Online marketplaces have made window shopping more convenient, especially when you cannot visit the exquisite European stores physically. Oh well, itis just window shopping when you don’t intend to buy anything. At other times, you may actually intend to buy, but international payment and delivery hassles have made you give up on buying things online from Europe. Between card declines, excessive charges and steep delivery charges, many people in Morocco shy away from online purchases.
This article explores these problems and how to buy online from Europe in Morocco with cheap delivery and payment hacks.
Also read: Morocco’s growing appeal for European remote workers
Delivery hacks for buying online from Europe in Morocco
Direct international shipping from European retailers to Morocco can be very expensive. Use the following strategies to reduce costs:
- Package forwarding services: These companies provide you with a local European address (e.g., in Germany or the UK) to use at checkout. Once your items arrive at their warehouse, they consolidate and repackage them into a single shipment to send to Morocco, which is more cost-effective than sending multiple individual shipments. Examples include ShipGerman or other similar services.
- Shipping platforms/brokers: Platforms like Eurosender.com or Parcel2Go.com curate courier companies and compare their prices. They are often cheaper than booking directly with major couriers (DHL, UPS, etc.). Economy services like TrakPak are the cheapest, though slower (8-20 days).
- Peer-to-peer shipping: This involves connecting with travellers who have extra luggage space and are flying to Morocco. They can bring your items for an agreed fee, potentially avoiding high customs fees. Platforms like Grabr offer this service, but it requires trust and clear arrangements.
- Bus companies: An alternative method is having your purchase delivered to a contact within Europe, especially in Spain, who then ships the boxes with a bus company that has regular routes to Morocco. The bus driver handles customs, and you pick up the items on arrival.
While you are looking for an affordable delivery option, note that Morocco imposes import duties on all online purchases from abroad, regardless of value. This initiative was designed to promote fair competition among local businesses. Non-commercial shipments (e.g., gifts) below MAD 1,250 may still be exempt, but this is subject to customs discretion. You will be required to pay these fees upon delivery.
Also read: How to open US, UK and Euro bank accounts in Morocco
Payment hacks for buying online from Europe in Morocco
Is your payment service frustrating your online shopping experience? There are more reliable alternatives that don’t have hidden fees, unfavourable exchange rates, payment declines, delayed payments, or exorbitant charges. Here are some payment hacks for buying online from Europe in Morocco:
- Use an international bank card: Most European online stores accept major cards like Visa and Mastercard. Ensure your Moroccan bank card is activated for international e-commerce transactions. While high fees and markups on exchange rates might apply, you don’t have to go through the stress of opening a new bank account.
- Consider multi-currency accounts: Services like Wise and Grey offer transparent, low-cost transfers using mid-market exchange rates and allow you to hold money in various currencies, including EUR, and can save on conversion fees. You get local EU bank details to use for payments.
Also read: Wise vs PayPal vs Payoneer: which works better for Moroccans?
- Use a dollar card: Most dollar cards integrate well with European payment gateways, making it easy to complete online payments. With an instant virtual USD card now available on platforms like Grey, you can have a USD card in Morocco to buy online from Europe.
- Avoid cash on delivery (COD) for international purchases: While this is popular for local Moroccan e-commerce, COD is generally not feasible or secure for international transactions due to logistics and risks.
- Check for currency conversion fees: When paying with a Moroccan card or account, your bank will charge a currency conversion fee. Using a multi-currency platform or a card with low international fees can be a money-saving hack.
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Managing international payment fron Morocco
Buying online from Europe while living in Morocco doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right payment method and smart delivery choices, you can enjoy better prices, faster shipping, and fewer issues at checkout. Grey helps Moroccans simplify international transactions by offering multi-currency accounts supporting EUR transactions with low and transparent fees, favourable conversion rates and swift transaction spead. On marketplaces that accept transfer, you can easily send EUR at the payout as you live in the EU zone. With Grey’s virtual USD debit card, it is even more seamless. The card integrates seamlessly with the popular European online marketplaces.
Get started with Grey today so you can finally clear your cart.
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