What a GTBuy order actually costs.

Why consolidation is the money lever

International shipping is priced on weight and box size, so many small parcels cost far more than one combined parcel. Consolidation is where GTBuy's warehouse earns its keep. Here's the shape of it, with round illustrative numbers:

Volumetric weight — the hidden one

Couriers charge on the greater of actual weight and "volumetric" weight (how much space the box takes). A light but bulky item — a padded jacket, a shoebox — can be priced by its size. This is why GTBuy removing original boxes and compressing a parcel matters, and why beginners who skip consolidation overpay.

Shipping lines: fast, cheap, or tracked

International shipping isn't one price — it's a menu. GTBuy shows the available lines to your country at checkout, and the right choice depends on what you're shipping. In general you're trading three things against each other:

• Speed — express couriers land in days; economy lines take weeks.
• Price — economy and slower postal lines cost the least per kilo.
• Tracking & reliability — premium lines track door to door; the cheapest may go quiet in transit.

A rough rule: match the line to the value of the parcel. Something expensive or time-sensitive deserves a faster, fully-tracked line; a cheap, patient haul can ride an economy line. Don't reflexively pick the cheapest number — the slowest option can cost you in worry and, occasionally, in lost-parcel headaches.

Customs & import tax

This one trips up nearly every beginner: the shipping fee is not your final cost. When a parcel enters your country, your own customs authority may charge import duty and/or VAT based on the declared value and your local rules. GTBuy doesn't set this and can't waive it — it's between you and your government.

What you can do: know your country's de-minimis threshold (the value below which parcels usually clear duty-free), keep your order value realistic, and budget for the possibility of a charge on delivery. It's better to expect a customs bill and not get one than the reverse.

A realistic mental model of your total

So the total for a GTBuy order is: item price + domestic shipping + service fee + international shipping + (possibly) customs. The first three are known when you order; the fourth once you consolidate; the fifth on arrival. No single number is hidden — they just arrive at different stops. Once you've seen the pattern once, every future order is predictable. Confirm the live rate for each part on gtbuy.com; the figures on this page are illustrative teaching aids, not quotes.