How to purchase for international customers

NOTE: All customers from outside the USA should contact us in advance by for shipping charges, handling fees, and payment instructions. Customers should wait for us to send you an invoice via PayPal that includes the correct amount for shipping and handling. If you desire to request any changes to our default shipping methods, please include that request in your e-mail. Remember that many services require a telephone number and all services other than postal delivery will require a physical delivery address to compute costs.

If international customers decide to use the PayPal shopping cart without contacting us first, the shipping charges will default to US$60.00 and we will compute the correct shipping/handling charges and refund any excess. Shipping will default to standard Priority Mail International. Typical costs for a single board will typically be less than US$50.00 including our handling fee. In the event that the shipping and handling charges would exceed US$60.00 we will contact you before processing your order.

• Overview
• Payment Methods
• Shipping Options

What will be shipped

Your shipment will include only the items that you order. Accessory cables are not supplied by default.

User manuals and other documentation are available for free download from this web site. Paper copies will not be provided with your shipment.

Software such as Mach4 may be delivered by email. It will be on your paid receipt but will not be in the package and will not be listed on customs documents if any. 

Overview

We accept orders from any international customer able to make payment via PayPal. Orders paid by other methods will be considered on a case by case basis.

All international orders MUST be shipped via a method that offers on-line tracking information. Priority Mail International and Priority Express Mail International now offer tracking in almost all countries. Signature required upon delivery is not provided unless the customer requests it in advance. Due to repeated problems, we do not recommend Postal delivery to Italy or South Africa.

For countries with difficult processes for payment or customs we may require using a freight forwarder that knows the processes required. Countries likely to be affected include Venezuela and countries that are experiencing conflict or political instability.

Duties, tariffs, and VAT may be collected by your government and are the responsibility of the purchaser. These duties can be a significant portion of your purchase cost depending on the duties collected by your government.

Customs processing in the receiving country can sometimes be a significant delay. To minimize delays, you should respond promptly to messages from your customs officials regarding your order. PMDX provides standardized customs declaration documents, but in rare cases your customs officials may request additional information. PMDX will assist with reasonable requests for additional documents.

Customs documents provided with your shipment will identify the contents as goods or merchandise and will show the actual purchase price excluding shipping and handling fees. Please do not ask us to falsify customs documents. Such requests cannot be honored. 

Software is delivered by e-mail and therefore is not present in the package and will not be on the customs documents. If your country collects import duty on software items it is your responsibility to report them to the proper agency.

All shipments are FOB our shipping point in Lorton, VA, USA. Items shipped to the customer become customer property at the time that a "common carrier" or shipping company accepts the package.  The risk of loss in shipment is assumed by the customer unless insurance is purchased.

If shipping insurance is desired, the customer must request and pay for the insurance. In some cases PMDX may require that the shipment be insured. Some shipping methods include a small amount of insurance by default. PMDX will assist the customer with insurance claims, should a claim need to be filed. Orders that are not cleared through customs due to failure of the customer to arrange payment of duties are not "lost" and insurance cannot be collected for them.

If an order is returned to PMDX because the customer did not pay the duties required, or the shipping company could not deliver the package, PMDX will refund the customer's payment, less the cost of shipping to the customer and also less the cost of the return shipping. Refunds may be significantly delayed because the process for returning an undeliverable package takes a long time.

International orders are charged a handling fee, usually US$6.00, to prepare the necessary export documentation and to present the package in person at our post office.

Customers from outside the United States must make payment for all items in US dollars.

Returns

We realize that customers sometimes order the wrong item. PMDX may accept the return of unused items for a partial refund at our discretion. There will be a 15% restocking charge and there are no refunds of shipping charges. Items to be returned must be in new condition. All returns must be authorized in advance.

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International Payment Methods

1) PayPal, our preferred payment option

    This service is available in most countries and allows you to use most credit cards. When we email you a PayPal invoice there will be a link to instructions that will allow customers in most countries to make credit card payment even if you do not have a PayPal account. If you are required to have a PayPal account, signup is easy if you are not already using Paypal.  For additional information on how to set up and use a Paypal account, please click on the Paypal logo above and then click on the PayPal Worldwide link at the bottom of the page.

    All customers should wait for us to send you an invoice that includes the correct amount for shipping and handling. Please contact us by email for shipping and handling charges. If international customers decide to use the PayPal shopping cart without contacting us first, the shipping charges will default to US$60.00 and we will compute the correct shipping/handling charges and refund any excess. Shipping will default to Express Mail International. Typical costs for a single board will typically be less than US$40.00 including our handling fee. In the event that the shipping and handling charges would exceed US$60.00 we will contact you before processing your order.

2) Credit Cards

    Credit card orders can ONLY be processed using PayPal. You do not need to have a PayPal account to make a credit card purchase through PayPal. Using PayPal without setting up a PayPal account is referred to as being a GUEST on most PayPal web pages. We DO NOT accept credit cards by phone, fax, or mail.

3) Bank wire transfer

    Wire transfers through banking channels are possible, but expensive because our bank does not operate internationally and does not have a SWIFT number. Your bank must work through a Correspondent Bank in the USA. Please contact us by email for details including shipping and handling charges.

4) Bank check or draft

    All checks or money orders should be payable to Practical Micro Design, Inc. (our parent company). All checks will be subject to a waiting period of 15 business days for bank processing. All checks must be payable in US dollars. A processing fee of  US$20.00 must be added for international collection services. Please contact us by email for details including shipping and handling charges.

5) Canadian Postal Money Order

    Canadian customers may pay with Canadian postal money orders issued in US dollars. There is a $US6.00 added fee for this type of  payment to cover our cost of collection. Please contact us by email for details including shipping and handling charges.

6) Western Union

    We no longer accept payment by Western Union wire transfers because they have made it too difficult and time consuming to collect payment. Western Union money orders in US dollars may be mailed to us. Please contact us by email for details including shipping and handling charges.

7) Cash On Delivery (COD)

    We do not accept COD orders.

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Available International Shipping Options

1) Using Priority Mail International or Priority Express Mail International  (also called EMS)

  Postal package delivery is our default shipping method. It is the least expensive method that includes on-line tracking and is reliable for most countries. If the total value of your order is less than US$200.00 and will fit into a "small flat rate box" we will use that service because it is significantly less expensive, often less than US$30.00 including handling charges. This service typically requires 5 to 10 days for delivery.

If your order will not fit into a "small flat rate box" or is valued at more than US$200.00 we may ship using Priority Express Mail International because the difference in price for larger packages is less significant. This service typically requires 3-6 days for delivery. You may request this service for smaller packages if you desire.

You will be charged postage and insurance based on internationally regulated rates, plus a US$6.00 fee for handling and customs paperwork. Postal package delivery service is generally less expensive than other carriers and includes basic on line tracking in almost all countries. Delivery time may be extended by additional time required by customs clearance in your country. Postal and customs service will vary based on practices in your country. 

Please send us an email telling us what you wish to order, where it will be delivered, and a telephone number at the delivery address. We will send you a PayPal invoice with the correct charges. 

If international customers decide to use the PayPal shopping cart without contacting us first, the shipping charges will default to US$60.00 and we will compute the correct shipping/handling charges and refund any excess. Typical costs for a single board will typically be less than US$50.00 including our handling fee. In the event that the shipping and handling charges would exceed US$60.00 we will contact you before processing your order.

Due to repeated problems, postal service to ITALY and SOUTH AFRICA is NO LONGER RECOMMENDED. Unless you are located in a business district in a major city, please request FedEX or UPS.

In a few cases the postal service states that it offers guaranteed delivery schedules. PMDX is not responsible for postal delivery delays, and due to excessive bureaucracy, will not make claims with postal agencies for refunds due to slow delivery. PMDX will seek refunds in the case of insured shipments that are not delivered. 

2) Using a freight forwarder or a friend based in the USA

    PMDX will allow a customer to use a freight forwarder or friend based in the USA as an agent to assist with shipping, but PMDX will not be involved with or responsible for delays, losses, or damage that occur after the shipment arrives at the agent. Claims for any problems that happen to a shipment from PMDX to an agent must be filed by the agent with the assistance of the customer. Claims for any problems that happen after the shipment arrives successfully at the agent are not the responsibility of PMDX and must be resolved between the agent and the customer.

    You will be charged our standard USA domestic shipping rate. Because PayPal tries to automatically compute shipping based on the address of the buyer, DO NOT try to order using our shipping cart if your PayPal account is registered with an address outside the USA. Please send us an email telling us what you wish to order and where it will be delivered. We will send you a PayPal invoice with the correct charges. Local pickup and delivery inside the state of Virginia will be subject to a 6% local sales tax.

3) Using Federal Express (FedEX)

    You will be charged the cost quoted by Federal Express, plus a US$6.00 fee for handling and customs paperwork. Delivery time depends on the class of service selected and can range from one to three days. Federal Express normally provides customs brokerage in your country and there is little customs delay. Full on line tracking is provided. Please send us an email telling us what you wish to order, where it will be delivered, a telephone number at the delivery address, and which class of Federal Express service you desire. We will send you a PayPal invoice with the correct charges.

4) Using United Parcel Service (UPS)

    You will be charged the cost quoted by United Parcel Service, plus a US$6.00 fee for handling and customs paperwork. Delivery time depends on the class of service selected and can range from one to five days. United Parcel Service provides customs brokerage in many countries. Customs clearance time and fees vary. Customs fees charged in Canada are significantly greater than those of other carriers and UPS to Canada is only recommended for those customers who have their own customs broker. Full on line tracking is provided. Please send us an email telling us what you wish to order, where it will be delivered, a telephone number at the delivery address, and which class of UPS service you desire. UPS ground service is available to Canada. We will send you a PayPal invoice with the correct charges. 

5) Shipping billed to your account

    Due to excessive charge-backs and increasing problems with logistics, we no longer offer to do shipping using the customer's account with shipping carriers.

6) Using TNT, DHL, or other shippers not listed above

    PMDX does not ship by TNT, DHL, or other shippers not listed above under normal circumstances. If you absolutely must use TNT, DHL, or other shippers not listed above, please contact us for instructions and costs.

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