Are you ordering from abroad and seeing these strange acronyms, DDP and DDU, in our delivery terms? These are two very different ways of handling customs fees – and they concretely change what you pay, and when. Here’s how it works, market by market, with detailed examples.
By the Le Comptoir Vintage team · Last updated July 6, 2026
What is the difference between DDP and DDU?
✅ DDP
Delivered Duty Paid
Customs duties and taxes are paid in advance by Le Comptoir Vintage. The price displayed is the final price. You pay nothing extra upon delivery.
📦 DDU
Delivered Duty Unpaid
Customs duties and local taxes are your responsibility, paid directly to the carrier or customs upon receipt of the package.
Neither option is "better" in absolute terms: it's a question of where and when you pay your country's import taxes. At Le Comptoir Vintage, we've chosen the simplest method for you based on your market.
🌍 Our policy, market by market
| Market | Mode | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | DDP | All-inclusive price, no surprise fees upon delivery. |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | DDP | All-inclusive price, no surprise fees upon delivery. |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | DDU | VAT and any applicable duties to be paid upon receipt. |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | DDU | GST/HST and any applicable duties to be paid upon receipt. |
| 🇫🇷 France & 🇪🇺 European Union | — | Single market: no customs, no formalities. |
| 🌍 Other countries (Japan, Norway, Australia, etc.) | DDU | Any local taxes to be paid upon receipt. |
💰 Numeric examples
Let's take a bag priced at €1,000 and see what it actually means depending on your country.
🇺🇸 Example — Buyer in New York (DDP)
The bag is listed at ~$1,030, plus shipping costs ($50 standard or $75 express). That's all she will pay. No customs invoice awaits her upon receipt: American import duties are already settled by us before shipping.
🇬🇧 Example — Buyer in London (DDU)
The bag is listed at ~£860 (simple conversion, no markup), plus shipping costs (£15 or £45). Upon receipt, the carrier may request UK VAT (20%) and any applicable duties before delivering the package — usually payment by card or online, in a few clicks.
🇨🇦 Example — Buyer in Montreal (DDU)
Same principle: the bag is listed in Canadian dollars without markup, and her province's GST/HST (5% to 15% depending on the region) is collected by the carrier upon delivery, along with any customs duties.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What do DDP and DDU mean?
DDP stands for "Delivered Duty Paid": customs duties and taxes are paid in advance by Le Comptoir Vintage, and the price displayed is the final price. DDU stands for "Delivered Duty Unpaid": customs duties and local taxes are your responsibility, paid to the carrier or customs upon receipt of the package.
Who pays customs fees, the buyer or the seller?
It depends on the mode. With DDP (United States, Switzerland), Le Comptoir Vintage pays import duties before shipping: you pay nothing extra upon delivery. With DDU (United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Norway, Australia…), the buyer pays local taxes upon receipt.
Why not put everyone on DDP?
The cost to absorb varies greatly depending on the country. In the United States and Switzerland, prepaid fees remain reasonable; in the United Kingdom or Canada, the local VAT (up to 20%) would make DDP much more costly to integrate into the price. We prefer to maintain competitive prices rather than artificially inflate them.
With DDU, how much will I pay exactly?
It depends on your country's regulations (local VAT rate, exemption thresholds, trade agreements). We cannot guarantee an exact amount in advance, but we remain available to guide you before your order.
Can the carrier demand money from me without warning?
No — with DDU, the carrier usually contacts you before delivery (SMS, email, or app) to ask you to pay customs fees online before dropping off the package.
Do I pay French VAT in addition?
Never. Any order shipped outside the European Union is an export, automatically exempt from French VAT. You only pay your own country's taxes (if applicable).
In summary
🇺🇸 United States and 🇨🇭 Switzerland: all-inclusive price, no surprises. 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 🇨🇦 Canada: lower purchase price, local taxes paid directly upon delivery. In all cases, no French VAT applies to your order. A question about your specific country? Write to us before ordering, we'll be happy to help.
