VMP Import Duties/Customs Policy

As the Best Damn Record Club, Vinyl Me, Please’s mission is to experience music more deeply. One of the best ways we fulfill this mission is by sending our deluxe records to happy listeners all around the globe, despite being a small startup business with fewer than 30 employees based out of Denver, CO.

It has recently come to our attention that some international customers have been subject to import duty/customs fees from their local governments at a higher rate than in the past. When we ship a record internationally, customs fees may apply to the importer of record (i.e. you). We do not impose these fees; rather they are imposed by your local government. While we wish you did not have to pay them, we have no control over the policies each country’s government sets concerning your purchases from U.S.-based online businesses like ours.

In the past, in an effort to deliver the best possible customer experience, we have issued credits or refunds in instances when you had to pay these fees unexpectedly. As of March 12, 2019, we will be discontinuing this practice. While we want all of our customers to know we have the best, most compassionate customer service out there, crediting back customs fees levied by the governments of other countries was jeopardizing our ability to serve all of our international customers. When faced with the choice of shutting down international operations or implementing this policy change, we chose to make the policy change. We did so in order to further our mission to experience music more deeply, as shutting down international operations would have been antithetical to that.

Additionally, we have audited our customs policies and are making changes to our fulfillment process. In some instances these changes may have a negative impact on the import duty you owe, and in other instances it may have have a positive impact.

Please note that the importer of record (i.e. you) is responsible for any customs fees or import duties levied by your local government and that Vinyl Me, Please is legally obligated to declare the actual cost of your shipment in customs-related paperwork. If your shipment value is below the de minimis threshold in your country, then you won’t be charged customs. We encourage you to estimate your duties/customs fees with an online calculator like this. We regret any negative impact this policy change may have on you, and hope you understand this change helps solidify our ability to serve our international customers going forward.