Shipping Costs

LATEST NEWS - 13 December 2024

Orders to Europe and Northern Ireland

For the time being, I won't be offering shipping to Europe and Northern Ireland for orders placed in my shop, but I'm happy to take orders direct by email or through the QA group on Facebook. I put the following post in the QA group on 13 December 2024, and I thought it would be helpful to repeat it in full here. You will, I hope, appreciate that I'm being somewhat ironic.

On 13 December 2024, the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) came into effect for all consumer products (including handmade items) which are sold in countries within the EU and Northern Ireland. This means that, in its wisdom, the EU has decided that the wee creatures potentially pose a hazard, and customers within the EU and Northern Ireland must be protected from them at all costs.

In order to comply with these new regulations, I am required to (1) carry out risk assessments for the wee creatures, (2) include manufacturer details (including the manufacturers' importers where applicable) for the materials I use; (3) give each wee creature a unique identifier for traceability; (4) include all safety and warning information, along with manufacturer (and manufacturers' importer) details in both the listing and on the wee creatures themselves (this information should be provided in one of the official languages of the EU); and (5) appoint a Responsible Person within the EU as a point of contact should anyone be injured by a wee creature.

These regulations are clearly sensible and proportionate for the level of risk posed by the wee creatures to anyone who lives in the EU and Northern Ireland (it seems that those living elsewhere are expected to fend for themselves). Quite frankly, I'm amazed that anyone has managed to escape unscathed in all of the 15 years I have been making them!! But it is a relief that the EU has now decided that people living within the EU and Northern Ireland should be protected at all costs from the wee creatures by requiring me to put in place the extensive measures outlined above. However, as it will take some time for me to do so, for the time being I won't be sending the wee creatures to countries in the EU or Northern Ireland - it would be reckless of me to put so many people at risk.

General Shipping costs

Royal Mail have put their prices up again, so I've had to look at the best way to keep shipping costs as low as follows. Within the UK, P&P costs are now as follows:

  • £2.50 (First class Large Letter - for one Sugarmouse)

  • £4  Tracked 48 Small Parcel

  • £5 Tracked 24 Small Parcel

  • £8 (Special Delivery - on request)


For international orders, I send all orders using a Tracked Shipping service. For orders up to 250g, prices are as follows: 

  • £9 Europe* (for direct orders only - see section at top of page)

  • £12.50 North American (Canada & USA)

  • £13 Australia & New Zealand


Please note that from 1 July 2021, all parcels going to the EU may be subject to extra VAT payable at the point of delivery. This is as a consequence of the Brexit arrangements, and I'm afraid I have no control over how much, if any, is charged. However, I will complete the customs declaration form in a way that should hopefully minimise any additional payment which may be charged. For more information click here.

I am always happy to give a quote for shipping, and I will always combine shipping on separate orders. If you're planning to adopt another wee creature or two, I'm happy to host them and send them all out together to save on shipping costs - contact me for more information.

Last updated: December 2024