Shipping policy

SHIPPING POLICY

Processing Times

We carefully handcraft each order with attention to detail. Processing times vary depending on the type of item:

  • Standard Items (accessories, plain leotards, plain dresses, and plain skirts): Ships within 1 business day
  • Made-to-Order Items (items with our current embellishment designs): 2-3 business days production time
  • Custom Embellished Items (unique embellishment requests): 3-4 business days production time

Processing times do not include shipping transit time. Orders are processed Monday through Friday, excluding public holidays.

Shipping Regions

We ship worldwide to dancers everywhere! We currently ship to Ireland, the EU, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, and many other countries.

Shipping Methods & Costs

Shipping costs are calculated based on the weight of your order and your destination:

  • Ireland (Domestic):

    • Standard Shipping via An Post: 1-3 business days
    • Express Next Day: Available for urgent orders

  • European Union:

    • Standard Shipping via An Post
    • DPD Express: For faster delivery

  • International (US, Canada, Australia, etc.):

    • Standard International Shipping via An Post

Tracking

All orders include tracking information. You will receive a shipping confirmation email with your tracking number once your order has been dispatched.

Delivery Timeframes

Estimated delivery times (after processing):

  • Ireland: 1-3 business days (standard) or next day (express)
  • EU: 5-7 business days (standard) or 2-4 business days (express)
  • United States & Canada: 7-14 business days
  • Australia & Other International: 10-21 business days

Please note that delivery times are estimates and may vary due to customs processing or carrier delays beyond our control.

International Shipping outside of EU

US Customers - International shipments to the United States will incur local customs processing fees, which are determined by US Customs and collected by the shipping carrier prior to delivery. These fees are based on the declared order value and cover customs processing. Most orders clear customs smoothly with small charges.

Customs Clearance Notifications

Our shipping carrier requires a valid email address and may send you a direct notification regarding customs clearance. This is a legitimate email from the carrier (not a phishing attempt) and may include calculated duties and taxes along with a payment link. Please verify that the email comes from an official carrier domain before clicking any links. If you have any concerns about the authenticity of a shipping notification, please contact us directly and we'll be happy to verify it for you.

United Kingdom (Post-Brexit Import Charges)

Orders shipped to the United Kingdom (including England, Scotland, Wales) via DPD or An Post are subject to UK customs import charges. These charges are applied by UK Border Force and collected by the carrier upon delivery — they are separate from and in addition to any shipping fee paid at checkout.

Why this happens: Since January 2021, the UK is no longer part of the EU customs area. Goods imported into the UK from Ireland (and all EU countries) are treated as international imports.

The £135 threshold: Orders with a goods value under £135 may be subject to UK import VAT (20%), however Dowsa Performance Wear does not collect this VAT at the point of sale — it is the responsibility of the customer and may be collected by the carrier upon delivery. Orders over £135 are subject to:

  • UK import VAT at 20% of the goods value
  • Any applicable customs duty
  • A carrier customs handling/clearance fee (typically £5–£15, charged by DPD)

These charges are the responsibility of the recipient and are not collected or controlled by Dowsa Performance Wear. We are unable to predict the exact amount in advance as it is determined by UK customs authorities.

We recommend UK customers factor this into their order. If you have questions about UK import charges, please contact HMRC or your carrier directly.

Lost, Damaged, or Delayed Packages

If your package is lost, damaged, or significantly delayed, please contact us immediately at dowsawear@hotmail.com. We will work with the shipping carrier to resolve the issue. For international orders, please allow extra time for customs clearance before reporting a package as lost.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about shipping or need to make special arrangements, please don't hesitate to contact us at dowsawear@hotmail.com.

Returns & Exchanges

For information about returns and exchanges, please refer to our Return and Refund Policy.