Hidden fees!!
Hidden fees!!! The website is design to look like a U.S. company, but it’s actually shipping from Belgium. The route of shipping they used resulted in $43 USD extra surprise fees (about 25% of what I paid for the earrings) which they don’t tell you at checkout or anywhere obvious during the entire purchase process. Yes, it’s vaguely mentioned (no dollar amount specified) in the shipping page, but they did bother to make it hard to find. If it’s clearly stated that this is a Belgium company, I would have ask them/try to dig around on their website about the fees, and avoided purchasing.
Reply from Science Jewelry 18:24
I’m sorry to hear you were surprised by import fees, I completely understand how that can be frustrating.
Science Jewelry 18:24 is based in Belgium, and all our jewelry ships securely with DHL Express. For transparency, we mention on our Shipping & Returns page that international orders may be subject to import taxes or customs duties. These are not hidden or added by us, they’re charged directly by local customs authorities, and we unfortunately have no control over their amount or application.
We know import regulations can vary a lot by country, so we always try to make this clear upfront. It’s also one reason we include free worldwide DHL Express shipping on every order, so our customers receive their pieces quickly and safely.
I’m sorry this felt unclear in your case, but we certainly don’t intend to mislead anyone. We’re proud of being an independent Belgian brand loved by science enthusiasts around the world, and we truly appreciate your feedback, as it helps others understand how international shipping works.
Kind regards,
Luk Cox
Co-Founder, Science Jewelry 18:24