Purchasing a monofin while in Europe?

[Jadestone]

I want a new Finnis Wave monofin, and I'd hoped to be able to get one delivered to Ireland so I can have it for a few weeks here before taking it home with me. Sadly, shipping to here is REALLY EXPENSIVE it turns out. I have a $50 Amazon gift card I'd been hoping I could cover most of the cost of the monofin/shipping with, but getting one directly from Amazon would end up being over $100 and I don't have that kind of money. I've looked at people selling them on amazon and even at the finnis website by everything is just so expensive to ship D:

Do any European mers have finnis monofins? Were you able to get them for a price closer to their value?

I'd been hoping to do some mermaiding around Ireland/Europe while I'm here, but it just might not be possible :(

[Scottish Mer]

You might have to do a short trip to Scotland or England by ferries if you wanted to buy one and have the cost of shipping lower, just have it sent to the post office that you're going too. I got mine for £45 plus shipping within Scotland which is about 68.76 US Dollars last time checked, though it's not cheap it's a bit better than losing over $100. :)

[Jadestone]

That would certainly be less money, and I was hoping to go to the Isle of Skye anyway... if I could coordinate a way to pick it up in Scotland and then head there, I could use it for photoshoots there if I'm lucky. Thanks so much for the tip!!

What kind of monofin did you get/where did you order it from? :)

[Mermaid Fenicia]

I've orderd my wave using a shop in the Netherlands: http://www.zwemsport.com/en/?sid=2f41acabaa2cafefd12c808e7da03e36

[Scottish Mer]

I ordered the Finnis Wave monofin from Amazon and pretty much had it sent to my house since I lived in the main land of Scotland, you can easily speak to a seller whom is willing to send it to Scotland rather cheap, or even better find the address and have it sent to the post office near the area you'll be at in the Isle of Skye. You could maybe even phone them or pop in to give them a heads up when your there and maybe even do the 1-2 day (Or even have it appear the next day shipping but that depends on ordering times) deliver so it arrives sooner. I hope this helps! :)

[MerMar]

The shipping is dear when the goods pass a border. The reason is because you're paying the salary of one person to fill up an border document. In some cities you can fill up this document but you have to ask for to the seller.

If you buy within countries of the European Union the goods don't pass any border therefore the shipping is cheaper and faster. UK counts also with the Commonwealth. North Ireland is part of UK from tax and border point of view so you just need to go to Belfast that by the way is a must go place.

One of the cheapest on-line in Europe is one in Barcelona, why is one of the cheapest? its port, it's one of the gate of goods of Europe, both EU and Non-EU. They server Ireland pretty well.

The other cheapest on-line store in Europe should be near Netherlands, the other gate to Europe.

The post services in Ireland is very good. When my parents send me parcel from the Canary Islands I got it at the next day (there's direct flight) That means you won't need to pay an extra of a private company.

Another thing to take into account if the seller will provide you with a VALID invoice. When you travel back home you can claim back the tax paid here at the Airport but you need a valid invoice of each of your purchases and flight when the airport office is open. Evidence of purchasing isn't an invoice. Amazon the goods are selling from one person to another, customer to customer commerce, you wont' get any invoice.

The last thing to be careful, there're restriction in the number of monofins you can take home. USA border agents are well-known for being very stick on the rules.

Complicated? :jawdrop: hehehe I haven't talked about Andorra or Jersey yet. I'd leave it for a UK mer :)

[Mermaid Allie]

Oh no what happened to your fin!?

[Jadestone]

My fin was fine, just stuck in America while I was abroad! It was too big to bring with me when I went to Ireland for the semester.

Actually, I ended up making my own makeshift temporary fin for this trip instead of buying one--MUCH cheaper, didn't have to worry about shipping/transport back home, and since it only cost me around $20 to make I just threw it out when it was time to fly back to America.

In fact, I might as well do a thread about how I made it in case anyone else runs into similar trouble.