Croatian Influencer Shares Hack to Avoid EU Customs Duties on Temu Orders

New European Union customs regulations, approved in February and taking effect on July 1, 2026, will eliminate duty exemptions for small shipments valued under 150 euros entering the EU, primarily impacting e-commerce purchases.

In response to these changes, a Croatian influencer, Kristina Dugeč Šolić, known on Instagram as @kristina.blush, has shared a practical method to avoid additional costs on popular online shopping platform Temu. Her video, titled "TEMU WITHOUT CUSTOMS," demonstrates a surprisingly simple process that could save shoppers time and money.

The workaround involves searching for a desired product, such as "eyelashes," and then navigating to the "Filters" option. Within the filter settings, the crucial step is selecting "Ships from" and choosing "Local warehouse." This action immediately updates the search results to display only items marked with a green "Local" tag, indicating they are shipped from within the EU. By selecting these items, shoppers can completely bypass customs procedures and the associated additional duties and VAT.

This new regulation aims to address unfair competition faced by EU-based sellers from non-EU platforms. Previously, small shipments entered the EU duty-free, creating a disadvantage for local businesses. The new rules mean that all goods entering the EU, regardless of value below 150 euros, will be subject to customs duties and VAT once the European customs IT center becomes operational, expected by 2028.

While this "local warehouse" method offers a solution, users and Kristina herself have noted that the product selection in EU warehouses can be more limited, and prices might be slightly higher, explaining her initial shock at Temu's prices. Platforms like Shein have also adapted by opening warehouses within the EU, such as in Poland, to facilitate faster delivery and avoid new charges. The effectiveness and availability of items from EU warehouses remain a key consideration for shoppers navigating these evolving e-commerce regulations.

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Nakon genijalnog trika za izbjegavanje carine sa Sheina o kojemu smo pisali ranije, Hrvatica Kristina Dugeč Šolić, na Instagramu poznata kao @kristina.blush, objavila je video koji je privukao veliku pozornost kupaca na popularnoj internetskoj trgovini Temu, a koji bi mnogima mogao uštedjeti i vrijeme i novac.