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If you’ve ever looked at the price of an imported book and wondered why it’s so high, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common questions we receive, so we wanted to take a moment to explain exactly what goes into the final cost—and what we’re doing to bring prices down wherever possible.
The Five Cost Components
The price of each imported book is made up of five key elements:
1. Base Price of the Book – This is what we pay the supplier for the book itself.
2. Customs and Shipping – These typically add up to a maximum of 200% of the book’s base price, making them the most significant cost factor. (On our most recent order, we paid 47% customs duties alone!)
3. Operating Costs – This includes transaction fees, website hosting, and other business expenses.
4. A Very Slim Margin – Just enough to keep the business running sustainably.
We always strive to keep costs as low as possible, but the reality is that import-related expenses leave very little room for adjustment.
What we’re doing to reduce costs
We always work with our suppliers to secure discounted prices, and while customs duties remain fixed, we’re actively working to lower shipping costs.
Thank you for your support and understanding—we know how frustrating high book prices can be (it was a big factor behind the origin of Surrender Gifts), and we appreciate every customer who makes the effort to shop with us despite these challenges.
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out!