European backers of the Pebble Time smartwatch may have to wait more than a month longer for their devices to arrive than those in the US. Many European backers are cancelling their orders for the device, after the prolonged shipping dates and extra costs were revealed in an update from the Pebble team.
The original Kickstarter page for the Pebble Time stated "Estimated delivery: May 2015. Ships anywhere in the world." Now, it seems those outside of the US face a much longer wait for their devices unless they're prepared to pay extra.
An update sent to backers says that US buyers will receive their Pebble smartwatch within 3-5 business days of the shipment date, with shipping fees already included in the total pledge amount. However, backers in the EU are informed that they will have to wait 4-6 weeks for delivery, because "shipments will be sent from our distribution facility in Hong Kong and then shipped via Singapore Post to your country's postal system for final delivery".
European backers are told they can pay an as yet unspecified extra sum to guarantee "expedited delivery", which will ensure the watch arrives within 3-5 days. "The cost of expedited shipping will vary by country and will be payable via major credit card on our pledge management portal," the Pebble update states.
Those who don't pay for expedited shipping could face further delays and expense. The standard shipping option excludes the payment of duties and VAT. Pebble warns that "this will likely mean your shipment will be held by customs until duties and taxes are paid". Those who opt for expedited shipping will have duties and taxes built into the added costs, which "will ensure your Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel shipment will arrive unhindered at your door".
Pebble doesn't give any indication of how much expedited shipping will cost, but DutyCalculator.com estimates the total duty cost will be £21.27 for the $159 Pebble Time watch, without factoring in any postage expenses.
Cancelled orders
The revelations have prompted many European buyers to cancel their pledges or threatening to do so unless the situation is clarified before the funding deadline, which is only two days away. "While I was fully expecting to pay VAT and possibly import duty, the standard delivery time from their EU distribution partner in Ireland to here in the UK of 4-6 weeks is risible," says one backer, called Pete B.
"I could hop on to a cheap flight there and back in 4-6 hours and maybe even pay less for that than what they're going to charge for expedited delivery. Having to pay more for expedited delivery so that I get my pledged PTS in July rather than August-September is something Pebble should have disclosed up front."
"I'm very disappointed, too," writes another backer, called Django Rawkid. "I thought Pebble would ship from within the EU. Please tell us the final price BEFORE this campaign ends. Otherwise I have 65 hours to cancel my pledge!"
The Pebble Time campaign remains massively over-subscribed, however, with just shy of $20 million pledged so far.