Shipping policy
Shipping & International Trade Policy
At Akara Labs, we ship all orders via Royal Mail Tracked so your camera accessories arrive safely and can be monitored every step of the way.
1. Shipping Rates & Delivery Times
| Destination | Rate | Shipping Fee | Free Shipping |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Tracked | £5.00 | Orders over £75 |
| European Union | Tracked | £11.00 (with 17% VAT Relief discount) | Orders over £135 |
| United States | Tracked (Duties Prepaid) | £18.00 | Not available |
| Rest of World | Tracked | £12.00 | Not available |
- Handling Time: We typically process and dispatch orders within 1 to 3 business days. On rare occasions this can be up to a week or longer.
- Tracking: You will receive a tracking number by email as soon as your order is dispatched.
2. European Union (EU) Customers
We operate a two-tier system to keep delivery cost-effective and transparent under EU tax rules:
- Orders under £135 (€150): Sent via the IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop) scheme. VAT is collected at checkout, so there are no surprise fees or handling charges on delivery.
- Orders over £135 (€150): IOSS does not apply to high-value orders. To offset the VAT your local courier will charge, we automatically apply a 17% VAT Relief discount at checkout. You are responsible for paying local VAT and duties to the courier before delivery.
3. USA Customers
All US orders are shipped Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) via Royal Mail Tracked. The £18 shipping rate includes prepaid import duties, so your order arrives with no additional fees, taxes, or customs paperwork.
Background: Prior to 29 August 2025, US shipments under $800 entered the United States duty-free under the Section 321 de minimis rule. That exemption was eliminated for commercial shipments by Executive Order. All commercial parcels from the UK to the US now have duty owed regardless of value. We handle this for you and absorb the customs complexity.
4. International (Rest of World)
Orders to destinations outside the UK, EU, and USA are shipped DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid). The recipient is responsible for any local sales taxes, customs duties, or handling fees applied by their country's customs authority.
5. Environmental & Legal Compliance
Akara Labs is committed to full transparency and international regulatory compliance:
- Germany (LUCID): We are a registered producer with the LUCID Packaging Register under registration number DE3776057416050. We contribute to the recycling of our packaging materials via dual system partners.
- France (Triman): Our packaging for French orders complies with local sorting instructions and bears the Triman logo where required.
- Austria: Due to local representative requirements, we do not currently ship to Austria.
6. Important Notices
- Address Accuracy: You are responsible for providing a complete and accurate delivery address, entered using English characters only. Please check the building or house number, street, postcode, and city carefully before completing checkout.
- Incorrect or Incomplete Addresses: If a parcel is returned to us because the address supplied was incorrect, incomplete, or not recognised by the destination carrier, we will happily send it out again once you confirm the correct address. A new shipping charge at the current published rate will apply.
- Refused Shipments: If a shipment is refused due to unpaid local customs duties, we will refund the item price and the original standard delivery charge, less the return-to-sender costs we incur.