If you've bought hardware across borders before, you know the worst part isn't the price — it's the surprise customs invoice that lands weeks later, plus the broker paperwork and the shipment stuck in clearance. DDP shipping is designed to make that disappear. Here's what it means and why it matters.
DDP in plain English
DDP stands for Delivered Duty Paid — an official Incoterms shipping term. Under DDP, the seller is responsible for getting the goods all the way to your door and pays everything along the way: export clearance, freight, import duties, tariffs, taxes, and customs brokerage. You receive the shipment with nothing more to pay.
In short: the price you're quoted is the price you pay, delivered.
DDP vs the alternatives
Not all free shipping is the same. The Incoterm decides who pays customs:
- EXW (Ex Works) — you collect from the seller's warehouse and handle everything (freight, export, import, duties). Cheapest sticker price, most work and risk for you.
- FOB (Free On Board) — common in sea freight; the seller loads at the origin port, then freight, import duties and taxes are yours.
- DAP (Delivered At Place) — the seller delivers to your address, but you still pay import duties and taxes on arrival. This is where most surprise bills come from.
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) — the seller covers duties and taxes too. No surprise costs.
So a delivered quote that's actually DAP can still hit you with a customs bill; a DDP quote can't.
Why DDP matters for IT hardware buyers
- Predictable landed cost. Your quoted price is your final cost — easy to budget and to get a PO approved.
- No customs paperwork. The seller's broker handles clearance; you're not chasing forms or paying a clearance agent.
- Faster, smoother delivery. Pre-paid duties mean shipments aren't held at customs waiting for you to pay.
- No nasty surprises. Especially valuable in high-duty countries, where a DAP bargain can balloon on arrival.
The trade-off is that a DDP price looks higher than an EXW or FOB price — because it already includes the duties, taxes and freight you'd otherwise pay separately. Compare landed cost to landed cost, not sticker to sticker.
How we ship DDP
Every international order from us is quoted DDP, all-inclusive:
- All tariffs, duties, taxes and broker fees included — one price, door to door.
- Free worldwide shipping via DHL, FedEx, UPS or USPS — fully tracked and insured.
- Genuine, manufacturer-sealed hardware with full warranty.
- Purchase orders accepted.
You see a single number, and that's what you pay on delivery — zero extra.
A note on local requirements
A few countries require the importer of record to hold a tax or registration number (for example VAT or GST registration, or local product certification for regulated goods). Where that applies, we'll flag it up front and walk you through it before shipping — no surprises there either.
Ready to order?
Browse the catalog and request a quote — we'll come back with an all-inclusive DDP price to your country. Shop IT hardware · See our shipping terms.
Incoterms is a registered trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce. This guide is general information, not legal or customs advice.