Shipping policy

Shipping & International Trade Policy

At Akara Labs, we ship all orders via Royal Mail Tracked to ensure 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 1–3 business days, on rare occasions this can be up to a week or longer.

  • Tracking: You will receive a tracking number via email as soon as your order is dispatched.

2. European Union (EU) Customers

We operate a two-tier system to ensure the most cost-effective and transparent delivery following EU tax regulations:

  • Orders Under £135 (€150): These are sent via the IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop) scheme. VAT is collected at checkout, meaning there are no additional surprise fees or handling charges upon delivery.

  • Orders Over £135 (€150): IOSS does not apply to high-value orders. To compensate for the VAT you will be charged by your local courier, we automatically apply a 17% "VAT Relief" discount to your order at checkout. You will be responsible for paying local VAT/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, meaning your order arrives with no additional fees, taxes, or customs paperwork on delivery.

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. To keep the customer experience simple, we handle this for you and absorb the customs complexity.

4. International (Rest of World)

Orders to all 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

  • Incomplete Addresses: Please ensure your shipping address is entered using English characters only.

  • Refused Shipments: If a shipment is refused due to unpaid local customs duties, the original shipping cost and any return fees incurred by Akara Labs will be deducted from your refund.