SSENSE to Russia: how to buy and not overpay on duties
The average SSENSE order among our customers is $229.64, and parcels up to 200 euros enter Russia duty-free. That's why the main question with SSENSE is how much the checkout will add and what customs will say. The store itself doesn't ship to Russia: you are the recipient on the order, but at the address of our US warehouse, and from there we ship the parcel. Over several years, 114 SSENSE orders have been purchased through Pochtoy, and everything below is calculated based on them.
16.05.2025
13167 views
How much people spend on SSENSE
SSENSE is a store for designer clothing, shoes, and accessories. People don't buy small stuff there: half of our customers' orders cost more than $194.49. The most modest one cost $22, the largest — $1095. With amounts like these, the duty usually weighs more than the shipping itself, and that is what the whole text below is about.
How to order
Account. At SSENSE, your cart is stored in your account. Convenient: you add an item from your phone, and it's there on your computer too. Inconvenient: an item left over from last time is also there, and at checkout it's easy to pay for it along with the new one. Review the whole cart before paying.
Address. In the delivery address field, enter your address from your Pochtoy personal account, with your own unit number. There will be no sales tax on this address: the warehouse is in Delaware, where the sales tax is 0%.
Sale. Sale items often carry the labels "Only 1 remaining" — one item left — and "final sale" — a sale that is final. If the item is the last one, don't wait: it's going fast while you compare. Check the return terms for "final sale" items on the store's website before paying, and check the size against the brand's size chart: exchanging an item from across the ocean takes a long time.
Payment. You need a bank card that works for payments in the US.
How much will shipping within the US cost
In one of our 2026 orders, for an item priced at $59, the checkout showed Express shipping for $17.00 — there was no other option — and a separate Duties line of $16.05. This is a duty for delivery to the US, charged by the store's checkout; the Russian duty is calculated separately, more on that below. The total: $92.05 for a $59 item. The checkout summary is laid out as a column — Subtotal, Shipping total, Duties, and below them Order total. Look at the last line, not at the price on the product card.
When the item arrives at the warehouse
An SSENSE order usually arrives at our warehouse 6 days after purchase, and almost always in a single box: only 8% of orders came in several parcels. In the tracking, the sender will be SSENSE, New York.
The order number and tracking are in your account, in the "Order History" section: each order has a 14-digit number, a status, and a "Track Order" button.
An SSENSE box weighs about 1.3 kg on average, and half of them weigh about 1 kg or less. Usually it is one or two items.
Duty in Russia: calculate before you buy
Starting April 1, 2024, parcels worth up to 200 euros and weighing up to 31 kg enter Russia duty-free. In dollars, the limit depends on the exchange rate, so it's easier to calculate right away in the duty calculator. Anything above the limit is charged 15%, plus a customs fee of 700 RUB and a brokerage fee of 5%.
The average order of our customers, $229.64, is around the limit or slightly above it. That means you need to plan ahead:
- One expensive item. If a single item costs more than the limit, duty will apply. The duty calculator will show the exact amount before payment.
- An item over $300. We ship clothing and shoes up to $300 per item, as stated on the "What can't be shipped" page. If you've spotted an item that costs more, contact support with a link before buying, and we'll tell you whether it can be shipped.
- Several items. Duty is calculated per parcel. Two items at $150 each in one box make $300, and duty applies. The same two items in two parcels: each may fall within the limit if the parcels travel in different batches; parcels that arrive at customs together may be counted by customs as one. Shipping for two parcels will cost more, so compare: which is greater, the second shipping fee or the duty.
And at the warehouse, watch for one thing: if you choose a consolidation tariff, items totaling more than the limit must not end up in one box.
Which rate to choose
For most SSENSE orders — one item, one box, about a kilogram — Fastbox is enough: no consolidation and inexpensive within Russia. If you want to combine several parcels into one and get it by courier, that's Express. Econom is designed for heavy parcels from 5 kg, and clothing from SSENSE rarely reaches that weight. Delivery times and prices are on the rates page.
Insurance on these rates is mandatory and is added to your bill automatically. With expensive items it's more of a plus: up to $100 it costs $3, from $100 — $5, and on high-value parcels — $7.50 and $15. The exact amount is in the calculator.
Where to start
Sign up with Pochtoy — your warehouse address will appear in your account right away. Use it to place your order at SSENSE, and when the box arrives at the warehouse, choose a shipping rate and send it home.
Rates and calculator · Duties in Russia · What can't be forwarded
