Article

DDP vs DDU: What to Know About These Shipping Incoterms

DHL · dhl.com Free Beginner

The clearest breakdown of the two Incoterms that matter most for D2C checkout decisions, who pays duty, and what it means for customer experience and your margin.

  • DDP: seller pays duties/taxes upfront, customer sees an all-in price
  • DDU/DAP: buyer pays on delivery, cheaper for the seller but risks refused parcels
  • DDP is generally the better default for D2C given the customer-experience upside
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It answers 3 questions

  1. DDP or DDU, who should pay the customs duty, my brand or my customer?
  2. What do DDP and DDU/DAP mean, and which should I choose at checkout?
  3. How do I avoid customs delays and returned-to-sender shipments on international orders?

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