How to purchase for international customers

NOTE: All customers from outside the USA should contact us in advance by for shipping charges, handling fees, and payment instructions. PayPal customers should wait for us to send you an invoice that includes the correct amount for shipping and handling. If international customers decide to use the PayPal shopping cart without contacting us first, the shipping charges will default to US$60.00 and we will compute the correct shipping/handling charges and refund the excess. Shipping will default to Express Mail International. Typical costs for a single board will typically be less than US$40.00 including our handling fee. In the event that the shipping and handling charges would exceed US$60.00 we will contact you before processing your order.

• Overview
• Payment Methods
• Shipping Options

Overview

We accept orders from any international customer able to make payment via PayPal. Orders paid by other methods will be considered on a case by case basis.

All international orders (except Canada) MUST be shipped via a method that offers on-line tracking tracking information. Due to repeated problems, we no longer offer Postal delivery to Italy.

Orders shipping to Canada my be shipped by USPS Priority Mail if the customer is willing to accept the risk if the package is lost and postal authorities decide not to offer compensation. 

Duties, tariffs, and VAT may be collected by your government and are the responsibility of the purchaser. These duties can be a significant portion of your purchase cost depending on the duties collected by your government.

Customs processing in the receiving country can sometimes be a significant delay. To minimize delays, you should respond promptly to messages from your customs officials regarding your order. PMDX provides standardized customs declaration documents, but in rare cases your customs officials may request additional information. PMDX will assist with reasonable requests for additional documents.

Customs documents provided with your shipment will identify the contents as goods or merchandise and will show the actual purchase price excluding shipping and handling fees. Please do not ask us to falsify customs documents. Such requests cannot be honored.

All shipments are FOB our shipping point in Lorton, VA, USA. Items shipped to the customer become customer property at the time that a "common carrier" or shipping company accepts the package.  The risk of loss in shipment is assumed by the customer unless insurance is purchased.

If shipping insurance is desired, the customer must request and pay for the insurance. In some cases PMDX may require that the shipment be insured. Some shipping methods include a small amount of insurance by default. PMDX will assist the customer with insurance claims, should a claim need to be filed. Orders that are not cleared through customs due to failure of the customer to arrange payment of duties are not "lost" and insurance cannot be collected for them.

If an order is returned to PMDX because the customer did not pay the duties required, or the shipping company could not deliver the package, PMDX will refund the customer's payment, less the cost of shipping to the customer and also less the cost of the return shipping. Refunds may be significantly delayed because the process for returning an undeliverable package takes a long time.

International orders are charged a handling fee, usually US$6.00, to prepare the necessary export documentation. 

Customers from outside the United States must make payment for all items in US dollars.

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International Payment Methods

1) PayPal, our preferred payment option

    This service is available in most countries and allows you to use most credit cards. When we email you a PayPal invoice there will be a link to instructions that will allow customers in most countries to make credit card payment even if you do not have a PayPal account. If you are required to have a PayPal account, signup is easy if you are not already using Paypal.  For additional information on how to set up and use a Paypal account, please click on the Paypal logo above and then click on the PayPal Worldwide link at the bottom of the page.

    All customers should wait for us to send you an invoice that includes the correct amount for shipping and handling. Please contact us by email for shipping and handling charges. If international customers decide to use the PayPal shopping cart without contacting us first, the shipping charges will default to US$60.00 and we will compute the correct shipping/handling charges and refund the excess. Shipping will default to Express Mail International. Typical costs for a single board will typically be less than US$40.00 including our handling fee. In the event that the shipping and handling charges would exceed US$60.00 we will contact you before processing your order.

2) Credit Cards

    Credit card orders can ONLY be processed using PayPal. You do not need to have a PayPal account to make a credit card purchase through them. We DO NOT accept credit cards by phone, fax, or mail.

3) Bank wire transfer

    Wire transfers through banking channels are possible, but expensive because our bank does not operate internationally and does not have a SWIFT number. Your bank must work through a Correspondent Bank in the USA. Please contact us by email for details including shipping and handling charges.

4) Bank check or draft

    All checks or money orders should be payable to Practical Micro Design, Inc. (our parent company). All checks will be subject to a waiting period of 15 business days for bank processing. All checks must be payable in US dollars. A processing fee of  US$20.00 must be added for international collection services. Please contact us by email for details including shipping and handling charges.

5) Canadian Postal Money Order

    Canadian customers may pay with Canadian postal money orders issued in US dollars. There is a $US6.00 added fee for this type of  payment to cover our cost of collection. Please contact us by email for details including shipping and handling charges.

6) Western Union

    We no longer accept payment by Western Union wire transfers because they have made it too difficult and time consuming to collect payment. Western Union money orders in US dollars may be mailed to us. Please contact us by email for details including shipping and handling charges.

7) Cash On Delivery (COD)

    We do not accept COD orders.

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Available International Shipping Options

1) Using Express Mail International  (postal service, this is our default method)

    You will be charged postage and insurance based on internationally regulated rates, plus a US$6.00 fee for handling and customs paperwork. This service is generally less expensive than other carriers and includes basic on line tracking. We do not offer International Priority Mail because tracking is not available. Delivery time is usually three to seven business days plus any time required by customs clearance in your country. Postal and customs service will vary based on practices in your country. Please send us an email telling us what you wish to order, where it will be delivered, and a telephone number at the delivery address. We will send you a PayPal invoice with the correct charges. 

If international customers decide to use the PayPal shopping cart without contacting us first, the shipping charges will default to US$60.00 and we will compute the correct shipping/handling charges and refund the excess. Shipping will default to Express Mail International. Typical costs for a single board will typically be less than US$40.00 including our handling fee. In the event that the shipping and handling charges would exceed US$60.00 we will contact you before processing your order.

Due to repeated problems, postal service to ITALY is NO LONGER OFFERED. Please request FedEX or UPS.

In a few cases the postal service states that it offers guaranteed delivery schedules. PMDX is not responsible for postal delivery delays, and due to excessive bureaucracy, will not make claims with postal agencies for refunds due to slow delivery. PMDX will seek refunds in the case of insured shipments that are not delivered. 

2) Using a freight forwarder or a friend based in the USA

    PMDX will allow a customer to use a freight forwarder or friend based in the USA as an agent to assist with shipping, but PMDX will not be involved with or responsible for delays, losses, or damage that occur after the shipment arrives at the agent. Claims for any problems that happen to a shipment from PMDX to an agent must be filed by the agent with the assistance of the customer. Claims for any problems that happen after the shipment arrives successfully at the agent are not the responsibility of PMDX and must be resolved between the agent and the customer.

    You will be charged our standard USA domestic shipping rate. Because PayPal tries to automatically compute shipping based on the address of the buyer, DO NOT try to order using our shipping cart if your PayPal account is registered with an address outside the USA. Please send us an email telling us what you wish to order and where it will be delivered. We will send you a PayPal invoice with the correct charges. Local pickup and delivery inside the state of Virginia will be subject to a 5% local sales tax.

3) Using Federal Express (FedEX)

    You will be charged the cost quoted by Federal Express, plus a US$6.00 fee for handling and customs paperwork. Delivery time depends on the class of service selected and can range from one to three days. Federal Express normally provides customs brokerage in your country and there is little customs delay. Full on line tracking is provided. Please send us an email telling us what you wish to order, where it will be delivered, a telephone number at the delivery address, and which class of Federal Express service you desire. We will send you a PayPal invoice with the correct charges. If you have a Federal Express account and supply us with your account number, the shipping can be charged directly to you.

4) Using United Parcel Service (UPS)

    You will be charged the cost quoted by United Parcel Service, plus a US$6.00 fee for handling and customs paperwork. Delivery time depends on the class of service selected and can range from one to five days. United Parcel Service provides customs brokerage in many countries. Customs clearance time and fees vary. Customs fees charged in Canada are significantly greater than those of other carriers and UPS to Canada is only recommended for those customers who have their own customs broker. Full on line tracking is provided. Please send us an email telling us what you wish to order, where it will be delivered, a telephone number at the delivery address, and which class of UPS service you desire. UPS ground service is available to Canada. We will send you a PayPal invoice with the correct charges. If you have a UPS account and supply us with your account number, the shipping can be charged directly to you.

5) Using DHL

    Delivery by DHL is only available to customers with a DHL account and who want the shipping charged directly to their account. Please send us an email telling us what you wish to order, where it will be delivered, your DHL account number, and a telephone number at the delivery address. We will send you a PayPal invoice with the correct charges.

6) Using TNT or other shippers not listed above

    PMDX does not ship by TNT or other shippers not listed above under normal circumstances. If you absolutely must use TNT or other shippers not listed above, please contact us for instructions and costs.

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