why is shipping to the states so expensive?
short version: customs and tariffs are expensive and a nightmare
long version: i am based in london in the uk. customs in the states right now are an absolute nightmare. in order to make sure american customers have the highest possible chance of actually receiving their parcel on time, i have to go for the most expensive option from royal mail, the uk mailing service. additionally, etsy encourages me to do this and gets mad at me if i dont, so i dont really have a choice. i send parcels to the states with what is called pddp. in a nutshell, pddp is where customs are handled by royal mail and the overseas customs agency so that the sender (me) doesnt face any extra charges.
is there any way around this?
as of writing this, no. if youre insistent that i send it to you through international standard, try writing to me. maybe we can work something out, but for now this is the only publically available option.
do you plan on sending your comics to u.s. locations?
eventually! i have my sights on places in new york city and chicago, and this summer (2026) im going to the u.s. and plan to bring some of my home printed comics with me to take to various comic stores in the boston area, as well as a zine library in portland (the maine one). im also planning on further researching other cities such as los angeles, san francisco, portland (the oregon one), seattle, houston, miami, atlanta, philadelphia, you get the point.
you want me to pay 4 times the price for something worth 3 gbp, what are you, insane?!
contrary to popular belief, i am not insane. i dont want you to, but i have no other choice. personally i think the united states government better fits the definition of insane, but thats a whole other thing. if it were up to me, youd be paying 3 gbp (around 4 usd) for only my comic. shipping costs are annoying, but everyone has to deal with them, unless you come to my house and in person ask for my comic (please dont, thats very illegal, just go to a location in london please please).
