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Online Shopping from Finland

Introduction
Online shopping is brilliant for convenience, price and selection. For foreigners in Finland it also means access to 'products from home' that Finns have never heard of! However, you need to protect yourself against disappointment in the case of a badly chosen purchase, unexpected costs or worse still, fraudulent or criminal activity.

ALV / VAT and Customs Duty

Import taxes consist of value added tax (ALV / VAT) and customs duty on imported goods. Some products are also subject for example to excise duty.
Note: Restrictions and exceptions to the following rules apply. For example, new motor vehicles and excisable goods such as tobacco and alcohol are subject to different tax and import laws.

EU Retailers: If you make an online purchase from a Finnish retailer or from another EU member state, ALV / VAT will be included in the price under the EU VAT Agreement. These purchases will not be liable to additional sales tax or customs duties upon arrival in Finland.

Non-EU Retailers: From 1 July 2021, all parcels arriving from outside the EU must be declared, and VAT has to be paid for them.
Very briefly:
Purchases worth 150€ or less:
If the seller has an IOSS number, you will pay the Finnish VAT when you purchase the goods. The postal company will usually declare the consignment on your behalf, and you do not need to take action - you will not need to pay VAT in conjunction with the customs clearance.
If the seller does not have an IOSS number, you will have to submit a customs declaration and arrange payment of VAT.
Purchases worth over 150€:
You must arrange the customs declaration and payment of VAT yourself, though you can usually ask Posti or the transport company to submit the customs declaration on your behalf.
Always check Finnish Customs for updates and instructions.
Finnish Customs: Ordering Goods Online

Positive Online Shopping

Making the most of online shopping is mostly a matter of common sense and taking your time.

Registration at Finnish Retail Sites

You generally cannot register at a Finnish online shop while it is open in Google Translate.
Registration does work if you're using Chrome browser, translated to your language How?
Translate in Chrome
Desktop: Right-click anywhere on a page and click Translate to [Language].
iPhone / iPad: At bottom of screen, tap Translate.
Android: At bottom of screen select Language, tap Translate.

If you need to use a different browser and Google Translate see how
Use Google Translate
Open the Rekisteröidy Registration page of the Finnish site you're joining.
In a separate tab/window, translate words, phrases, or the whole page in Google Translate.
Jump back and work your way through the original Finnish registration page.
Register! It takes a while but it works.
Some key words
Kirjaudu sisään Sign in
Put things in your Ostoskori Shopping basket, or leave it tyhjä empty
Siirry Kassalle Go to Checkout
Maybe poista remove an item
Kirjaudu ulos Sign out

Shopping Directory: Online Retailers

The following retailers are all well established. All EU retailers operate under the EU VAT Agreement, so your purchase will not be liable to customs duty or ALV / VAT upon arrival in Finland.

Some sites are in Finnish only. Many are part of the retail groups discussed on the Loyalty Cards page, so you can use your loyalty cards for further benefits when making purchases. You generally need to register to make an online purchase.

'International Superstores'

Tip: Thoroughly check the Customer Reviews and Product Details for any purchase you're not familiar with to minimise your chances of disappointment!

AliExpress

Amazon

By Product

*AliExpress purchases may be subject to tax / duty

Books in English
Books in Finland aren't cheap! If you still love paper, here are some online alternatives:
ebooks: Great for selection and convenience. www.ebooks.com has a massive selection of academic, professional and popular publications.
Second-hand Books: AbeBooks.com  Good condition 2nd hand books from the U.K. at great prices. Numerous Booksellers operate through AbeBooks with varying selections, prices and shipping charges. Shop around and be wary of shipping costs! Some booksellers offer discount shipping for each additional book purchased, so it's often good to buy all the books in your shipment from one bookseller.
From January 1st 2021, goods ordered from the UK must be declared, and taxes and possible customs duties must be paid.

Clothes (many also sell shoes & accessories)
Naiset = Women's, Miehet = Men's, Lapset = Children's
AliExpress aliexpress.com
Amazon amazon.co.uk
Asos asos.com
Boohoo boohoo.com
Bubbleroom bubbleroom.fi
Cellbes cellbes.fi
Citymarket k-ruoka.fi/k-citymarket
Ellos ellos.fi
Ginatricot ginatricot.com
H&M hm.com/fi
Lindex lindex.com
Nelly nelly.com
Prisma prisma.fi
Sokos sokos.fi
Stockmann stockmann.com
Zalando zalando.fi

Department Stores
AliExpress aliexpress.com
Amazon amazon.co.uk
Clas Ohlson clasohlson.com/fi/
Ellos ellos.fi
Hobby Hall hobbyhall.fi
Sokos sokos.fi
Stockmann stockmann.com
Tokmanni Group tokmanni.fi

Electronics, Computers & Accessories, Home Appliances
AliExpress aliexpress.com
Citymarket k-ruoka.fi/k-citymarket
Clas Ohlson clasohlson.com/fi/
Euronics euronics.fi
Gigantti gigantti.fi
Hobby Hall hobbyhall.fi
Power power.fi
Prisma prisma.fi
Sokos sokos.fi
Stockmann stockmann.com
Verkkokauppa verkkokauppa.com

Eyewear & Opticians
AliExpress aliexpress.com  Eyewear
Amazon amazon.co.uk  Eyewear
Instrumentarium instru.fi
Silmäasema silmaasema.fi

Furniture & Interior
Ellos ellos.fi
Hobby Hall hobbyhall.fi
IKEA ikea.fi
Jysk jysk.fi
Unikulma unikulma.fi  Beds & bedding

Groceries
K-Ruoka k-ruoka.fi

Hardware / DIY / Home Improvement
AliExpress aliexpress.com
Clas Ohlson clasohlson.com/fi/
Hankkija hankkija.fi
Kodin Terra kodinterra.fi
K-rauta k-rauta.fi

Hypermarkets - combined supermarket / department stores
Amazon amazon.co.uk
Citymarket k-ruoka.fi/k-citymarket
Prisma prisma.fi

Shoes
Naiset = Women's, Miehet = Men's, Lapset = Children's
AliExpress aliexpress.com
Amazon amazon.co.uk
Citymarket k-ruoka.fi/k-citymarket
Ellos ellos.fi
Sokos sokos.fi
Stockmann stockmann.com

Sports Equipment / Accessories / Clothing
AliExpress aliexpress.com
Amazon amazon.co.uk
Budget Sport budgetsport.fi
Ellos ellos.fi
Hobby Hall hobbyhall.fi
Intersport intersport.fi
Luhta luhta.com
Partioaitta partioaitta.fi
Savotta savotta.fi  Hiking / camping
Varusteleka varusteleka.com
XXL xxl.fi

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