pay customs fees with DDU labels: Since DDU labels don’t include any customs fees or import taxes, the shipper isn't responsible for paying them. Instead, these fees are passed onto the recipients for DDU labels.
Recipients typically pay these fees to their country's customs department in order for their package to be released to them.
Some international UPS services include brokerage fees in their cost, but these are not customs duties
Certain international UPS services include brokerage fees in their cost: When shipping internationally with UPS, your recipients may be subject to brokerage fees. UPS charges these fees for international shipments because they act as the customs broker for the importer.
All international UPS services are subject to brokerage fees. However, the more premium/expedited international UPS services such as UPS Worldwide Express include Entry Preparation fees in their cost.
Brokerage fees are different from customs duties: Brokerage fees are NOT custom duties 🙈 While some premium UPS services include brokerage fees in their cost, they are still DDU labels, and your overseas recipients will still need to pay customs duties and import taxes.