Some Internet traders offer the possibility to change the delivery address during the handling of the shipment. It may be that this option is offered at a charge.
The postal service provider who is tasked with delivering your order can also offer the possibility to change the delivery address when you are not present. Usually that information is provided when you are tracking the shipment.
Parcel at the front door
Parcel delivered to the neighbours
Note in the letterbox
These rules only apply to sales by professionals to private persons (B2C).
For example, an online purchase made by a Belgian consumer on a British or Chinese platform:
Please verify whom you buy from and especially whether the VAT and the import duties are included in the selling price, so as to avoid any surprises. Check your order and your invoice!
More info on the website of the Federal Public Service Finance: for private individuals // video private individuals
A shipment coming from a country outside the European Union can be subject to a check and various duties and fees: VAT, import duties (also called “customs duties”) and excise duties (only on specific products such as alcohol, tobacco, etc.).
“Customs formalities” are administrative formalities concerning the collection of the various duties and fees.
Some Internet traders give an estimation of the customs duties and formalities beforehand as soon as the order is placed.
Some postal operators will ask a compensation for performing those customs formalities, payable in addition to the duties and fees; others have already integrated those costs in the fixed costs of their products/services.