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ESCAENPA

Suppliers, shipping and customs

The supplier is half of your business. If they fail, the customer blames you.

AliExpressThe easiest way to start, with no minimums. But shipping usually takes 7-20 days, you don’t control quality and the parcel may arrive with other companies’ flyers.
Platforms (CJ, etc.)They connect to Shopify and automate orders. Some have warehouses in Europe with faster shipping.
Agent in ChinaBuys, checks and ships for you. Better prices and quality once you sell a fair amount. Pointless with 5 orders.
Wholesaler in Spain/EUMore expensive per unit, but delivery in 1-3 days, no customs and products that already meet EU rules.

What changed in 2026 for parcels from outside the EU

  • Since 1 July 2026, the EU charges a flat customs duty of €3 per type of item on parcels under €150 arriving from outside (China included). Before, they were duty-free.
  • From 1 November 2026 a handling fee of about €2 per parcel is also planned.
  • VAT has been charged since 2021. The seller collects it through IOSS; otherwise the customer is charged when the parcel arrives.
If the customer gets a notice saying “pay €8 to receive your parcel”, you’ll get a complaint, a return or a chargeback. Always ask the supplier whether EU shipments go with IOSS and customs paid.

Delivery times

Spanish law sets a default maximum of 30 days to deliver, unless you agree otherwise. But the real problem isn’t the law: people are now used to getting things in 1-2 days. A 15-day delivery brings “where’s my order?” messages and cancellations. Show the real delivery time clearly on the website.

Before working with a supplier

  • Order samples and measure the real delivery time.
  • Ask about returns: what happens if it arrives broken? Will they replace it?
  • Ask for the product’s safety documents (CE marking if needed) and the manufacturer’s details.
  • Always have a second supplier in case the first runs out of stock.