International shipping update

Ordering a Howler from the UK and from the US has recently become more complicated. Changes in customs rules in both the UK and the US mean that customers now face extra costs on delivery. We want to explain clearly what this means for you, so there are no surprises when your Howler arrives.

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TL;DR

• US tariffs: Expect to pay about 15% in extra charges on delivery.
• Free shipping to the US is currently unavailable, expedited shipping is available as usual
• UK customs charge: Expect to pay about 20% in extra charges on delivery.

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🇺🇸 US tariffs

Two major changes currently affect US imports from Europe:

1. The end of the $800 de minimis exemption. Until recently, US customers could order goods worth up to $800 from abroad without paying any customs duty. That rule ended on August 29, 2025. From that date, nearly all imports (except gifts valued under $100) are subject to customs duties and taxes, no matter the value.
2. A new 15% tariff on European goods. In July 2025, the current US administration announced an additional 15% tariff on imports from Europe, covering most categories of consumer electronics.

For the Howler Recorder+Streamer ($219), the 15% tariffs amounts to approximately $33.

These costs may vary slightly by state and additional processing fees may apply.

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Free shipping to the US is currently unavailable

In August 2025, PostNL (the Dutch postal service) temporarily suspended all parcel shipments to the United States because of new US customs regulations. According to PostNL, this is because US Customs is not yet prepared to process the new import rules, which require more detailed declarations and duty collection on every parcel. To avoid the risk of shipments being delayed or rejected, PostNL has paused parcel services until the situation is resolved.

We use PostNL for our standard worldwide free shipping. That is why free shipping is temporarily unavailable for US customers. However, (paid) expedited shipping to the US using FedEx is still available!

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🇬🇧 UK customs charges

Since Brexit, the UK is no longer part of the EU customs union. That means products ordered from the EU are treated as imports. There is an exemption for orders under £135.

For the Howler recorder+streamer (£169), the additional charges are:

• Import VAT (20%): £34
• Handling Fee: £8–£12

You will need to pay about £40 extra when your parcel arrives.

If you only order add-ons, your order will usually be below £135, so you should not have to pay any extra charge.

While these charges vary slightly depending on the courier, most UK customers can expect the above amounts. This change applies to all EU imports above £135.

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Disclaimer & questions

We do our best to provide accurate information, but international customs rules are complex and changing quickly. We cannot guarantee that the charges listed here will always apply exactly as described, and we cannot be held accountable for additional fees imposed by customs or couriers.

If you have questions or remarks about shipping to your country, please feel free to contact us:
📧 Shoot us an email at contact@howler-audio.com
📝 Or just fill in our contact form

and we will get back to you as soon as possible!