EU Postal Tariffs: FAQs & Important Updates

Frequently Asked Questions

Please ensure you have thoroughly reviewed and comprehended these instructions prior to placing your order.

 

Phone Number Requirement (All EU & US Customers)

  • All EU & US orders require a phone number for shipping labels.
  • Our website checkout requires a phone number, but please double-check that it is accurate.
  • If you don’t send your number when requested, your order will be delayed.
  • If no number is provided after repeated requests, I will use the phone number of your local delivery office so the parcel can be sent.

Tariffs (US Customers)

  • As of August 2025, tariffs apply to all imports into the US (no de minimis).
  • Trash Compactor pays these tariffs upfront when shipping your order.
  • You will not be charged extra on delivery.
  • If a postal service tries to bill you, it’s a duplicate charge—tariffs are already covered by us. ​

EU Customs Duty Update (EU Customers Only)

  • Important EU Customs & Delivery Updates (July 2026)
  • Will I have to pay customs fees on new orders? No. For all new orders placed on or after 1 July 2026, Trash Compactor pays these import charges upfront on your behalf. Our pricing has been adjusted to cover this, ensuring your package arrives at your doorstep with no surprise fees to pay on delivery.
  • Is there a maximum order limit for the EU? Yes. Due to the rigid new EU regulations, single orders for EU delivery cannot exceed €150 (~£126). If you want to buy items that total more than this, please split them into smaller, separate orders.
  • What if I placed my order before 1 July 2026 but it is shipping now? Because the EU permanently removed the low-value customs exemption on 1 July 2026, packages landing now fall under the new laws. Since no upfront fee could be collected when you checked out, we unfortunately cannot cover these charges retroactively. You may be charged a fee of up to 20% of the order value by your local customs authority before delivery.

What You’re Buying

  • 3D-printed vintage-style figures and accessories (resin or FDM hard plastic). See item pages for details.
  • Sold unpainted model kits or accerssoires that are uncarded—ready for you to assemble and finish.
  • Durable but not indestructible. Not suitable for children.
  • Original designs made to fit vintage/retro collections. Not recasts, scans, or kit-bashes.

Painting & Finishing

  • Trash Compactor doesn't sell painted finished kits anymore, this is due to not having the capacity. (If you do require painted figures please check out some suggested painters further below.)
  • Some parts are printed in coloured resin, but painting is recommended to protect and preserve the surface.
  • For best results: use acrylic paints and seal with satin or matte UV-resistant varnish. Unsealed resin may dry out over time, leading to splitting or discolouration. Once painted or sealed, figures will last for years.
  • FDM (hard printed plastic) parts don't really require painting. It's up to you.

Colour Notes

  • Slight colour variations may occur due to different resin types with different properties. I select colors carefully to make painting easier.
  • Some say my designs are “too detailed” for vintage figures. I disagree. Paint layers naturally soften details, preventing a blob-like look and preserving definition.

Production & Dispatch

  • Orders are processed in the order they arrive.
  • Some items are in stock; others are made-to-order. Dispatch times are shown on each listing.
  • Large items are only printed to order due to storage limits.
  • If your order contains items with different dispatch times, the longest time applies.
  • Once shipped, you’ll get an email with tracking. If it’s missing, the item may still be awaiting Royal Mail collection.
  • Please create an account when checking out. Guest checkouts can limit my ability to easily combine multiple separate orders or automatically link your tracking history.

Delivery Times

  • Delivery = production time + shipping time.
  • Example: 2 weeks production + 1 week shipping = 3 weeks total.
  • If your order is larger than a standard order it may take me longer.
  • Once parcels leave the UK, tracking and delivery are handled by your local postal service. I cannot intervene once it’s out of Royal Mail’s hands.
  • Please don’t chase tracking before the indicated shipping week.

Postage & Order Limits

  • Shipping Insurance Options: We offer £20, £50, or £250 Tracked & Signed shipping options at checkout.
  • Maximum Box Insurance: The maximum insurance value per single shipped box is £250. Orders valued over £250 may be split into multiple parcels. If your order requires being split or exceeds standard weight limits, I may request extra postage before dispatch.
  • Our Customs Duty Cap (£50 Limit): While Trash Compactor pays EU import charges upfront for new orders, we only cover customs fees up to a maximum order value of £50.
  • How this works: If you place an order worth up to £50, your customs fees are fully covered. If you place a larger order—for example, £250—Trash Compactor will pay the fees associated with the first £50 of that value, and you will be responsible for paying the remaining customs fees, taxes, or handling duties applied by your local authorities on the value over £50.
  • Please keep this in mind when placing large orders, no matter the physical size of the parcel.
    If you have an issue with this then try using the combine orders option,

Combining Orders

  • If you place several orders (say of £50 value each)  let me know—I’ll do my best to merge them and refund any excess postage as those order will be connected to one order number and value.
  • Make sure you order using the same customer account. Guest accounts don't link up in the system automatically, and I might not see that you have multiple orders.
  • Please avoid placing lots of single-item orders, as this creates unnecessary admin work and slows down production for everyone.

Postage Refunds

  • I will issue postage refunds when I can if I notice multiple orders from the same customer, but I don't always spot them automatically—so please reach out and let me know!

Discounts & Codes

  • Trash Compactor doesn’t offer blanket discounts.
  • Any promotional codes or special offers will be shared directly through our official channels or newsletter. Our pricing is kept as fair as possible without inflating base costs.

Order Status & Tracking

  • “Completed” = order packed or awaiting Royal Mail pickup.
  • Tracking is added once Royal Mail collects your parcel.
  • You will receive an automated dispatch email when the label is printed—please ignore it until the tracking number goes live.

Damaged or Lost Parcels

  • If your local delivery service is involved:
  • Report it as lost or damaged directly with your provider.
  • Provide the parcel value if asked.
  • I can assist with Royal Mail claims from the UK end, but I cannot contact non-UK postal services on your behalf. 
     

Missing or Delayed International Parcels

  • When you place an order, your shipping pays for Royal Mail Tracked & Signed service. Once the parcel leaves the UK, Royal Mail hands the physical delivery over to your country's national postal service (such as USPS in the USA or your local national post in the EU).
  • Tracking Hand-Off: Once the parcel is outside the UK, your local postal service becomes the primary handler.
  • Local Delivery Issues: If a parcel is marked as "attempted delivery," "held at depot," or is delayed after leaving the UK, you must contact your local postal delivery office directly.
  • Why I cannot call them for you: Overseas postal services do not grant UK sellers access to their local delivery networks or customer service systems. They will only speak to the resident at the destination address.
  • Lost Parcels: If the tracking completely stops updating and the package is deemed legally lost, please let me know. There parcel has to be clearly missing for 30 Days from postage before I can file an official loss claim with Royal Mail from my end to recover the insured value and get you sorted, but I cannot manage day-to-day tracking inquiries with external carriers in your country.
  • I know it is incredibly frustrating when a parcel goes missing. While it’s thankfully a very rare occurrence, it does happen from time to time, and it’s just as frustrating for me as it is for you. Please bear that in mind when getting in touch—I am completely on your side, and I will always do everything I can to help get it sorted out for you.
     

Contact & Customer Service

  • Please contact me directly via the website contact form before leaving any public negative feedback—I’ll always try to resolve issues. I hate for anyone to be unhappy.
  • Issues regarding delayed or lost mail are out of my control, but I am always happy to help solve them if approached respectfully.

Social Media & Community

Unclaimed or Returned Orders

  • If an item is returned due to an uncollected delivery, wrong address, or mismatched delivery name, you can choose:
  • A refund minus the original postage cost, or
  • To have it resent by paying the postage fee again.
  • Always double-check your account shipping address before hitting order!

Original Designs & Copyright

  • 99% of items are my original creations.
  • If another designer’s work is used, it’s always credited and sold with permission and listed on the description page.
  • I don’t sell digital files apart from those that have already been listed.

Suggested Painters

  • Looking to commission painting? Recommended artists:
  • Greg Matthews (US-based): Ouroboros Customs. I frequently send items to him for painting on behalf of others. www.instagram.com/ouroboros_customs
  • Hayden Rogers (UK-based): The Retro Painter. He’s another incredibly talented artist. www.instagram.com/haydenarogers
  • I’m not entirely familiar with their exact processes, but the best thing to do is reach out to them directly. They’re both super helpful and very reasonable to work with. Do check out their Instagram accounts.
  • If this FAQ doesn’t address your question, feel free to reach out via our contact page, and I’ll respond as soon as possible!

 

 

Thanks for your time, and May the Force be with you!

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