Luxury marketplace Cettire has updated its checkout process following media scrutiny of its duty payment policy.
In both the United States and Australia, Cettire’s checkout flow has been updated so that customers see ‘all-inclusive’ pricing at the checkout, with estimated duties no longer being itemised during checkout.
For returns, Cettire’s proposition has simplified its US returns policy to remove any withholding for estimated duties.
There is no change in the returns policy in Australia.
The updated returns policy for its US customers means Cettire will now charge US$25 (AU$38) per item returned, and a processing fee of US$50 (AU$75) per item which is applicable to orders greater than US$800 (AU$1220)
Cettire stated it has a responsibility for the settlement of duties with the relevant customs authority, with goods unable to clear customs unless the process is managed appropriately.
“Cettire’s overall value proposition to its customers is compelling and remains a key driver behind the Company’s recent success and underlying customer growth,” Cettire founder and CEO Dean Mintz said. “We continuously focus on improving our platform and are always looking for opportunities to enhance – and in some cases simplify – our offering.
“We believe today’s updates not only represent this evolution but also result in a simplified and improved customer proposition”
The updated policies are not expected to have a material impact on the company’s revenue or earnings. Testing and optimisation for the enhancements have been underway over the last 10 days, with the new policies now live.
The recent updates came following a company review, arising from media scrutiny over Cettire’s treatment of estimated duties by the Australian Financial Review.