RATES AND FEES
- How are shipping fees calculated?
- Rates table
- Mandatory Surcharges
- Insurance
- Taxes & duties
- OneBox
- Fragile items
- Exceptional activity surcharges
How are shipping fees calculated?
Shipping charges are calculated using a flat fee for the first half kilogram, with a lower subsequent fee charge for every additional half kilogram.
Shipping weight is determined by volumetric and actual weight of a shipment – whichever is greater. Volumetric weight is calculated by multiplying the dimensions of a package and dividing the result via a volumetric factor.
Rates table
View our international shipping rates to your country. See weights guide
| Description | Express | Standard | PRIME UPGRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 0.5kg | US$ | US$ | US$ |
| Every additional 0.5kg | US$ | US$ | US$ |
| Speed of Delivery (business days) |
3 - 5 | 6 - 8 | 3 - 5 |
| SERVICE | STANDARD | PRIME |
|---|---|---|
| International shipping fees | ||
| BuyForMe fee | 10% of transaction cost | |
| Combining of Packages | Free for first 3, US$1 for each subsequent package | Free |
| Repack | US$7: Box cut downs US$5: box to bag transfers |
US$5: Box cut downs US$3: box to bag transfers |
| Storage | Free for 30days, US$1/day after |
Free for 60days, US$1/day after |
| Express Delivery Upgrade | Automatic Upgrade to Express Delivery | |
| Returns from the US address | US$ 4.00 for the 1st package, and $2.50 for each additional package per transaction | US$ 4.00 for the 1st package, and $2.50 for each additional package per transaction |
MANDATORY SURCHARGES
Fuel Surcharge (FS) is imposed by our logistics partners and varies with current fuel prices in the market. It is calculated by the current prices multiplied by the sum of international shipping and remote area surcharge, if any.
Crisis Delivery Surcharge (CDS) is imposed to ensure the operational continuity of our logistics partners and maintain the high quality of service to all international shipments brought by the interruption of the COVID-19 crisis. This surcharge is temporary and will be lifted as soon as the global situation improves. It is calculated by multiplying the shipping weight and the CDS rate specific to each country.
| Bahrain, Brunei, China, Egypt, French Polynesia, India, Japan, Lebanon, Macao, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam | US$0.20 per kg |
| Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan | US$0.22 per kg |
| Rest of the World | US$1.10 per kg |
| Australia, New Zealand | US$2.43 per kg |
Insurance
At comGateway, we insure all packages for international shipping against loss or damage.
Effective 2021 August 01, insurance cost will now amount to 1.50% (from 1%) of the total charges paid to comGateway. Total charges include:
- Item cost
- US domestic shipping charges (for BuyForMe orders only)
- International shipping charges
- Fuel surcharge
- Remote area surcharge, if applicable
Coverage is limited to US$25,000. Compensation for loss or damage will be based on
- Total value of goods declared
- U.S domestic shipping charges (for BuyForMe orders only)
- international shipping charges from the US to a package's final destination
Taxes & duties
A. Singapore
Shipments to Singapore are subject to 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST) if their CIF (Cost of Goods + Insurance + Freight) exceeds S$400. If applicable, GST is paid at international shipping checkout with us, and no further payment is required upon receipt of your shipment. If your shipment contains Tobacco/Cigar, Liquor/Wine and/or Silver Coins, any applicable duties will be paid to the delivery courier when you receive your shipment.
How is GST calculated? (Singapore)
For shipments to Singapore, all declared values of goods, insurance and freight charges (before any applicable discounts) are converted to Singapore Dollars at the latest exchange rate as per Singapore Customs.
Example:
- Declared Cost of Goods: S$390
- Total Freight Charges (before promotion): S$30
- Insurance: S$4.20
- Applicable GST would be S$29.69 (7% of S$(390+30+4.20))
Note: While the Cost of Goods in this example is S$390, and less than S$400, its CIF value (S$424.20) exceeds the tax-free allowance of S$400, thus GST is applicable.
What are GST handling fees?
It is the processing/administrative fee (5%) levied on the GST amount payable.
B. Australia
Shipments to Australia are delivered duty paid (DDP), hence taxes and duties are included in your total shipping cost. To learn more how GST applies to your Australia shipment, click here.
C. Rest of the World
All imported goods are subject to a country's customs and duties. As limits and regulations vary in different countries, we encourage you to check on the website of your country's governing authority.
Shipments to the rest of the world, are delivered with duty unpaid (DDU). This means duties and customs will not be included on your final checkout during shipment. Duties and custom payments will be made to the courier delivering your package.
ONEBOX
You can combine packages into one container once they reach your US address to reduce your shipping weight. OneBox is the best and cost-effective way to ship multiple packages from various online stores by repacking and combining them. Click here to learn more.
With effect on 8 February 2021, the OneBox fee will be:
| First 3 packages | US$10 |
| Each subsequent package | US$2 |
Fragile items
Crating ensures fragile items with insufficient protection arrive safely at their international destination.
When an item is flagged for crating due insufficient protection, a customer may:
- Ship the parcel as it is. Insurance will only cover lost or missing items, and not item damage, or
- Crate the package, so it is insured against damage. Crating fees are quoted upon request, and crating may affect final shipping weight.
The following items are usually fragile and subject to crating
- Big/flat screen TVs
- Chandeliers
- Large porcelain/glass figurines
- Mirrors
Crating fees will be determined on an individual basis and customers will be notified of crating details when their shipments arrive at their US Address.
Please note that crating will also affect shipping rate, as dimensions and actual weight will change. Rates will be determined by volumetric or actual weight, whatever is higher. Your chargeable shipping weight will be based on the new weight of your package after it has been crated (inclusive of the crate). Due to the increase in dimensions and weight, only select couriers may ship crated packages.
EXCEPTIONAL ACTIVITY SURCHARGES
Our logistics partners: DHL and FedEx levy under given conditions a surcharge for special deliveries which accounts for 5% of shipments annually. comGateway regularly reviews these surcharges to reflect the changing costs associated with shipping exceptional packages, and we strive to ensure these surcharges remain transparent for our customers.
| Surcharge | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| HazMat (Hazardous Materials) Fee | $32.00 - $140.00 | Allows comGateway to ship most personal consumer commodities that are prohibited for air shipping. These include but is not limited to perfumes, nail polish, hair sprays, etc. |
| Battery Surcharge | $18.00 - $120.00 | Due to safety concerns, IATA has enforced battery shipping regulations with effect from 1st April 2016. All loose lithium batteries are now classified as Dangerous Goods and must be shipped separately via Standard shipping. Additional transit times may be needed, whenever necessary. This surcharge is payable to a shipment containing loose lithium-ion battery(ies) such as power banks, GoPro batteries, etc. |
| Remote Area Surcharge | $10.00 - $45.00 | Imposed on shipments when a delivery destination lies beyond a courier delivery agent's standard service area and may add 3-5 business days to your delivery schedule. The couriers determine these areas and are identified by the postal code. |
| Large Package Surcharge | $12.00 | Shipments are considered "large" if they contain 1 or more packages measuring courier set dimensions and weight. Oversized/overweight shipments are not assessed of this fee. |
| Oversized Fee Overweight Fee |
$37.00 - $105.00 $50.00 - $105.00 per package |
Air cargo hold is limited. Thus, couriers set a limit on the size and weight of packages delivered. This surcharge is for shipments with a package exceeding courier's large package limit up to the allowable limit in weight and dimensions. |
| High-Risk Destination Surcharge | $20.00 - $73.00 | Payable to a shipment delivered to countries where couriers are operating at risk due to a continuous state of war, civil unrest, or threats from terrorism. Destination countries affected: Afghanistan, Burundi, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Niger, and Yemen. |
| Exporter Validation Fee | $30.00 | Payable to a shipment delivered to countries that are subject to trade restrictions imposed by U.S. Federal Regulatory Agencies such as the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Countries in scope: Afghanistan, Belarus, Lebanon, Myanmar, and Zimbabwe. |
| Country Sanction Surcharge | $30.00 - $73.00 | Payable to a shipment delivered to countries that are subject to trade restrictions imposed by the UN Security Council. Countries in scope: The Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen. |
*Note: Variations in cost depends on the delivering courier and shipment's final destination.
