US Shipping 2026: What Buyers Should Know About Customs for Vintage Finds

Those who have ordered from us from the USA in recent months may have already noticed: shipping across the Atlantic has become more complicated. Here, we want to honestly explain what has changed – and what that means for your next order.

What changed in 2025/2026

Until recently, goods up to a value of 800 US dollars could be imported into the USA duty-free. This so-called de minimis rule was suspended in 2025. Since then, every shipment of goods to the USA must be cleared through customs – regardless of its value. In February 2026, the US Supreme Court also ruled that some of the previous customs measures were not legally sound. Since then, a new, provisional import surcharge has been in effect, which may change in the coming months.

In short: the situation is new, partly unclear – and we, as a small shop, are continuously monitoring developments.

How we currently ship

For most of our vintage finds, there is an important exception to the new rule: private gift shipments under 100 US dollars remain duty-free and can be shipped normally with Austrian Post. Since most of our items – small flea market finds, tins, bowls, individual pieces of jewelry – are already below this limit, this does not noticeably affect the majority of our orders.

For individual higher-value items, we may have to switch to a different shipping product that provides for regular customs clearance. In this case, we will contact you directly before shipping.

What does this mean for you as a buyer?

• For most orders, nothing changes for you – shipping and arrival proceed as usual.
• The package will have an honest customs declaration with content and value, as required internationally.
• Should you exceptionally have to pay additional customs fees on a package, this is due to current US import regulations – not to us as a seller.
• The regulation may change again in the coming months. We will update this article whenever possible.

Expert tip: If you are unsure whether additional fees might apply to a particular order, simply send us a short message via Etsy or Shopify before purchasing. We will honestly tell you how we plan to ship that specific item.

A note on the legal situation

We are not a customs office or legal advice – this article describes our current understanding and our own shipping practices, not binding legal information. For individual questions about your import, we recommend the official website of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Conclusion

The new US customs rules sound more complicated than they actually affect most of our customers. For small, lovingly selected vintage items, the journey across the Atlantic usually remains straightforward – and every package that arrives carries a piece of Austrian flea market history with it.

Across borders, packed with care — Items with soul · VintageAustriaShop