The Tovora Journal · Edition FAQ

Everything you'd ask over the counter, answered in writing.

Shipping, duties, returns, payments — the fine print, translated into plain words. And if it's not here, a human is one tap away.

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Shipping & delivery

8 questions
How long does international delivery take?

Standard delivery: 3–7 business days within the US, UK and EU; 6–14 days for the rest of the world. Express options arrive in 2–5 days almost anywhere.

Every listing shows a delivery estimate for your exact country before you buy — no surprises after checkout.

Where do you ship?

We deliver to 190+ countries and territories — the full picture, region by region.

RegionDestinationsStandard deliveryDuties & import taxes
Americas355–12 daysCollected at checkout on flagship routes (US, CA, MX, BR) — otherwise due at delivery
Europe443–7 daysCollected at checkout across the EU, UK & EEA — the price you see is the final price
Asia-Pacific406–14 daysCollected at checkout where possible — otherwise due at delivery
Middle East & Africa738–20 daysDue at delivery for most destinations — estimated at checkout where we can
Total190+

A handful of destinations are restricted by sanctions and export controls.

Can I collect my order instead of having it shipped?

Yes — Pickup point is a delivery option at checkout for orders shipping to the US, UK, Japan, Germany, France, Portugal and the Netherlands. Choose a point near you, and your receipt carries a 6-character collection code.

Pickup orders show Ready for pickup in tracking instead of a delivery estimate — bring your code and a matching ID to the counter and the order is yours.

Will I get a tracking number?

Yes — every shipment is tracked, no exceptions. The number arrives by email the moment your seller dispatches, and you can follow the parcel any time from the Orders page.

Can I send different items to different addresses?

Absolutely. At checkout choose “Ship to multiple addresses” and assign each item its own destination — perfect for gifts. Each address gets its own shipment, tracking number and delivery estimate.

What if my parcel is late?

If a shipment misses its promised window, we'll reimburse or re-ship — your choice — and your Tovora Buyer Promise window extends automatically. Just open a case from the Orders page.

How does the two-stage journey work?

Every cross-border parcel travels in two stages:

  • Stage 1 — seller to Hub: your seller ships to the nearest Tovora Global Hub (Frankfurt, Tokyo, …).
  • Stage 2 — Hub to you: we handle consolidation, export clearance, the international leg, import customs and last-mile delivery.

The moment your parcel is scanned at the Hub, responsibility transfers to Tovora — from that scan onward, we guarantee it. See a live journey →

How fast is each shipping track?

Every listing offers two tracks — Tovora Fulfilled ships from a warehouse near you; Standard travels via the Global Hub.

Estimates for the 40 flagship destinations:

DestinationTovora FulfilledStandard (via Hub)
United States1–3 days2–4 days
Canada2–4 days4–8 days
Mexico3–5 days6–10 days
Brazil3–5 days7–12 days
Chile3–5 days8–14 days
Argentina3–5 days9–15 days
United Kingdom2–3 days4–7 days
Germany1–2 days3–5 days
France1–2 days3–6 days
Spain2–3 days4–7 days
Netherlands1–2 days3–5 days
Poland2–3 days4–7 days
Italy1–2 days3–5 days
Belgium1–2 days3–5 days
Sweden2–3 days4–7 days
Denmark2–3 days4–7 days
Ireland2–3 days4–7 days
Austria1–2 days3–5 days
Switzerland2–3 days4–7 days
Norway2–3 days5–8 days
Finland2–3 days5–8 days
Portugal2–3 days4–7 days
Greece2–3 days5–8 days
Czech Republic2–3 days4–7 days
Hungary2–4 days4–7 days
Romania2–4 days5–8 days
Australia3–5 days7–12 days
Japan2–4 days6–10 days
Singapore2–3 days5–8 days
New Zealand3–5 days8–14 days
South Korea2–4 days6–10 days
Malaysia2–4 days6–10 days
Thailand2–4 days6–12 days
Vietnam2–4 days7–12 days
Philippines2–4 days7–12 days
Indonesia2–4 days7–12 days
India2–4 days7–12 days
United Arab Emirates3–5 days6–10 days
Saudi Arabia3–5 days6–10 days
South Africa3–5 days9–15 days

Whichever track you pick, every parcel is tracked end-to-end — no exceptions.

Duties & taxes

4 questions
Will I pay customs fees?

It depends on the destination — and the checkout shows you before you pay:

  • US — duty-free under $800 (de minimis).
  • UK & EU — VAT is collected at checkout, nothing due at your door.
  • Other countries — an estimate is shown; some fees may be due at delivery.
What does DDP mean?

Delivered Duty Paid: the seller prepays import duties and taxes, so customs releases the parcel without asking you for a cent. Look for the “Duties included” note in checkout.

Can I get a refund on import fees?

If an order is returned or refunded, import fees paid at checkout are refunded automatically within 3–5 business days — no forms, no chasing.

Where do I see exactly what I paid for duty?

Three places, one number:

  • Checkout — a category-aware estimate before you pay (electronics 0%, leather goods 5%, home & kitchen 3%, fashion 8%, plus VAT where it applies).
  • The tracking page — a Duty paid (DDP) node shows the exact amount customs billed, matched against your estimate.
  • Your receipt — the final line item on every order.

DDP means you've already paid — customs releases the parcel without asking for a cent more.

Returns & refunds

5 questions
What is the return policy?

Every order is covered by the Tovora Buyer Promise. Not as described, damaged or lost? You're covered for 90 days with a full refund including shipping. Changed your mind? Return within 30 days — your first return on any order ships free.

What if my item isn't as described?

Report it from your Orders page within 90 days of delivery — you're owed a full refund, including shipping. Here's how a claim plays out:

  • We ask the seller to respond within 48 hours.
  • No fair answer? Tovora steps in and issues your refund automatically.
  • Refunds are paid straight from the escrowed seller funds Tovora holds until your order is confirmed delivered — no waiting on the seller's goodwill.
How do returns work internationally?

We'll issue a prepaid label to a local drop-off point — no cross-border post-office gymnastics. Refunds start the moment the return is scanned.

How long until I see my refund?

Refunds land back on your original payment method within 3–5 business days after the return is scanned. Klarna and PayPal may take a little longer on their side.

What is the full refund timeline?
StepWhen
Return request + prepaid labelInstantly, from your Orders page
Parcel arrives at the local Return Center1–3 days after drop-off
Quality check2–4 days
Refund issued (from escrow, original payment method)Same day the check passes
Card refund visible on your statement3–15 business days (card network)
PayPal / Apple PayInstant to 5 days
Klarna installments5–10 days (plan updated by Klarna)

Returns never travel back to the seller — they end at a Tovora Return Center in your country, which is why the timeline above is this fast.

Payments & pricing

4 questions
Which payment methods do you accept?

Cards — Visa, Mastercard, Amex and UnionPay everywhere, plus JCB, Discover, Diners Club and Carte Bancaire (France) where they're local — along with PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo (US), buy-now-pay-later (Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, Clearpay, Atome), bank transfers, local cash methods, and your Tovora balance and points. Card processing is handled by Stripe, fully PCI-DSS compliant.

Who processes my card payment — does Tovora see my card number?

Your card details go straight to Stripe, our payment processor, encrypted end to end. Tovora never sees or stores your card number — and every card payment passes 3-D Secure (3DS2) verification in your own banking app.

When am I charged?

At the moment you place the order — never before. Sellers are paid only after your parcel is scanned as delivered, which keeps everyone honest.

Why does the price change when I switch currency?

Prices in your chosen currency convert at live mid-market rates, refreshed daily. The checkout always shows the exact amount you'll pay before you confirm.

Selling on Tovora

4 questions
How do I open a shop?

Apply in minutes from the Sell on Tovora page. You'll need an ID, a bank account for payouts, and at least one product. Most shops are approved within 48 hours.

What does it cost?

New sellers pay 0% fees for the first 90 days. After that it's 6.5% per sale — and that includes payment processing. No listing fees, no monthly fees, no surprises.

How do payouts work?

Payouts release to your bank 2 days after each delivery is confirmed, converted to your local currency at mid-market rates.

How is my shop protected?

Seller Protection covers items lost or damaged in transit and chargebacks on orders that scan as delivered — so you keep what you earned.